News Events – Page 7 – Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia

Sensei Ian Holdaway – February 8, 2023

Hanshi Howard Lipman made a surprise visit to Annangrove Dojo during training on the night of Wednesday 8 February to present Sensei Ian Holdaway with his 4th Dan (Yondan) Black Belt and certificate in Kyokushin Karate.

Sensei Ian (4th Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo) began his training in Kyokushin Karate under Shihan John Williams (then Sensei) in 1989 at Minchinbury Dojo. In 1991 he moved to Werrington Dojo under Sempai Sandy Ivanovic, before stopping training as a 5th Kyu in 1993 due to work commitments.

In 1999, Sensei Ian resumed his study of Karate under Shihan Rick Cunningham. He was graded to 1st Dan in 2004 and to 2nd Dan in 2007 by Hanshi Howard Lipman.

Sensei Ian partook in the third trip to Okinawa in 2008. He is one of the regular instructors at Annangrove Dojo for children and adults, as well as being master of the BBQ at all KIMAA weekend seminars.

Congratulations from all the instructors and students at Annangrove Dojo. Osu!

Beach Training – December 18, 2022

KIMAA karateka of the North Coast Dojos joined together for a Kyokushin beach training session. Training was led by Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis and Sempai Blayne Gale, with Sempai Trish Tan taking photos. After the training, the students of Ballina and Lismore dojos enjoyed a joint Christmas party and bestowed Student of the Year awards.

Happy Christmas and New Year to all.

Senior Grading – December 10, 2022

A Kyokushin grading was held for senior grades on Saturday December 10th at Turramurra Dojo. KIMAA students and instructors from Annangrove, Ballina, Lismore and Turramurra dojos attended the day.

It was a 5-hour event, where karateka were tested on basics, kata, bunkai and kumite.

Congratulations go to all who achieved new grades awarded by Hanshi Howard Lipman. Particular recognition go to our newly promoted Yudansha:

Sensei Wally Gray (3rd Dan), Lismore Dojo
Sensei Jason Lambe (3rd Dan), Annangrove Dojo
Sempai Matt Wolnizer (2nd Dan), Turramurra Dojo
Sempai Tony Kuo (2nd Dan), Turramurra Dojo

KIKO National Tournament – November 6, 2022

Karateka from Turramurra Dojo competed in Kancho Doug Turnbull’s KIKO tournament on Sunday November 6th, at Tempe Public School.

Shihan James Sidwell represented KIMAA at the Officials Table, with Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Matt Wolnizer as ringside coaches.

Rhoy Tarnate competed in the Males Adults Advanced/Black Belts Heavyweight, and Peter Zhu in the Males 10-12 years Beginners/Intermediate Over 50kg.

Both students fought well. Peter displayed great resilience in the face of some bigger opponents.

Rhoy powered through his fights, using his great strength to his advantage, placing Second at the end of the day. Well done to both Peter and Rhoy.

Gold Coast Budo Challenge – October 1-2, 2022

Sempai Patricia Tan with student Kate Waspe.

Over the first weekend of October 2022, karateka of Lismore Dojo competed at the Gold Coast Budo Challenge. The Challenge saw 178 competitors enter, with a focus on Kata on Saturday October 1st and Kumite on Sunday October 2nd. Competitors came from various Kyokushin organisations and other martial arts styles, locally and from far away as Perth.

The tournament was opened by the Japanese Consul, alongside Federal and State MPs. Competitors were led into the ring by Taiko drummers, and spectators were treated to a display of Taiko drumming. Throughout the event there were displays of Kobudo and Tameshiwari, with Sensei Phil Cox performing a multiple ice break.

Representing KIMAA on the mats were Kate Waspe, Chris Lindsay, Zac Curran and Deacon Thew. Lismore dojo head instructor Sensei Mark McFadden was a judge for Kata and Kumite events, Sempai Wally Gray was the ringside coach, and Sempai Trish Tan judged the Kumite events as well.

Congratulations to all the karateka who participated, and again for their results:

Kate came 2nd in the 7-9 years Kata division
Chris came 2nd in the male light weight advanced Kumite division
Zac came 3rd in the men’s novice Kumite division
and Deacon came 3rd in the men’s under 16s novice Kumite division.

Great effort by all at Lismore Dojo.

Senior Grading – June 11, 2022

On Saturday June 11, a Kyokushin grading was held at Annangrove Dojo. Students were assessed by Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan Rick Cunningham, with Shihan Peter Olive leading the grading.

Participants included karateka from Turramurra, Annangrove and Ballina dojos. Also coming down to support those grading were instructors and students from Lismore and Young.

Sempai Mark Long, Sempai Ben Brady and Sempai Blayne Gale were attempting higher level black belt grades, while Rientz, Brad, Jurgen and Nevin attempted their Shodan (1st) Dan grading, including the Kyokushin 40 fights.

Congratulations to all those who graded successfully, including KIMAA’s newest Yudansha (black belts). After the grading, Hanshi Howard awarded the new black belt grades. This included grading Shihan Peter Olive to Rokudan, 6th Dan.

The new Kyokushin black belt grades are:

Shihan Peter Olive (6th Dan)
Sensei Mark Long (3rd Dan)
Sempai Ben Brady (2nd Dan)
Sempai Blayne Gale (2nd Dan)
Sempai Rientz Inglis (1st Dan)
Sempai Bradley Chisholm (1st Dan)
Sempai Jurgen Bradatsch (1st Dan)
Sempai Nevin Alwis (1st Dan)

New Kobudo grades were also announced, with certificates from Sensei Hokama soon to be awarded. These were graded by Hanshi Howard and Shihan Rick in 2020, and the COVID pandemic prevented the awarding of these grades until now, with certification approved by Sensei Hokama. The new grades include:

Hanshi Howard Lipman (8th Dan)
Shihan Rick Cunningham (7th Dan)
Shihan Mark Shelmerdine (5th Dan)
Shihan James Sidwell (4th Dan)
Sensei Paul Finnerty (4th Dan)
Sensei Mark McFadden (4th Dan)
Sensei Jon Ellis (4th Dan)
Sensei Alex Lloyd (4th Dan)
Sensei Ben Ng (2nd Dan)
Sensei Ian Holdaway (2nd Dan)
Sempai Patricia Tan (1st Dan)
Sempai Stephen Runge (1st Dan)

Black Belt Training – May 28, 2022

Hanshi Howard Lipman demonstrates technique on Sensei Ben Ng.

On the afternoon of Saturday May 28th, Hanshi Howard Lipman led a Black Belt training class at Turramurra Dojo (KIMAA Honbu). Karateka from 1st Dan to 5th Dan, from Turramurra and Annangrove dojos, participated in the session.

The class spent several hours revising most senior Kyokushin kata, refining technique, and checking details and consistency.

These black belt sessions are important not just for the technical work, but the sense of community and collegiality across dojos within the organisation. Good, strong karate starts from the top, and KIMAA instructors are dedicated to continuing to improve their own martial arts for the benefit of KIMAA students.

The class ended by practising some break-fall techniques and rolls with Sempai Tony Kuo.

After two years of great disruption to the normal KIMAA calendar, it is great to be able to train together at opportunities like this, and we will continue to run these sessions and encourage all our black belts to attend. Thanks to everyone who trained and to Hanshi for his instruction.