I studied with him for two years. Even though I studied with at least a dozen others he I would say instilled the discipline and the love for martial arts. He was a  great teacher because he has a knack for connecting with his student individually.

I thank him because his skills saved my life twice and because it give me the courage to walk away with my honor intact in many instances where anger would have caused me to beat up on a stupid person. Most of all it made me strong mentally and physically. I used to teach Wing Chun in our dorm to students but I always added the Kyokushin kai kicks because I felt it give the form better balance. Wing Chun has only below the belt kicks. I also added his emphasis on circular motions to build up momentum. I was never a purist to any style.

Frank Woon-A-Tai, Dennis Forde-Singh, Winston Dunbar, Rocky Narine, & Mr. Monasingh,

I know all them used to stop by their dojo.

Some of my friends were Moonasingh students,I studied Shotokan with Frank-Woon -A-Thai for five years in the late 60's to early 70's,my friends and i used to challenge[friendly sparr] each other to prove which style was the best for self defense,karate is deep it's more than a skill for self defense when you understand the true study of this special art.

Monasingh and Frank were quite prominent in Guyana during the 70's and 80's, however their students never were able to compete on the world stage or win any trophies of significance. This bring in the question of how good these men were as teachers as the proof is in the pudding. Maybe they are just 3rd world sensis, big fish in a small pond.   

Danyael where I can get more information about this new style your Sensi has invented.

Frank Woon a Thai had a brother who once showed me some throws. I think he passed away.

I do not know anything about his new style. I know that he was already modifying Kyokushin kai when I was training with him.  I guess that style came after '76

Here is the kyokushin pledge (dojo kun )  as I remember it.

We will train our hearts and bodies, for a firm unshaken spirit.We will pursue the true meaning of the Martial Way, so that in time our senses may be alert.With true vigor, we will seek to cultivate a spirit of self-denial.We will observe the rules of courtesy, respect our superiors, and refrain from violence.We will follow our religious principles, and never forget the true virtue of humility.We will look upwards to wisdom and strength, not seeking other desires.All our lives, through the discipline of Karate, we will seek to fulfill the true meaning of the Kyokushin Way.

Thanks Danyael.

There was a guy I met as a kid who used to collect snake venom, was this Woon a Thai?  

No that was the Taekwondo sensi. I cannot remember his name now. But he had a popular name.  I think he was one of the first Taekwondo masters in Guyana.  I went to his house once.  The man had about 200 Guyana poisonous snakes. He use to export the venom for research in the West.

Prash, you got  me brain busting was he... Van Sertima?

That is the man. He showed me some Taekwondo moves and I was impressed with his ability.

Lawrence Van Sertima was one of the top judo instructors in Guyana and also a snake handler. He lived on Waterloo Street. 

I earned a white belt in Karate.  

Wow, Billy, I have to stay far from you. 

It look like Van Sertima was bitten by a snake in the US

http://news.nationalgeographic...0200821_TVvenom.html

Leonora,

I hope our famed black nationalist, Carib, does not exploit it to mean some sort of association with those rednecks who love White Sheets.

Billy,

According to Carib, some posters on GNI have white belts, especially Trump supporters.

African Americans rejected the Black Belt in favour of a White Belt.

"

MarsSenior Member

3 hours ago

I trained under Lawrence. It's possible I could take on all these guys here.......at the same time.

Yuji,

I got to be careful on this forum.  It appears as if everyone has a black belt.  Now we are hearing even Cain received training in martial arts in Guyana.  

Banna, on top of Judo I was into boxing, also did so in Canada.

I trained under Lawrence. It's possible I could take on all these guys here.......at the same time.

I am confident I can take you out in a hand to hand combat, and you can even bring along d2. These so called martial arts masters in Guyana were jokers, they couldn't hold a torch to their overseas counterparts.

Amazing how a person could take a thread about karate and make it about race

Riff,

A close look at the faces in that picture and you will get the impression that they all drank sour ginger beer...

DrugbSenior Member

4 hours ago

I am confident I can take you out in a hand to hand combat, and you can even bring along d2. These so called martial arts masters in Guyana were jokers, they couldn't hold a torch to their overseas counterparts.

Thanks to the martial arts. It makes one walk away from stupid people with their honor intact.

RiffRaffAdmin

4 hours ago

Amazing how a person could take a thread about karate and make it about race

The tragedy of fools, everything is reduced to their racist grudges.

"

DrugbSenior Member

6 hours ago

A quick punch followed by an elbow and as you fall you receive just for being a member of GNI,  a free TaiToshi ..dats a body drop throw..and  for an encore you will be the recipient of a KansetsuWaza (good ole fashioned joint lock) To break or not to break,,,,is now the question?

A bunch of jokers on GNI.

And you come for the laughs!

The real big laugh will come when you step out and show your real self.

I happen to be happy with how I look for my age. Plus my mind is as sharp as ever it could be.

The real big laugh will come when you step out and show your real self.

Uncle Billy,did you show yourself?,I may have missed that.

Django,

You met me before but you didn't know it was me.

Guyana is a tiny sliver of land with an geographically incestuous ( and maybe otherwise also) community so why would not each of us have crossed path before?...

DANYAELSENIOR MEMBER

6 HOURS AGO

Your mind couldn't be that sharp as you supported the current crop of crooks in office. 

DANYAELSENIOR MEMBER

20 HOURS AGO

Or perhaps it provides an excuse for cowards to walk away from a challenge. 

You look like a little wet rat so I do not want to waste time. This is no less than you challenging me to an XC bike race. You are for doing so rather silly. I told you then there is a MOCO epic in April. Register. I will be there. I assure you lots of beer will be shed laughing as you nurse a thousand bruises from falling down all over the place. As for the fighting stuff talk to me then

Mars was the dojo in Waterloo street called house of rising sun? I know there was one in brickdam called house of water.

Sheik, I don't know the name of the dojo. I know that Van Sertima lived on Waterloo Street by Lamaha Street. My cousin's relative lived next door and I went there a few times as a child. He had a lot of snakes stored there.