Category: News Events

Knox Gradings – June 15, 2024

The students of the Knox Karate sports program, from Knox Grammar Senior and Preparatory Schools, participated in Kyokushin Karate gradings on Saturday June 15th.

Knox Karate coaches Sensei Mario Bonetta, Sempai Angus Sweeney and Sempai Trent Lim ran the grading, with assistance from Sensei Alex Lloyd. KIMAA Vice-Chairman Shihan James Sidwell assessed the students and oversaw proceedings.

The combined junior and senior classes of the high school completed a 2.5-hour grading and the prep school class completed a 1.5-hour grading. The students displayed enthusiasm and determination during the morning.

Hanshi Howard Lipman will review Shihan James’s marking and results will be made available through class in due course. Well done to all for their efforts.

KIKO Kata Tournament – June 2, 2024

Students of Turramurra Dojo across a variety of ages and Kyu grades competed in the KIKO Kata Tournament at the Robyn Webster Sports Centre on Sunday June 2nd. The students were supervised on the day by Shihan James Sidwell and Sensei Alex Lloyd.

KIMAA students performed their Kyokushin Karate kata very well, winning a large number of placements in various categories. All students displayed strong technical competence in their kata, showing great kime (focus). Any student in a group comprising more than four participants, if they were selected as a finalist based on their initial score, had to perform their kata a second time to secure their final position on the podium.

The following KIMAA karateka participated:

  • KATA 7 YEARS & UNDER
  • Mau Aun Quang (1st Place)
  • Shivan Thambipillay (2nd Place)
  • KATA 8-9 YEARS (Group 1)
  • Christopher Paunescu (1st Place)
  • KATA 8-9 YEARS (Group 2)
  • Sophie Chan (1st Place)
  • Isabella Hicks (2nd Place)
  • KATA 10-11 YEARS
  • Aimee Kim (2nd Place)
  • Chloe Le Bescont (3rd Place)
  • Sathyan Thambipillay (4th Place)
  • KATA 12-14 YEARS (Advanced)
  • Maia Brown (1st Place)
  • Arjuna Veerasingam (4th Place)
  • KATA 16 YEARS & OVER (Advanced)
  • Narmie Thambipillay

Taree Dojo Inaugural Grading – April 12, 2024

On Friday April 12th, 2024, the first Kyokushin Karate grading was conducted for students of Taree Dojo.

Dojo Operator Sensei Mark Long was most pleased with the students’ efforts. The grading participants were all from the Kids class, and demonstrated various skills including:

  • Warm-ups
  • Uniform management – belt tying and uniform folding
  • Kyokushin – meaning, dojo etiquette and procedures
  • Technique – stances, punches, blocks, kicks and movement
  • Kata – the first two Kyokushin kata.

The stuedents were 9 and 10 years old. Sensei Mark was delighted with their efforts and attitude throughout the grading. Their focus and energy levels remained high throughout the 2-hour grading. Well done to all.

Kempo Ryu Karate Championships – March 17, 2024

KIMAA’s Turramurra Dojo had two participants compete in the Kempo Ryu Karate Championships on Sunday March 17th.

Sempai Josh Darley and Trent Lim both competed in the Full Contact Open Adult Lightweight Division. Shihan James Sidwell led the KIMAA delegation, with Sensei Ben Ng and Sempai Angus Sweeney also acting as coaches and support.

Trent fought two fights, giving great gusto in each bout despite losing both fights.

Sempai Josh dominated his division, winning First place.

Hanshi Howard Lipman commended both fighters for their efforts on the day, and offered congratulations to Sempai Josh for his win.

Senior Grading – March 16, 2024

KIMAA held our March Kyokushin senior grading at Turramurra Honbu Dojo. Attendees from Lismore Dojo and Taree Dojo as well as Turramurra participated.

Sensei Ben Ng conducted the grading while Hanshi Howard Lipman assessed the students, assisted by Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell.

The grading covered all the usual key points – kihon, kata, fitness and kumite. Basics were covered extensively, as well as partner work, combinations, ido geiko and senior techniques. Kata of all level were performed by those attempting new grades.

The karateka from Lismore – Evelyn, Annabelle, Letitia and James – showed great spirit in their fights, including up to 15 bouts for Evelyn and Annabelle, who were grading for 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt).

Congratulations to all those who graded. In addition to several Kyu grades, three new Black Belt grades were awarded:

At the end of the grading, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine presented Hanshi Howard Lipman and his wife Masumi a photobook of the 2023 Japan trip, as a group thank-you gift for the tour. Afterwards, Hanshi presented Shihan Idir, Shihan Mark McFadden and Sensei Alex their new grades.

Lismore Seminar – February 24-25, 2024

Sensei Mark McFadden hosted a KIMAA seminar at Lismore Dojo over the weekend of February 24-25th.

Hanshi Howard Lipman, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Maia Brown of Turramurra Dojo and Sensei Mark Long of Taree Dojo made the trip to Lismore to teach at the seminar.

Proceedings began on the Saturday morning, with Sempai Maia taking the class through basic techniques and stances, with Hanshi Howard providing technical feedback to the class throughout. The morning session moved on to fitness, kicks and kata, with the guest instructors all rotating through taking the class.

After a quick lunch, provided by Lismore Dojo and cooked up by Ken and Masumi, Sensei Alex took the class through a session on kata and bunkai. Pinan Sono Ni was focused on in depth.

From here, Sempai Maia continued taking the students through more kata while Sensei Alex worked with seniors on black belt kata. Sensei Mark Long wrapped up the day with some fighting techniques and combinations, followed by everyone participating in kumite.

The senior grades met at the Cherry Street Sports Club in Ballina for dinner on Saturday night.

Sunday morning began with Sempai Maia taking a ‘Little Lions’ Kids class.

After this, Shihan Alex led a Kobudo class – during which Sensei Wally Gray was being graded. The whole group went through some basics with the Bo, before Shihan Mark McFadden took the juniors outside to keep to the basics of the Bo while Shihan Alex went through more senior techniques and kata with the other students.

The senior Kobudo students revised the Bo, Sai and Eku, including bunkai and partner work.

At the end of the day, Hanshi Howard Lipman (10th Dan Kobudo, Australian Branch Chief) graded Sensei Wally Gray (3rd Dan Kyokushin) to 1st Dan in Kobudo.

It was an enjoyable weekend for all. As Sensei Mark McFadden remarked, getting together to train on occasions like this reminds us all that we’re part of something bigger rather than an individual club.

Special thanks go to Sensei Mark for hosting; Sempai Trish Tan, Masumi, Ken and Laura for their assistance; and to the guest instructors.