The Guyana Karate College (GKC), under the leadership of the legendary Guyanese karate master, Frank Woon-A-Tai, M.S., 9th Dan, has only one more year to prepare the five-member Moses karate family to disseminate karate to the Amerindian Community throughout Guyana.
They are also looking forward to representing Guyana at the fourth IKD World Cup here in August 2022.
Karate in the Caribbean began to spread when graduate students who learnt the sport at the University of the West Indies, returned to their home countries.
This system is the same used by Japan and many other countries.
Leading the Moses family are three brothers – all International Karate Daigaku (University) black belts: Ernie, 29, Silas, 37, and Courtney, 24.
Two beautiful and talented sisters, Rose, 27 and Pauline, 22, created karate history by moving from white to brown belt at their first grading on April 30, 2021.
They were training privately for two years under instructor, Shihan John Fernandes, 7th Dan.
The close-knit sisters represent all females in Guyana with their achievements as well as the Amerindian community of which they are fiercely proud of their heritage.
While Shuseki Shihan is responsible for the overall development of GKC, both administratively and technically, each of the masters and instructors is responsible for developing each belt level student under their care. This method is the same as the educational system used in Guyana schools.
Pauline and Rose train with Master Frank Woon-A-Tai at the Transport Sports Club, Thomas Lands on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
In his absence, Karate Master Dr. Guy Low, 7th Dan, a well-respected medical doctor, and Assistant Professor at the University of Guyana, takes charge of all training.
As there are no classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the sisters train privately with Shihan Fernandes. At times, they even train on Saturdays and Sundays.
According to Master Woon-A-Tai, all five Moses family members are naturally talented with a high degree of strength, speed, form, and spirit. Moreover, they are a family of character, integrity and social graces.
While the sisters excel at karate, they are also academically brilliant. Pauline is personal secretary to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Fernandes at Astro Arts, an advertising company. Thus, she is well suited to administer and promote karate anywhere in Guyana while and, Rose is a Pharmacy Technician and is awaiting an online course from the Ministry of Health in Forensic Law to begin.
Rose holds an online Career Diploma from Penn Foster Career School in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, as a Pharmacy Technician. She completed 27 pharmacy-related courses and needs Forensic Law before pursuing her B.Sc. in Pharmacy at the University of Guyana.
Wowetta, located in North Rupununi, is about six miles from Annai. The population of Wowetta is approximately 330 people who speak Makushi. The Moses karate family, hail from Wowetta, and they are honoured that their village is the home of the Cock-of-the-Rock, one of Guyana’s famous birds.
These proud and talented Indigenous karate family are raring to teach karate. By a stroke of luck, their first opportunity presented itself at the Guyana Karate College’s immediate neighbour, the Amerindian Hostel and Orphanage at Liliendaal, ECD.
The family has begun training to represent Guyana at the fourth IKD World Cup scheduled for Guyana in August 2022. Best of luck and success to the Amazing Amerindian Moses Karate Family.
