Sensei Hokama (10th Dan) awarded new Dan (black belt) grades in Kobudo during the recent Okinawa tour. Sensei Hokama awarded these grades based on what he saw during training, as well as on the recommendation of Australian Kobudo Branch Chief, Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 7th Dan Kobudo).
These grades included:
7th Dan: Shihan Howard Lipman
6th Dan: Shihan Rick Cunningham
4th Dan: Sensei Mark Shelmerdine
3rd Dan: Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Mark McFadden
2nd Dan: Sensei Jon Ellis, Sempai James Campbell
1st Dan: Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sempai Jessica Den, Sempai Todd Murphy, Sempai Alex Lloyd
KIMAA students in the tour group were presented with their certificates by Sensei Hokama and Shihan Lipman.
The remainder of the grades – certificates and belts – were presented in Sydney by Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo).
Congratulations again to all who graded.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 