News Events – Page 24 – Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia

Kyokushin Weekend Seminar – April 5-6, 2014

The first Kyokushin kata and bunkai seminar of 2014 was held on Sunday April 6. Students from Turramurra, Annangrove, Aspley, Ballina and Lismore dojos all attended, including members of the Little Lions and Knox Grammar School classes.

This seminar followed the one in October 2013. Shihan Howard Lipman introduced these seminars to be held twice a year as a compulsory component in senior gradings. They are to keep students across all five KIMAA dojos up to speed on kihon (basics), kata (pattern or form) and bunkai (application).

Basics training led by Shihan Howard Lipman

Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Jon Ellis, Patricia Tan and Little Lions Ben and Jack came down from the North Coast dojos.

Sempai Rob James, Gen Moller and Jermaine Downs travelled from Aspley Dojo. They all arrived on the Saturday.

That afternoon, a three hour Kobudo class was conducted by Shihan Rick Cunningham with the visiting KIMAA members and Sydney Kobudo students. The weapons focused on were the Bo, Eeku, Jō and Sai.

The class finished at 5pm and was followed by a group dinner, kindly hosted by Shihan Cunningham and his wife, Kirsti. Shihan Cunningham broke out a case of Orion beer imported from Okinawa, a fond favourite of those who have been there.

Shihan Rick Cunningham demonstrates bunkai on Sempai Don Cheong

The main Kyokushin seminar began at 9am on the Sunday. Shihan Lipman led an opening session on basic techniques.

After this, the Taikyoku and Pinan sono Ichi, Ni and San katas were revised. Shihan Cunningham took the class through bunkai for these katas, with Sempai Jon Ellis and Sempai Don Cheong demonstrating throughout the day. Sensei Peter Olive provided some alternative bunkai techniques in Pinan sono San.

The bunkai covered all moves of the katas and were taught in great detail. Students practised their bunkai, throws, chokes and takedowns in pairs.

Learning bunkai is not just an important syllabus point in students’ gradings, but also to improve their depth of knowledge of the katas, the importance of each movement and to improve their understanding of what they are doing and why.

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As always, KIMAA students enjoyed the experience of training with members from all dojos.

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These seminars shall continue, with the next one on August 17. It will be focused on bunkai for Pinan sono Yon and Pinan sono Go, as well as tameshiwari (board breaking).

KIMAA students extend their thanks to Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham for organising the weekend.

Aspley Dojo Karate Grading – March 15, 2014

On March 15, Aspley Dojo held its first Karate grading for 2014. The grading was conducted by Sempai Rob James.

The Little Lions kicked off the day at 8am.

The Adults class followed at 10am.

Sempai Rob was very happy with the technical ability displayed on the day. Everyone participated with the ‘Kyokushin spirit’. Particular congratulations go to Aspley’s senior student Jermaine on his 4th Kyu, earned after 8 kumite bouts, and Little Lion Sarah on her 5th Kyu after 5 kumite bouts. Sarah trains under Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis in Karate at the North Coast NSW dojos, but graded with the Brisbane students today.

Congratulations to all those who graded.

Kobudo Grading – March 16, 2014

On Sunday December 15, the final Sydney Kobudo class for 2013, a grading was held. Sempai Don Cheong, Sempai Alex Lloyd and Sempai Todd Murphy all successfully graded.

The grading was run by Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo) and Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 5th Dan Kobudo).

Sempai Todd and Sempai Alex were graded to 2nd Kyu brown belt and Sempai Don was graded to 6th Kyu green belt. This grading was off the back of the trip to Okinawa that Sempai Alex and Sempai Don attended in November and the KIMAA Kyokushin & Kobudo Seminar in October.

They were presented with their new grades in February 2014, when Kobudo classes resumed.

New grades with Shihan Cunningham

Kobudo Class, February 2014

Shihan Lipman presented the students their certificates on March 16.

Shihan Lipman & Sempai Todd

Shihan Lipman & Sempai Alex

Shihan Lipman & Sempai Don

Shihan Lipman with his newly graded students

Congratulations to these three students on their new grades.

Senior First Aid Course – February 1, 2014

A Senior First Aid course was held on Saturday February 1 at Annangrove Dojo. The course was taken by Shihan Des Paroz (6th Dan Shorinjiryu Karate). Shihan Paroz has trained with KIMAA before at Sensei Hokama’s Australian 2012 seminar, as well as introducing KIMAA’s Kobudo students to the Jō last July. KIMAA students were fortunate to receive Shihan Paroz’s expertise on an area other than the martial arts. He also related some treatments in the first aid syllabus to common martial arts injuries.

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KIMAA extends its thanks to Shihan Paroz, and his assistant Kevin, for their time.

Beach Training – December 21, 2013

Members of the Lismore and Ballina dojos finished training for 2013 with a beach session at Wardell. Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis led instruction on the day. Sempai Rob James of Aspley Dojo also attended the training session.

The morning was spent on ‘The 3 Ks’ of Kyokushin: kihon, kata and kumite. The junior grades then worked on cardio, running along the beach while the black belts practised kata. Following this was some self-defence work, kumite drills, moving basics and finally some sparring.

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At the end of training, some North Coast students received new grades. The North Coast ‘Student of the Year’ and other awards were also presented.

After the beach session was a party at Sempai Jon’s house.

Thanks go to Sensei Mark and Sempai Jon for organising a great day of training and to Sempai Rob’s partner, Kerry, for the wonderful photography.

Sempai Rob James, Sempai Wally Gray, Sensei Mark McFadden & Sempai Jon Ellis

Australian Championships – December 14-15, 2013

On the weekend of December 14-15, KIMAA student Patricia Tan entered the National All Styles Championships, held at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, and achieved great success.

On the Saturday Patricia performed Saiha kata for the Kyu Grade Kata competition, intermediate section, and won the Gold Trophy. Patricia also performed the Bo kata Sushi no Kon Sho in the Traditional Weapons section, which was an open division. Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis performed the Bo kata Ufugusuku with Patricia, displaying the application partner work and finished with a take down for the Creative Weapons demonstration. This demonstration won them the Silver Trophy.

Patricia entered the Continuous Sparring and Points Sparring divisions on the Sunday. These were the Veterans Open division and the fights were against black belts from a mix of styles.

North Coast KIMAA students, including Patricia, have previously enjoyed success in the National All Styles competitions in October 2012 and May 2013. Congratulations to the North Coast students for their consistently high standard of performance in these national competitions. Extra congratulations to Patricia Tan for becoming an Australian champion!

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Aspley Dojo Karate Gradings – December 7, 2013

On Saturday December 7, Aspley Dojo held Adults and Little Lions Kyokushin gradings.

The Adults grading went first, early on the Saturday morning. Jermaine Downs was graded to 5th Kyu, Jim Murphy to 7th Kyu and Mark Mathews to 10th Kyu. Shane Dwyer was not present on the day but has been separately graded to 10th Kyu.

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The Little Lions grading followed. Sidney Murphy was graded to 8th Kyu Level 1, Jack Bolger to 10th Kyu Level 3, Eliza Bolger to 10th Kyu Level 3, Owen Pitt to 10th Kyu Level 2, Jarryd Garnsworthy to 10th Kyu Level 2, Jarryd Garnsworthy to 10th Kyu Level 2 and Rocco Dwyer to 10th Kyu Level 2. Rocco Dwyer also received the ‘Student of the Month’ award for improved fitness.

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The students and parents of the Little Lions enjoyed a BBQ lunch afterwards.

Aspley Dojo head instructor Sempai Rob James was very happy with the performances on the day. Special mention goes to Aspley Dojo senior student Jermaine Downs, who is making great progress and ‘will make a fine ambassador for Kyokushin’, with great dedication to his training. The Little Lions trained hard for the grading and ‘are an absolute delight to teach’. Congratulations to all of Aspley Dojo’s students for a most successful grading.

Aspley Dojo’s final class for the year will be on Thursday December 19. The Tuesday December 17 classes will not be held. Classes for Aspley Dojo resume on Tuesday January 14 2014.

Adults graded

Little Lions graded