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.
Sensei Alex Lloyd, Sempai Jason Lambe, Sensei Ben Ng, Sempai Eric Wright, Hanshi Howard Lipman, Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Don Cheong, Sempai Tony Kuo, Shihan Peter Olive, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Sempai Steph Runge.
On Sunday May 15th, karateka from Turramurra Dojo competed in Kancho Doug Turnbull’s KIKO Kata & Kobudo Tournament in Tempe, Sydney.
Sempai Tony, Shihan James and Sensei Alex perform Seienchin.
Competitors ranged from the young to not-so-young, with entries in Kyokushin individual and group kata of various ages and belt levels, as well as Kobudo.
The day began with a Bo staff demonstration by Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Sensei Alex Lloyd, performing Kihon and Ufugusuku. They had to adapt their 3-man drill to a 2-man performance last minute when the third practitioner was unwell on the day.
This was followed by a special demonstration by Sempai Tony Kuo and his sons, Ethan and Ryan. The three performed Naihanchi kata, showing how Karate is a discipline that reaches across the years in spirit and appeal.
Sempai Tony Kuo with his sons, Ethan and Ryan, performing Naihanchi.
After the opening ceremony, the first competition division was Kobudo. Shihan Mark and Shihan James Sidwell each competed with the Bo, Sensei Alex with the Sai and Sempai Stephen Runge with the Eku. Thanks go to Shihan Rick Cunningham and Shihan Mark for ongoing instruction in International Hokama Kobudo.
After the weapons, the individual and group Karate kata followed. Each student performed admirably in their category, displaying outstanding technique, excellent focus and calm under pressure. In the adults, Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Tony Kuo performed Kyokushin kata, and in the kids were Maia Brown, Ethan Kuo, Ryan Kuo, Sophie Shi, Aaron Goh and Ashlee Kim. The following video is a brief highlights reel of each entry, as well as the opening demo.
From the various categories, Turramurra Dojo (Honbu KIMAA) students scored the following placements:
Kyokushin Adult Black Belt Group Kata 1st place Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Alex Lloyd, Sempai Tony Kuo (Seienchin)
Kyokushin 11-12 years Group Kata 1st place Maia Brown, Ethan Kuo, Ryan Kuo (Naihanchi) 2nd place Sophie Shi, Aaron Goh, Ashlee Kim (Tsukino)
Kyokushin Adult Black Belt Individual Kata 3rd Place Sempai Tony Kuo (Okinawan Seipai)
Kyokushin Intermediate Individual Kata 1st place Ryan Kuo (Gekusai Dai) 2nd place Maia Brown (Yantsu) 3rd place Ethan Kuo (Yantsu)
Congratulations to all who competed, and again to those who achieved placements. Thanks go to all instructors who helped students prepare for the day, with special acknowledgement to Shihan Idir Bahamid. It must be said that the most rewarding part of the tournament was not the day itself, but the lead up to it, for the Budo spirit in which each competitor prepared themselves week after week displayed true dedication to pursuing the martial way. The collegiality and camaraderie within the dojo is second-to-none, and head instructor and KIMAA Chairman Hanshi Howard Lipman could not be prouder of all his students.
Sempai Josh Darley (white side, right) prepares to fight, with Sensei Alex Lloyd coaching.
The four KIMAA karateka represented our organisation in Kyokushin Karate. Sensei Ben Ng, Sempai Angus Sweeney and Alireza Miri competed in the Full Contact Kumite, Adults All Grades, Male Middleweight division. Sempai Josh Darley competed in both the Freestyle Kumite, 16-17 years (Colts), Blue to Black Belt, Male division, and in the Full Contact Kumite, 16-17 years (Colts), All Grades, Male Lightweight Division.
All students admirably represented KIMAA, facing strong opponents and displayed great budo and fighting spirit.
Congratulations go to Sempai Josh, for placing Third in his Freestyle Colts Kumite division and Second in his Full Contact Colts division. Due to luck of the draw, Sempai Josh ended up having four fights in a row, drawing the praise of Kancho Mylonas and other senior instructors for his fierce fighting attitude and never backing down.
Hanshi John Taylor, Shihan John Williams, Hanshi Howard Lipman, Shihan Jim Phillips and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine, among other VIPs, award trophies to the winners.
Congratulations also go to Sensei Ben and Ali, both fighting their way to the Final of the day’s main event: the Male Middleweight for Full Contact Kumite. After one extension, Ali’s persuasive kicks won the bout, leading KIMAA to take the top two spots of the division.
After having a notable period without tournament events due to the Covid situation, it was gratifying for all involved to be at a large event and compete against other martial artists. Hanshi Howard expresses his warm pride in all his students and coaches efforts.
Masumi Lipman, Sempai Angus Sweeney, Sempai Stephen Runge, Sempai Josh Darley, Hanshi Howard Lipman, Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Alex Lloyd, Shihan James Sidwell and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine after the tournament. (Not pictured: Alireza Miri, division winner.)
Karate students of Lismore and Ballina dojos joined forces on Sunday December 12 for beach training. The weather was a bit overcast but the water was warm as the students pushed through their end-of-year training session.
After the beach training session, the end-of-year awards were given out by Sensei Mark McFadden and Sensei Jon Ellis. The Little Lions of the Year were Isaac from Lismore and Allan from Ballina, and the Adult Student of the Year was Seb from Lismore Dojo.
On Tuesday December 14, Lismore Dojo held gradings for the Little Lions and Adult classes. Congratulations to all students who achieved new grades.
All students who entered the competition placed or won their division.
These included a team kata demonstration of Tsuki No by Maia Brown, Ethan Kuo and Ryan Kuo, who won their division.
Maia also won her individual division, for Pinan Sono Yon.
Sempai Tony Kuo won his division with his demonstration of Seienchin.
Aaron Goh won his division, Peter Tsu placed in his division and Yue Leong Chia placed in his division.
In his division, Ethan Kuo came second.
And in his division, Ethan’s brother Ryan came first.
Congratulations to all for participating, and showcasing strong Kyokushin Karate kata in the tradition of Sosai Mas Oyama. They were coached by Hanshi Howard, Shihan Idir Bahamid and Shihan James Sidwell on the day.
On the weekend of 7-9 May 2021, a KIMAA seminar was held on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. The seminar was to celebrate the 15th birthday of Sensei Mark McFadden‘s Lismore Dojo.
KIMAA instructors and students from all 6 dojos participated in the weekend, which was held at Evans Head. The group met on the Friday for dinner at the bowling club. Training began promptly on the Saturday morning, beginning with a basics session led by Hanshi Howard Lipman.
Later in the day, the 50+ students broke up into various groups for further training in Kyokushin kata as well as a Kobudo group.
Training started bright and early on the Sunday morning at Evans Head Beach, where Shihan Rick Cunningham led a beach training session. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all, from basics to kumite in the water. To finish the session, all children ganged up on Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Don Cheong and Sensei Alex Lloyd.
After a shower and change of dogi, the students went back to the hall for further training.
It was an outstanding weekend of training. The KIMAA cohort had not been able to unite in large numbers except briefly for the Senior Grading at the end of 2020, and after a substantial period of time apart it was enjoyable, practical and useful to gather the students from Turramurra, Annangrove, Lismore, Ballina, Young and Brisbane dojos to train together once again.
Thanks go to Sempai Patricia Tan for organising the weekend, and congratulations again to Sensei Mark for 15 years of Lismore Dojo.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 