Guyanese born and bred, Frank Woon-A-Tai, has created national and international karate history again by becoming Guyana and the Caribbean’s first 10th Dan Black Belt.
On December 22, 2021, Frank was promoted to the highest rank in Karate, the Tenth Dan, bestowed on him by the International Karate Daigaku (University) and the Shihan-kai Senate of nine founding masters, who are all 8th dan and higher, during the International Karate Daigaku (IKD) 2021 Tenth Anniversary announcements.
Under the IKD Constitution, Section 2 (Powers): “The Shihan-Kai Senate is hereby vested with full power and authority to make, alter and repeal all laws, rules and regulations for the government, management, discipline and control of the International Karate Daigaku, or of any dojo or division thereof, and the members of the same in a state, district, territory or country where the International Karate Daigaku is now or may hereafter be established, and to enforce the laws, rules and regulations enacted by said Shihan-Kai Senate or any regulation or order made by the Shihan-Kai Senate.”
According to long-established Japanese martial arts convention, 9th and 10th dan are reserved for karate masters who have reached the age of sixty and seventy respectively, and older. They must have over fifty years of karate training and teaching experience, as well as an A-class International Supreme Instructor’s Degree, an A-class International Supreme Examiner’s Degree, and an A-class Supreme International Judge’s Degree. And more importantly, they must be the leaders of large international karate organizations (A-Class) like the IKD.
In ten years, the IKD has amassed a membership of 80 associations in 57 countries across the globe. This fantastic achievement under the leadership of Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai surpasses many Japanese-led independent karate organisations with direct lineage and traditional to karate founders Funakoshi and Nakayama. In 1974 and 1979, Frank brought Master Nakayama, 10th Dan, to Guyana.
Woon-A-Tai’s teacher once told him that the higher you advance in rank and the more successful you are in life, the more people will try to pull you back down. He has already experienced this behaviour from critics and envious former colleagues who were senior to him because some achieved their first dan rank before him, especially those who falsely created a rift between him and his elderly masters he has served for some 40 years.
However, they unwittingly gave him wings to soar above them like the Phoenix with his IKD organisation. And by dint of dedication, talent, and hard work, he surpassed all of them in advancement and achievement.
Frank Woon-A-tai was the first JKA ISKF instructor to be promoted to 7th dan under the Japan Karate Association 20 years ago. Moreover, he was number one of the first four instructors in the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) to be graded to 8th dan in 2008 by Masters Okazaki and Yaguchi. He further held the office of one of two ISKF Technical Committee Vice-Chairmen directly under Masters Yaguchi and Okazaki.
Frank graduated from the ISKF Instructor Training Institute in 1989 after having willingly completed the course three times. In 2004, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A in Japanese Studies and a minor in History. In 2011, Frank became a Member of the Order of Service of Guyana and was awarded the Medal of Service by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo. In 1996, he was a recipient of the French Guiana Medal of Honour by the Regional President for 20 years of service to that country. Frank is the author of “Shu-Ha-Ri: My Life in Japanese Karate”, published in 2020. His book speaks of his early life in Guyana, his move to Jamaica and Canada, then to the rest of the world, only to return to Guyana, his roots. Not to be outdone, his wife of 48 years, Maureen Woon-A-Tai, has been promoted to 9th dan. Both Frank and Maureen have over fifty years of training with world-renowned masters like Nakayama and Okazaki.
After 30 years, Maureen retired as a Royal Bank of Canada officer and became the driving force behind Frank’s success. They are parents of Diandra, Michelle and Ken, who is a 6th dan and a four-time World Champion. Michelle has five children, two of whom are twins that are actors. Today, Frank and Maureen are proud great- grandparents.
Dr Dexter Shim from Trinidad and Tobago was also promoted to 9th dan. He and Maureen are IKD Deputy Grandmasters. Dr Shim met Frank while he was a medical student in Jamaica in 1976.
