Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin & 5th Dan Kobudo) visited Sempai Rob James and the students of KIMAA’s Aspley Dojo to teach a Kobudo introductory seminar.
The seminar focused on the Bo Staff. Students learned basic techniques, as well as how to attack and defend against the Bo.
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.
2012 was a year of many achievements for Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia, for both its students and instructors.
Sydney was home to a lot of KIMAA activity. Many Turramurra and Annangrove students had their first experience with tameshiwari (board breaking), and had much success. Karate students of Knox Grammar School made further advancement in technique and fighting skills, and farewelled one of its main coaches and alumnus. The Honbu Dojo held a Black Belt grading in June, with five students earning their 1st Dan Black Belt after a six hour test, including forty full contact fights.
The highlight of the year was undoubtedly Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama’s visit to Australia in September. The 10th Dan master of Karate bunkai and Kobudo weapons spent a weekend with students from the four New South Wales Dojos, developing the skills of the senior grades and introducing basic techniques to beginners.
At the end of the weekend, Sensei Hokama awarded new black belt grades in Kobudo to Shihan Howard Lipman (6th Dan), Shihan Rick Cunningham (5th Dan), Sensei Mark Shelmerdine (3rd Dan), Sensei Paul Finnerty (2nd Dan) and Sempai James Campbell (1st Dan). Overall Sensei Hokama was most impressed with the standard of the KIMAA students at Kobudo.
Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham followed up Sensei’s visit by travelling to Okinawa in November for further training. The two Shihans also took Sensei to learn boomerang throwing and visit Jenolan Caves during his Australian trip. Photos of these have been added to the September article since it was originally published.
September was a big month for KIMAA, with Sempai Rob James opening up Aspley Dojo. Aspley Dojo, Brisbane, is KIMAA’s first Dojo in Queensland. The Dojo has been successful, and held its first grading in late November. Shihan Cunningham visited in December to run a weekend seminar with Sempai Rob.
Members of Lismore and Ballina Dojos came down to Sydney for the grading and Sensei Hokama’s Seminar. Students from the North Coast also had great success in October, competing back-to-back in two tournaments. Saturday October 20th saw some compete in the Australian Kyokushin Karate Association tournament, and the following day in the National All Styles contest, both in Queensland. Many won places and trophies, and all represented KIMAA admirably.
Late 2012 also saw the launch of this new website. This new website aims to provide both visitors and members of KIMAA with accessible and comprehensive information on Kyokushin Karate and Kobudo. News articles, upcoming events, announcements, and the latest photo and video galleries across all five New South Wales and Queensland Dojos will be made instantly available to you. For live updates, you can click the “Follow” button in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen to receive an email notification every time a new event or gallery is posted. Otherwise, just keep checking in.
Dates for the Dojo closure periods are available in the calendar. The KIMAA instructors wish all a safe and happy holiday season. See you at training in 2013!
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.
Written by Shihan Lipman in 2012
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.
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.
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.
Sempai Rob James, with the endorsement of Shihan Howard Lipman, has opened a dojo in Aspley, Brisbane. Its first class took place on Tuesday September 18.
This exciting opening has extended KIMAA into Queensland, giving those living in Brisbane the opportunity to learn Kyokushin Karate as it was taught by Sosai Mas Oyama to Shihan Lipman, and as it has been taught to his students.
Shihan Lipman and Sempai Rob taught together in the early 1990s, before the death of Sosai Oyama.
KIMAA extends a warm welcome to all new students.
Click here for more information on classes.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 