Dr.Stephen Michael Monasingh is a Martial Artist with over four decades of experience in teaching, administration and competing in these Arts. He had initiated the many attempts to have a National Martial Arts Organization formed and finally succeeded in co-founding the Guyana Karate Association (now Federation); founding the Guyana Taekwondo Association, which he affiliated with the Guyana Olympic Association and was the Vice Chairman and Senior Instructor of the South American Karate Organization, an affiliate of his late teacher and personal friend, Grandmaster Masutatsu Oyama’s International Karate Organization, Kyokushinkaikan for a number of years.

Other Martial Arts Organizations founded by Dr. Monasingh, are the Kokoro Ki Karada International Organization of Martial Arts and Massotherapy Service (also known as the “Monasingh Academy”) and the Guyana Kyokushinkaikan Karate Federation (the Athletes of which were the undisputed Martial Arts Champions of the 1970s). He is currently a Professor (Shihan) of Japanese Karate; a Master Instructor of Korean Taekwondo and a Registered 7th Dan Grandmaster of the Shin Kai Do Personal Combat System based on profound studies of many Systems of the Oriental Martial Arts.

Martial Arts Students from Guyana, the U.S.A, Nicuaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, Surinam, Brasil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina, England, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Iran, Russia, Trinidad and Barbados received personalized attention from Mr. Monasingh over the last three decades.

In the late 1960s, Dr. Monasingh was a student of the now defunct Occidental Institute of Chinese Studies in the pursuit of a Doctorate in Chinese Acupuncture. Since then, he has done extensive research into Traditional Medicine and this took him to Japan on two occasions, Brazil, England, the USA, the Caribbean and Surinam. Dr. Monasingh developed, what he calls “Oriental Massotherapy”, which is based on the Principles of Chinese Acupuncture and Qi Gong; Japanese Shiatsu and Massages for Well-being and Cosmetic Purposes; Reflexology; Polarity Therapy as well as Muscle-Bone-Nerve Setting.

Dr. Monasingh’s Clients from Africa, Japan, China, India, Spain, England, Canada, the USA, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Barbados, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Surinam and Guyana were either completely cured or relieved of their ailments.

In the mid 1970’s, Dr. Monasingh taught Unarmed Combat and Self Defense to the Security Personnel of the Bank of Guyana, the Guyana National Co-operative Bank and the American Life Insurance Company.

For the most part of the 1970’s, Dr. Monasingh was the Vice Chairman of the South America Karate Organization, Kyokushinkaikan which was under the umbrella of the late Grandmaster Masutatsu Oyama’s International Karate Organization, Kyokushinkaikan.

In the mid 1980s, when the Unarmed Combat Programme conducted by the North Koreans for the Guyana Defense Force terminated, Dr. Monasingh was invited to continue this Programme and this was done with successful results.

In February 1995, Dr. Monasingh, through the Guyana Olympic Association, represented Guyana at the 9th Annual Conference of Sports Medicine and Exercise Sciences in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was allowed to demonstrate his method of Oriental Massotherapy. Later the same year, he was awarded the distinction of becoming and Individual Member of the prestigious International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) which is an highly influential Medical Organization to the International Olympic Committee. This Individual Membership is awarded to Doctors only.

While in Puerto Rico, the President of the International Federation of Sports Medicine, Prof. Dr. Eduardo Henrique De Rose, gave Dr. Monasingh the mandate to initiate the formation of a Guyana Sports Medicine Association. To this end, the Guyana Olympic Association was very supportive and a Steering Committee was established with Dr. Morris Edwards as Chairman, Dr. Monasingh as Secretary and with the other Members of the Steering Committee being Doctors H. Persaud and C. Bowen also Physiotherapist, Mrs. Barbara Butts-Lawrence.

This Steering Committee was successful in the drafting of a Constitution based on that of the Barbados Sports Medicine Association, with inputs by Justice Rudolph Harper, who played an instrumental role in its processing and ratification.

Dr. Monasingh was a Committee Member of the Guyana Olympic Association from 1987 to 1999.

In 1997, Dr. Monasingh was invited to manage a Booth at the Health Fest Exhibition held at the Sophia Exhibition Auditorium. There, he was honoured with the distinguished visit of His Excellency the President, Mr. Samuel A.A. Hinds and his wife, First Lady, Mrs. Yvonne Hinds, who were given a sample demonstration of the Chinese Qi Gong method of therapy. Many Guyanese and Foreigners (most of whom had chronic ailments) benefited from the free treatments available.

In 1998, Dr. Monasingh was a Member of the Medical Team, together with Dr. Dennis Dookhan, at a Guyana Olympic Association-sponsored National Karate Tournament for the selection of a team to represent Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean Games held in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

On June 19 and 20, 1999, Dr. Monasingh was a Guest Official and Oriental Massotherapist at the Guyana Amateur Karate Association’s International Karate Championships to commemorate Guyana’s 33rd Independence Anniversary Celebrations.

Clubs from Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados participated in both the Traditional and Free Style Events. At the Traditional Karate Championships, Dr. Monasingh officiated as a Judge for both Kata and Kumite Events as well as Kumite Referee on Saturday 19th June 1999; while at the Free Style Championships on Sunday, 20th June 1999, he officiated as a Judge in the Kata and Kumite Events. Both injured Athletes and spectators who requested his service were successfully treated.

Once again in 2000, at the Guyana Amateur Karate Association’s International Karate Championships to commemorate Guyana’s 34th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, Dr. Monasingh was a Guest Official and Oriental Massotherapist.

On May 27, 2000, Dr. Monasingh officiated at the Kata and Kumite Events of the Traditional Championships. On May 28, 2000, by special request, Dr. Monasingh obliged the gathering with an impromptu demonstration of the ancient dynamic tension Tensho Kata and followed through with a demonstration against a Samurai Sword attack. Later, he continued in his chores as a Kata and Kumite Official as well as treated injured Athletes and spectators who requested his service.

In October 2000, Dr. Monasingh became affiliated with the World Il-Do-Kwan Federation, an International Authority on Taekwondo and Korean Martial Arts. He was presented with the following Certificates : (a) International Black Belt Member; (b) International Master Instructor and (c) Appointment as a Member of the Technical Advisory Council. Grandmaster Dr. Andrew P. Davies – 8th Dan, Founder and Director of the World Il-Do-Kwan Federation also gave Dr. Monasingh the mandate to represent the W.I.F. in Guyana.

Also in October 2000, Dr. Monasingh was awarded a Diploma of Meritorious Honour for his services rendered to Sport. This Diploma was initiated by Master Carlos Roberto Silva, President of the Confederação Brasileira de Kick Boxing Tradicional and countersigned by Sr. Aristávora Santos, Secretary of Tourism and Sport in the City of João Pessoa of the Brazilian State of Paraiba and was presented on their bahalf by Colonel Antonio Florêncio da Silva, Brazilian Defence, Naval and Army Attaché to Guyana, at the Brazilian Embassy Chancery in Georgetown.

In January 2001, Dr. Monasingh was awarded Lifetime Membership with the World Nibuikai Budo Federation and appointed President and Technical Advisor of the Guyana and South American Chapters of the said Federation.

4th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushinkai Karate by the World Martial Arts Master Society and International Senior Master (Renshi) by the International Budo Federation; 5th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo by the World Nibuikai Budo Federation and the German Tang Soo Do Federation; Taekwondo Master Instructor by the World Nibuikai Budo Federation; 5th Dan Black Belt and International Senior Master by the German Katsukuma Ryu Kempo-Karate.

In February 2001, Founder and Grandmaster of the World Il-Do-Kwan Federation (Taekwondo and other Korean Martial Arts), Dr. Andrew P. Davies, 8th Dan, conferred the International 5th Dan Black Belt on Dr. Monasingh for his devotion to the Martial Arts Way in upholding the Spirit and Principles of the World Il-Do-Kwan Federation. This entitles Mr. Monasingh the responsibility of authorized examiner to grade students internationally.

Also in February 2001, Dr. Monasingh was nominated by Grandmaster, Dr. A.P. Davies, Executive Committee Member of the International Assembly of Sokeship, Founders and Headmasters to the 2001 International Hall of Fame.

In May 2001, to commemorate the 35th Independence Anniversary of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the National Sports Commission, in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Karate Association, realized an International Traditional and Free-Style Karate Championships on the 26th and 27th respectively at the National Gymnasium. Dr. Monasingh officiated as a Guest Judge as well as Oriental Massotherapist.

In June 2001, Dr. Monasingh received the following Awards/Certifications :- SPORTS AWARD from the World Organizer of Martial Arts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for his contribution to the development of Martial Arts Sports and Self Defence worldwide; - BRANCH CERTIFICATION from Grandmaster, Dr. Jack Stern’s World Organization of Mixed Martial Artists (formerly the Korean Yudo and Hapkido Association), to represent the WOMA in Guyana; - INTERNATIONAL SELF DEFENCE INSTRUCTOR’S CERTIFICATE and LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP from the World Heads and Founders Society of International Styles and Grandmaster Hanshi M.I. Tianero (Soke) of the World Soke Head Council of Tokyo, Japan, with the Charter to teach Self Defense Methods in accordance with the Rules and Regulations as set forth by the World Head of Society; - 7th DAN BLACK BELT CERTIFICATION from the World Organization of Mixed Martial Artists.

- CERTIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT from the World Organization of Mixed Martial Artists to represent the WOMA in Guyana and – CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION from the World Organization of Mixed Martial Artists of the U.S.A. for his dedication and hard work in Martial Arts Education and dissemination of same.

In November 2001, the International Assembly of Sokeship, Founders and Headmasters presented Dr. Monasingh with a Plaque of the Worldwide Hall of Fame Awards 2001 also an Acceptance Certificate as a Worldwide Hall of Fame International Instructor of the Year 2001.

In December 2001, Grandmaster Jack Stern, Founder/President of the World Organization of Mixed Martial Artists nominated Mr. Monasingh for induction into the UNIVERSAL MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME. The Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inc; headed by its President, Prof. Silveiro P. Guerra, PhD/MA; is an organization which takes the time to honour those whom have enriched the lives of others through the Martial Arts.

In October 2002, Dr. Monasingh was presented with a Certificate of Honour as an Ambassador of the Martial Arts Association – International of Germany for Guyana; a Grandmaster Diploma certifying him as a Registered and Authorized Grandmaster of the Art of Shin Kai Do and appointed a Regional Director for the MAA-I.

In January 2003, Dr. Monasingh was promoted to 4th Dan Black Belt Karate and Kickboxing Master by 10th Dan Grandmaster Carlos Roberto Silva, Founder and Chief Instructor of the Confederação Brasileira de Kickboxing Tradicional.

Founder of the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inc, Prof. Silverio Guerra, PhD/MA appointed Grandmaster, Dr. Stephen Monasingh as an International Advisor of the UMAHOF; and Master, Dr. Bernd Hohle, Founder/President of the Martial Arts Association – International nominated Dr. Monasingh to the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame for 2003.

In 2003, Grandmaster, Dr. Stephen Michael Monasingh promoted Founder of Bushite Ryu Karate Do, Sensei Sakhria Mourad of Tunisia, North Africa from 4th Dan to 5th Dan Renshi (Senior Master) of the Shin Kai Do Personal Combat System and collaborated in the establishment of the Bushite Ryu Karate Do Organization.

The International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association awarded Dr. Monasingh with a Certificate of Lifetime Membership through his international activity in Combat Martial Arts also a Certificate of Rank, recognizing him as the Founder and Headmaster of the Combat Martial Arts of Shin Kai Do Personal Combat System, with the Honoured Title and Rank of Soke, Shichidan – 7th Dan.

Dr. Monasingh became a Signatory of the FLAVIAN MEDAL SOCIETY which was founded by a consortium of prominent Martial Artists from across several countries and continents including the United States of America, Denmark, Guyana, Latvia, Romania and the United Kingdom and in the spirit of modern day sporting gladiators, took its name from the ancient Roman Gladiatorial Coliseum (Flavian Amphitheatre).

The purpose in forming the Society is to present the award of an International Medal in acknowledgement for showing courage and for acts of gallantry and bravery in times of danger and crisis.

Whilst the original concept was to confine these awards to those who actively practice Martial Arts, the Society has agreed that it would be prepared to consider nominations from outside of this scope.