Shihan Howard Lipman and Masumi travelled to Cairns on September 9th and returned on September 11th.
One of Shihan’s students, Mr Han Barkmeyer (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Iaido) has been living in Cairns for some time.

Sensei Han met with Shihan Lipman and Masumi on the night of Friday 9th and went together to Sensei Matsumoto’s dojo.
Shihan Lipman and Sensei Matsumoto were born in the same year, 1942, during the Second World War; one in Australia, the other in Japan. Both have long histories in the martial arts and have enjoyed mutual respect and friendship for a long period.

On Sunday afternoon, Shihan and Masumi visited Sensei and his wife Fusashi at their home. They were invited to dinner on Sunday night at a Japanese restaurant with some other friends of Sensei.

“It was great to be able to spend time with Sensei again. A true martial artist and one of whom I am proud to call my friend,” – Shihan Howard Lipman.