History was created again recently when the Guyana Karate College (GKC) produced three new seventh degree black belt karatekas bringing the total to four.
According to a release from the college, John Fernandes, Aubrey Bettencourt and Tejram Harichand were all promoted to the International Karate Daigku (IKD) distinguished International Karate Rank, making them, according to protocol, accountable to the IKD led by Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai, M.S., ninth dan.
According to the release, the five-part, final examination and the announcement of the results took place at a unique moment in history at the 21st hour, of the 21st day, of the 21st year, of the 21st century, at the Transport Sports Club GKC dojo, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
The grading panel consisted of Shuseki Shihan in person and by Zoom: IKD Deputy Chief Master Maureen Woon-A-Tai, 8th Dan, Keith DaCosta, 8th Dan, Charles Woon-A-Tai, 8th Dan, and GKC First Deputy, Josef Woon-A-Tai, 8th Dan, who are all Guyanese and members of the distinguished IKD Senate, the second-highest authority of the IKD. According to the release, Frank Woon-A-Tai has been training and preparing the seventh dan candidates for the historic day. The trio also earned the International title of Shihan (Master).
The karate masters began training with Sensei Frank Woon-A-Tai at the Archbishop of the West Indies lawn during the early 1970s. John Fernandes, CEO of Astro Arts, earned his first dan black belt from Master Teruyuki Okazaki, 10th Dan, June 18, 1975. Hotel Owner and CEO Aubrey Bettencourt earned his July 26, 1975, and Psychotherapist, Tejram Harrichand, earned his on March 20, 1976.
They now join the masters rank of seventh dan with Dr. Guy Low, Medical Doctor and Assistant Professor at the University of Guyana. Doctor Low earned his first dan on November 11, 1974.
These four masters are all senior to any other current IKD seventh dan master in Guyana except for Master Amir Khouri, seventh dan of the YMCA dojo.
There is a five-step process to achieve Kodansha (High Dan Rank) level:
1. The candidate must be recommended by a member of the IKD Shihan-kai (Master’s Committee).
2. The candidate must be invited to the rank by Shuseki Shihan.
3. Training and guidance begin for the new seventh or eighth dan candidate.
4. Presentation of dissertation.
5. Final Physical Exam (may be in three parts) and dissertation defence.
The new certified karate “Master” is now subject to the international rules and regulations regarding the code of conduct for Shihan(s).
After three warnings, failure to comply with these rules may subject one to be stripped of rank and dishonourably discharged. This is like a doctor losing their license to practice medicine, disbarment of a lawyer, or stripped of rank in the disciplined forces.
The Guyana Karate College is exceptionally proud that its masters and all students have direct lineage to the founder of Karate, Master Gichin Funakoshi, and the founder of World Traditional Karate, Master Masatoshi Nakayama, 10th Dan, who visited Guyana in 1974 and again in 1979.
Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai studied karate for 40 years under Master Teruyuki Okazaki and other Japanese Masters. His teachers also included legends – Masatoshi Nakayama, Hidetaka Nishiyama and Yutaka Yaguchi.
