The Guyana Karate College (GKC) has been a pioneer in the field of Martial Arts since 1968 and, in its 41st year, the institution has made some significant strides to acquire a traditional dojo for the improvement of the sport.
When Stabroek Sports caught up with head of the GKC Eighth Dan Black Belt Master Frank Woon-A-Tai at its temporary facility at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) pavilion, he said that the college has acquired a-99-year lease on an acre of land at Liliendaal on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
Further, the Government of Guyana has set out a stipulation that the GKC must show that it can start the process of initial construction.
“The President has given us a piece of land at Liliendaal but it was conditional that we could show evidence that we could begin the project rather than just have the land sitting there doing nothing. It took us a year and some months since I got the official letter from Lands and Survey that the land is available to us but we have to evidence of financing”, Woon-A-Tai explained.
The 59-year-old Woon-A-Tai continued… “And so 15 months later we were able to raise $8 million since the organization began through donations, fundraising and other activities. Mr. Peter Green has volunteered his services to draw up the plans as well as making a development budget and he came up with a figure of $49 million to construct the building”.
Woon-A-Tai, who recently submitted his final paper for his Eighth Dan, noted that the GKC present collateral will be sufficient to complete the preliminary sub-structure, fencing and foundation. He said when papers are fully processed the college will embark on another full scale drive to accrue more funds. He reasoned that the business community wants to see progress before they commit to the project.
“The GKC alumni are planning to help the college financially. There are also plans to involve the Japanese Government with Master Okazaki spearheading that drive. Mr. Hans Barrow, the Honorary Consul General, has also promised some help. On the other hand, CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) and the Japanese Grass Roots want to see that we are helping ourselves rather than depending on them for funds”, the Caribbean Karate College (CKC) president reported.
Woon-A-Tai also stated that the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, has offered some ideas on what the college can do with the land.
Conversely, when Stabroek Sport enquired about the repairing of the split in the Japan Karate Association/World Federation (JKA/WF) which brought about the International Shotokan Federation (ISKF), Woon-A-Tai, who is the most senior Sensei in Guyana, said that the problem stems and ends in Japan.
“This is a problem in Japan not here (Guyana). As far as I am concerned all karatekas are doing the same thing; it’s traditional. So, to me there is no friction; I hold no ill will to anyone”, he quipped.
Master Funakushi took karate from Okanawa to Japan and Master Nakayama took it to the rest of the world. Nakayama visited Guyana in 1974 and then in 1979. Woon-A-Tai said that the separation was more of a political nature with the original JKA/WF not wanting to recognize the ISKF as a legitimate body; that has since changed however.
Meanwhile, Guyana will be hosting the Pan-American Championships from August 12-15 2010 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). However, before this event some rehabilitative work will have to be done at the venue since 500 athletes from 25 countries will be converging on these shores.
Woon-A-Tai reported that he has been going around to hotels to obtain the best deals for the overseas delegation and some hotels have been shortlisted.
