All of us had been to Japan before – an understatement for some! – but it was Trish’s first time in Okinawa and first KIMAA tour.
The trip had three main focuses:
The Okinawa Karate Tournament
Training with Sensei Hokama, including a Kobudo black belt grading
Sightseeing in Hiroshima and Kyoto
We reached our hotel early in the afternoon on Thursday. After checking in our first destination was Shureido, the martial arts shop. We stocked up on supplies and caught up with Yoshi, our account manager at Shureido for many years. After this we wandered through the shops on Kokusai Dori before heading to our favourite gyazo bar for dinner.
Friday morning was training with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan Goju-ryu and Kobudo) at his dojo. We did Kobudo training followed by some empty hand self-defence applications.
KIMAA and Russian teams with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura
After training we enjoyed some sushi and explored the markets of Kokusai Dori and Tsuboya, the pottery village.
We were back at Sensei’s dojo again on Saturday, expanding on the previous day’s work of self-defence applications (bunkai) from kata.
We then had an easy afternoon to rest up Sempai Don and Sempai James, as the tournament was the next day. Photos and videos from the tournament are available in Japan Tour Pt 2: The Tournament.
Sydney Kobudo students enjoyed their first class for the year on January 11th, 2015.
The class kicked off using the kama for tameshigiri – the art of test cutting. Afterwards, Shihan Rick Cunningham practised tameshigiri with his sword.
Kobudo training in Sydney wrapped up for 2014 on the 21st of December.
The December classes had been focused on revising the Sydney group’s entire repertoire of weapons – Bo, Sai, Eeku, Jō, Kama and other traditional weapons – and the various Kata.
There will be a group trip to Okinawa in March 2015, including further training with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan).
Sydney Kobudo classes resume January 11, 2015.
December 2014: Sempai Jessica Den, Sempai James Campbell, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Ian Holdaway & Sempai Alex Lloyd
First was a Kids grading, followed later in the evening by an Adults junior kyu grading.
The belts and certificates were awarded to students on December 19th, the final night of training for 2014 at Turramurra. The grading results are available below.
Knox Karate students held a demonstration for parents at the school on Saturday November 15, the end of their sports term for 2015.
Students from the senior school performed some basics and Taikoyoku sono Ich.
Senior students Karan Mehroke, Hani Rifai, Clayton Ho and Vincent Su then did the kata ‘straight through’. Following this, they performed Tsukino. Clayton and Vincent also demonstrated some self-defence techniques.
The group was led by Sempai Alex Lloyd, who also explained the Karate and practical application to parents. After the demonstration, Shihan Howard Lipman awarded new belts and certificates to those who were successful at the previous weekend’s grading.
Once the formalities were over, Knox held a BBQ for all to enjoy.
The Prep School Karate students received their certificates and belts on Friday November 14, at their final training session for the year.
Shihan Lipman’s wife, Masumi, kindly inscribed each Knox student’s name in Japanese on their belt, which was most appreciated by the boys.
Knox Karate classes resume at the beginning of first term 2015. Knox students are invited to train in the general classes over the holiday period.
Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan) entered three students from his Turramurra Dojo: Angus Sweeney (1st Kyu), Victor Sweeney (2nd Kyu) and Zac Zibaee (4th Kyu). The Sweeney brothers have been training with Shihan Lipman at Turramurra for many years. Zac began his Karate training at Knox Grammar Prep School Karate, under Shihan Lipman and Sempai Alex Lloyd (2nd Dan), and now trains with Shihan Lipman and Sensei James Sidwell (4th Dan) at the regular classes at Turramurra as well as Knox Karate.
The above shows footage of Victor competing, then Angus and then Zac.
None of these three young KIMAA karateka had competed in a tournament before, but all performed admirably. Angus placed Second in the Cadet Male Heavy Weight division, Victor placed Third in the Boys 14-15 years over 70kg, and Zac placed Second in the Boys 11-14 years 40-45kg. Some photos of the day are below.
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Congratulations to these students. A special mention goes to young Zac, who fought in the tournament after attempting the Knox Karate grading with the Senior School the day before. Thanks also go to Stephen Runge for coaching on the day, and Sempai Alex for filming and photographing the event for KIMAA. Angus, Victor and Zac represented KIMAA well and made their instructors proud.
Shihan Lipman with Angus, Zac & Victor
Shihan Lipman with Angus & Victor Sweeney
Sempai Alex, Zac Zibaee and Shihan Lipman
The following article and photo was sent to Shihan Lipman and other entrants from Sensei Jenny Fuller, President of the IFKKA:
We had a great day today at the IFKKA Interclub Tournament Round 6 Full Contact Kumite Individuals and a special Clicker Kumite event for the Juniors. With 35 entries, we had students from three other Kyokushin organisations entered. It was a great day and we were treated to some excellent displays clicker and full contact fighting.
Thank you to Shihan Howard Lipman (Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia) Sensei Alicia Smith and Senpai Rob Smith (Young Tigers Dojo, Kyokushin World Federation), and Sensei Graeme Rose CCK Dojo (Kyokushin Union). Your support for our event is very much appreciated.
For full results from today click here. It will be interesting to see how the overall series Champions results pan out for 2014, as today’s event may have decided some of the final results. The results will be announced at the IFKKA End of Year dinner to be held on Saturday 22nd November at the Ottoman Turkish Restaurant. For details of THAT event click here.
A day such as today cannot be possible without our helpers and we need many. Thank you to :
those who transported and set up the venue yesterday (Saturday) and then again transported the mats back to Petersham after the event: Shihan Doug, Sensei Shah, Senpai André, Chris Spencer, Jack Britton, Ken Randhawa, Eddy Noujaim, Simon Allaway, Anthony Zamattia, and Robbie Simmons.
the ring officials: Shihan Doug, Sensei Shah, Sensei Graeme Rose, Senpai André, Senpai Ben, Senpai Shigemi, & Franc Pujono,.
the table officials: Diane Deller and Chris Spencer.
to Casey & Chris Mardoquio, Meagan Salmond, and of course Louie for setting up and running the sausage sizzle. Well done and we did sell out! Gross takings on the sausages and drinks were $333.
our raffle sellers Nisha Hewitt and Kris Parekh. We raised $137 from the raffle. Every little bit helps towards the fund raising for the international competition travel!
Once again thank you to all for helping. Without you we cannot give our students the opportunity to enter and demonstrate what they are learning in the dojo. I must say I always love watching how the students from all the dojo are developing in their karate.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 