Grading tests were held at Turramurra Dojo for the Knox Grammar Senior School and Prep School Karate classes on Saturday March 9th. Shihan Howard Lipman, who has been the head instructor of the Knox classes since 2005, judged the performance of the boys on the day and was pleased with the standard displayed by the Knox groups. Click here to read more about the Knox Karate program.
March 9th was the final sports session for Term 1. Students are advised to collect their belt and certificate from Shihan Lipman before or during one of the public classes. Click here to see the Turramurra Dojo timetable.
The results for both grading tests are available for download below. Congratulations to all those who achieved new grades.
At the invitation of Sempai Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis, some members of Aspley Dojo travelled from Brisbane to the New South Wales Far North Coast. Sempai Rob James, Jermaine and Jim had a fantastic afternoon training with members from the Ballina and Lismore Dojos at the Lismore training hall.
Kata bunkai, ippon sanbon and jyu kumite were covered in the first session. After a short break, Sempai Mark and Sempai Jon taught the Queensland guests some Kobudo, including basics and some self defence techniques. The Aspley Dojo students were very grateful for the time given by the KIMAA North Coast karateka, and look forward to future joint training sessions.
Sempai Mark McFadden of KIMAA’s North Coast Dojos and Sempai Rob James of Aspley Dojo visited Sydney for a weekend of training. On the Friday, the two visiting instructors trained with black belts from Turramurra and Annangrove at Shihan Lipman’s dojo. At the end of this class, Sempai Rob was awarded his certificate for Shodan (1st Dan) in Kyokushin Karate, formalising his status as a KIMAA accredited black belt.
Sempai Mark and Sempai Rob spent the Saturday training with Shihan Cunningham at Annangrove Dojo. The focus was on kata bunkai, in particular on Seienchin and Tensho. The session finished by introducing Sempai Rob to Kobudo and going through an exercise with the Bo staff.
The following Sunday morning was the first Kobudo session of the year for Sydney students, also held at Annangrove Dojo. Sempai Mark and Sempai Rob trained with the class, led by Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham. Sensei Mark Shelmerdine taught Sempai Rob further basics of the Bo and the first kata. Having the head instructors of the Sydney, North Coast and Brisbane KIMAA branches train together was a valuable exercise and will benefit their respective students.
Aspley Dojo held its first grading on Tuesday November 27th. Four students were able to grade, which is excellent progress after the Dojo’s opening in September.
Kerry and Jermaine were graded to Senior Orange Belt (9th Kyu), Jim to Orange Belt (10th Kyu) and Sidney to children’s level-orange belt (10th Kyu Level 1).
The students received their new grades from Sempai Rob James and Shihan Rick Cunningham on December 1st. Shihan Cunningham was able to present the grades during his visit to Queensland to help run a Kyokushin seminar for Aspley Dojo’s students.
My wife Masumi, Shihan Rick Cunningham and I departed Sydney on Sunday November 18 and arrived in Okinawa Monday November 19. On arrival, we contacted Sensei Hokama and drove to his Dojo to meet him at 5:30pm. As always, our meeting with Sensei was most pleasant and he took us to dinner in the evening.
Sensei was busy on Tuesday, so Rick and I decided to show Masumi some of Naha (capital of Okinawa). In the morning, we visited Shuri-Jo Castle and in the afternoon went to Tsuboya, the old pottery village. Then onto Kokusai Dori for a little shopping! The evening was spent having dinner with Shihan Shichinohe, the Kyokushin Branch Chief and his wife Vera – both long term friends of mine.
On Wednesday morning we had our first training session with Sensei, and at this time were instructed in the use of the Kama (sickle) and our first kata with this weapon. Rick and I both enjoyed this session and found the Kama an interesting weapon. In the afternoon, Sensei took us to the Thalasso Spa in Ginoza, with his friend Chikako Chibana and he presented Masumi and I with a beautiful wedding gift – a wall hanging of a dragon, done by Chikako. We went then onto Ginowan for a Soba dinner.
The Kama
Thursday morning we had training with Sensei again, this time a new Bo kata – Sushi No Kon Dai. Rick and I were pleased to have yet again extended our knowledge. Friday morning saw more training and revision on the Kama kata and Sushi No Kon Dai.
We went to the restaurant of a close friend of Sensei Hokama on Friday evening. The friend was Sensei Miyazato. We enjoyed dinner and a show, which presented various demonstrations of Okinawan weapons, music and song. We were encouraged as guests to participate, which Rick and Masumi did. Following this, we were all dressed as old Okinawan Kings and Queen. We all had a turn in these outfits and Rick was quite impressed, and for a short time could actually envisage himself as Okinawan royalty, as did Masumi! I of course, accepted this with the modesty and dignity of a senior Shihan.
Howard & Masumi as royalty 1
Howard & Masumi as royalty 2
Sensei Miyazato, Howard, Masumi & Rick
Masumi & Howard in the Chinese Gardens
Saturday saw us with another free day so we went to Shureido Martial Arts shop, had lunch in the city, went to the Chinese Gardens, wandered around book shops and a little more shopping on Kokusai Dori.
In the evening we drove to the Dojo again to see the senior black belts, Shihan Arakawa and Sensei Seki, and to say our goodbyes to Sensei Hokama. Sunday morning saw us depart from Okinawa and arrive in Sydney on the 26th.
We all enjoyed our time in Okinawa. For Rick and myself it was time well spent as always with Sensei and we came away with yet more Kobudo knowledge from him. It was Masumi’s first trip to Okinawa, and it was a joy for Rick and I to be able to share these experiences with her.
Students from the NSW North Coast Dojos competed in two competitions this October up in Queensland.
The team did incredibly well in the Australian Kyokushin Karate Association titles, held on Saturday October 20. Many students competed in the full contact and non-contact events. Of these Rian and Jeremy won placements in the contact event (1st and 3rd), and Courtney in the non-contact event (1st).
The next day, October 21st, students also competed in the Queensland National All Styles. They entered in traditional weapons, point sparring, continuous sparring, kata and more. Jeremy Grey came 1st in continuous sparring, doing it the hard way with 2 draws and following on from the Saturday’s competition. Dianne Turner came 1st in the Queensland Veterans Women Continuous Sparring, and Trish Tan came 2nd in the same division. Trish also came 2nd in the point sparring at Kyu grade level. Those who did not win trophies still performed admirably, putting in the effort to train, to compete and perform their best.
North Coast team that competed at the National All Styles, October 21.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 