LAST Sunday Inspector Keith Beaton of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) participated in the Frank Woon-A-Tai Cup, which was held at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall in honour of Sensei Frank Woon-A-Tai, who has been teaching traditional Karate in Guyana for over fifty years and is the head of the International Karate Diagaku (IDK) and the Guyana Karate College.
Scores of Karatekas of all ages attended and some of them even participated in the tournament. Inspector Beaton walked away with the following medals 1st place individual Kumite (Fighting), 2nd place in team Kumite (Fighting), 2nd Place in team Kata (Forms), 2nd place in team Embu (Demonstration), 2nd place in team Bunkai (Defence against multiple attackers).

The 2014 Sportsman-of-the-year started practising Karate some twenty-eight years ago and has judged many competitions countrywide. He is also a Karate instructor and has travelled to many countries, performing his art, including the Pan America World Karate Tournament in Curacao, the Caribbean Karate Federation in Suriname and the International Karate Diagaku in Jamaica.

When asked how Karate influences his life and career choice as a member of the Guyana Police Force, Inspector Beaton explained Karate helps him to stay focused as it promotes calmness of the mind and by extension, the body.

The second degree Black Belt Karate champion also attended a Karate and Tai Chi course at the Guyana Defence Force in 2003 and spent some 15 years as a Presidential Guard, where he also shared his skills and knowledge in Unarmed Defence and Combat with his colleagues. He is currently stationed at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) where he also imparts his knowledge in Karate to ranks.

Karate can be used as an instrument of lesser force when dealing with crime and offenders. It prepares the user’s mental capacity and enables him to defend himself and possible victims of crimes without the use of force.

Inspector Beaton competed in the Male Open Black Belt Kumite and Male Open Kata in February, where he placed second and third respectively, earning silver and bronze medals.