Dr. Frank Woon-A-Tai

Shuseki Shihan, IKD, 10th Dan

Dr. Frank Woon-A-Tai’s journey in martial arts spans over 60 years, defined by dedication, innovation, and global impact. Born in Guyana in 1950, he began training in 1964 and later earned a B.A. in Japanese Studies from the University of Toronto. He trained extensively in Japan and under legendary masters, including Teruyuki Okazaki, Masatoshi Nakayama, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Hidetaka Nishiyama, and Yutaka Yaguchi, shaping his expertise in traditional Shotokan karate. He was the first Canadian Guyanese graduate of the JKA/ISKF Instructor Training Institute and a Pan American Kata Champion in 1978.

Dr. Woon-A-Tai played a key role in the development of karate across the Caribbean and the Americas, serving as the first president of the Caribbean Karate College and chief instructor of Jamaica from 1976 to 1980. He founded and continues to lead several major institutions, including the Guyana Karate College, IKD Honbu, and IKD Ontario. After 40 years of dedicated service to ISKF, he resigned in 2011 as Chairman and Technical Director of ISKF Canada and Co-Vice Chairman of the ISKF Technical Committee to establish the International Karate Daigaku (IKD). Today, the IKD operates in 95 regions across 63 countries, ensuring that his vision of karate as a discipline for personal growth and community service continues to flourish.

A dedicated teacher and mentor, Dr. Woon-A-Tai has produced regional, national, and world champions, as well as highly respected instructors, examiners, and judges. He hosted major international tournaments, including the 2008 ISKF World Shoto Cup in Toronto and the 2010 ISKF Pan American Karate Championships in Guyana, an event attended by His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo and co-sponsored by the Government of Guyana. His instructional contributions extend to producing two influential DVDs: Eclipse of Life (1997) and Soul of Kata (2000).

Dr. Woon-A-Tai’s contributions to karate have been widely recognized. He has received numerous honors, including Guyana’s Order of Service and Medal of Service, the French Guiana National Medal of Service, induction into the ISKF Canada Hall of Honour (2005) and the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame (2019), and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Guyana (2023). In 2024, his lifelong dedication was further honored with the commissioning of the Dr. Frank Woon-A-Tai Budokan, a landmark dojo supported by the Government of Guyana.

Committed to using karate as a means of empowering young people, Dr. Woon-A-Tai has worked tirelessly to keep youth off drugs, out of crime, and on a path of discipline and success. Under his leadership, the IKD continues to grow, and his 2025 projects will further strengthen karate worldwide. At 74, he remains an active force in the martial arts community, dedicated to shaping the next generation of karateka and preserving the legacy of traditional Shotokan karate.