Veteran karate practitioner shares journey
WITH more than 50 years of karate experience, Jeffrey Wong remains a simple man who has invested many years as a volunteer promoting karate across the country via his clubs. Sensei Wong is the Vice President of Dojo Development International Karate, whose journey in karate began at age 13 years old when he was a resident of Laing Avenue, Georgetown.

Wong told the Pepperpot Magazine that Laing Avenue, back then, was a rough neighbourhood and as a youngster, he was bullied and picked on a lot.

He related that after getting bullied by the older boys in the community, he gained encouragement to join karate class from his cousin, Roy Lowe – who has since passed away.

Wong pointed out that karate saved him and played a vital role in his upbringing as a youth, making him into a well-rounded individual whose way of life revolves around volunteerism and karate.

He recalled starting as an instructor at the Guyana Karate College with founding members, the late Ian Fung, Frank Woon-A-Tai and others in the early 1970s.

“Karate is a way of life for me. I started at the age of 13 years old and to date, I am still practising. It has molded me into a better version of myself, and I am always willing to impart my knowledge to others, even if it means going into all communities where we don’t have a karate club,” he said.

Wong reported that hundreds of students have passed through him and he is very proud of them all, even his own daughter, Aliya Wong – a fifth dan karate world champion – and many others, who have done outstanding things in their life, career and karate.

He has also trained many to attain world-stage competition level. Having competed in many tournaments himself, he remains humble by the mere fact that he is not above others.

Wong is a mild-mannered man who chooses to live simply. Although he is a miner by profession, he has spent more years in karate than in his job, but he doesn’t mind.

In his own words, Wong described karate as an empty hand of self-defence which should never be used as a weapon to harm or kill others in willful encounters.

He added that karate is all about self-discipline, and his own experience assisted him in building his character and evolving into a Master (Sensei).

“In earnest, karate has brought me to where I am in life today and taught me a lot, and it is wise for children to start training from five years plus, not just for six months but all throughout their lifetime since karate isn’t a six-month course,” he reasoned.

Today, Wong has established karate clubs in Berbice, Linden, Hope, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, and they will soon be in Essequibo.

He is a well-known karate instructor in Guyana and further afield. He has attained the reach of 7th Dan Shihan and is the senior instructor at the International Karate Organisation Karate Academy of Guyana, their registered name.

“For me, karate is not about collecting money. I volunteer mostly and often [facilitate] free of charge, but in clubs, it requires money to keep the doors open, and the minimal fee of $1000 per session is required. But if people do not have money, that’s no problem,” he said.

Wong disclosed that his main goal in karate is to pass on his knowledge to others and recalled how he was mentored by karate specialists who contributed a lot in promoting karate, such as the late Ian Fung and Frank Woon-A-Tai among others.

“As long as I have life, in good health, karate will be with me until I am no more because my aim is to spread karate teachings across Guyana,” Wong said.