Frank Woon-a-tai

Background

Frank Woon-A-Tai, 9th Dan, was born in Guyana in 1950, and began training in 1964.

Education

JKA Instructor Training Program, 1989

Bachelor, University of Toronto, 2004, Japanese Studies.

Career

He holds a Bachelor degree in Japanese Studies from the University of Toronto. In January 2011, he resigned from the ISKF as Chairman and Technical Director of ISKF Canada, and co-vice Chairman of the ISKF Technical Committee. In February 2011, Master Woon-A-Tai established the International Karate Daigaku (IKD).

Throughout his distinguished career, he served as first president of the Caribbean Karate College, and as chief instructor of Jamaica from 1976 to 1980.

He founded the Toronto JKA in 1981, and is Chairman and Chief Instructor of the Toronto Karate Daigaku, Ontario Karate College, and IKD Ontario. After training in Japan in the early 1970s, he continued his training under the Master Teruyuki Okazaki, 10th Dan for 40 years.

He also trained under Masters: Yutaka Yaguchi, 9th Dan, Hidetaka Nishiyama, 10th Dan, and the great Masatoshi Nakayama, 10th Dan – all JKA legends. In 2005, he was inducted in the ISKF Canada Hall of Honour.

He produced two DVDs.

Eclipse of Life (1997), and Soul of Kata (2000). As a teacher, he has produced regional, national, and Pan American champions, and world karate champions. He hosted the 2008 ISKF World Shoto Cup in Toronto, and in 2010, the 11th ISKF Pan American Karate Championships in Guyana.

This event was attended by President Bharrat Jagdeo and was co-sponsored by the Guyana Government.

At the same event, His Honour, the Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green presented Master Okazaki with the ‘Key to the City’. Master Woon-A-Tai received his first degree black belt in 1971 from the JKA in Tokyo, his A class Instructor, A class Examiner, A class Judge licences and 8th degree black belt from Master Okazaki of the ISKF, and, as is customary with leaders of large international karate organizations, his ninth degree black belt by unanimous Resolution of the IKD Board of Directors and Shihan-kai (Masters Committee)in June 2011.

Awards/medals.

Achievements

• Woon-A-Tai first gained international prominence when he won the Pan American kata championship in 1978. Awarded The French Guiana Medal of Service in 1996 Member of The Order of Guyana - recipient of the Medal of Service from Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana, in October 2011.