“My motivation was to build a Karate College for the Children of Guyana and my mission is to guide young people in the right direction to keep them off drugs, off the streets and to help them break the cycle of violence through karate ethics.”These were the words of head of the Guyana Karate College(GKC), Master Frank Woon-a-Tai, as he joined karatekas, senseis, well-wishers and others on Friday evening to celebrate a decade of The Guyana Karate College.

Delivering the feature address, Sensei Woon-A-Tai, an 8th Kyu Black belt, continued, “Those ethics are character, effort, etiquette, discipline and self- control. In its 10 year, the GKC has produced more than 200 black belt(exponents) of varying degrees.”
From humble beginnings, sensei Woon-a-tai spoke of where the club was founded 10 years ago, under the bottom house of close friends to when it got registered in 2006, to where it is now.
He noted that during the 10 year stint, the dojo had moved to several places, but there was always a plan to develop a home for the club.
. The body was granted a portion of land in 2006 by then President Jagdeo,with further approval from the Lands and Surveys commission in 2011, and given the title to the said plot of land in Liliendaal in 2012.
The club has completed the foundation and is currently working on raising funds to complete the dojo.
Also present at Friday evening’s ceremony was Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry, who posited that the discipline of the college must be of a high standard for it to have survived for such a long period.
“I can see that these principles (ethics) are intrinsic to Guyana Karate College. The rounded focus and dedication of individuals your college has produced is testament to your vision on structure,” Minister Henry said.
Among the evening’s events were testimonials from several of the college’s current students and senseis,as well as a dance, a poem and several karate demonstrations.