Sensei Matsumoto Visit – September 9-11, 2016

Shihan Howard Lipman and Masumi travelled to Cairns on September 9th and returned on September 11th.

One of Shihan’s students, Mr Han Barkmeyer (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Iaido) has been living in Cairns for some time.

Shihan Lipman, Masumi, Han and his partner at dinner together.
Shihan Lipman, Masumi, Han and his partner at dinner together.

Sensei Han met with Shihan Lipman and Masumi on the night of Friday 9th and went together to Sensei Matsumoto’s dojo.

Shihan Lipman and Sensei Matsumoto were born in the same year, 1942, during the Second World War; one in Australia, the other in Japan. Both have long histories in the martial arts and have enjoyed mutual respect and friendship for a long period.

Shihan Lipman with Sensei Matsumoto at his dojo.
Shihan Lipman with Sensei Matsumoto at his dojo.

On Sunday afternoon, Shihan and Masumi visited Sensei and his wife Fusashi at their home. They were invited to dinner on Sunday night at a Japanese restaurant with some other friends of Sensei.

Shihan Lipman, Sensei Matsumoto and his wife Fusashi.
Shihan Lipman, Sensei Matsumoto and his wife Fusashi.

“It was great to be able to spend time with Sensei again. A true martial artist and one of whom I am proud to call my friend,” – Shihan Howard Lipman.

Yudansha Training Weekend – September 10-11, 2016

A Yudansha training weekend was held in Sydney for black belt grades in Kyokushin Karate and Kobudo weapons. Sydney black belts, and Sensei Jon Ellis from Ballina Dojo, participated in the training.

Sensei Peter Olive runs Sempai Jason Lambe through Kanku Dai.
Sensei Peter Olive runs Sempai Jason Lambe through Kanku Dai.

On the Saturday was an afternoon class at Turramurra Dojo. Shihan Rick Cunningham took the class. Every Kyokushin kata was revised, from the first Taikyoku to Seienchin, Sushi Ho and Kanku Dai.

Training continued on Sunday morning at Annangrove Dojo, instruction again led by Shihan Cunningham. The Bo and Sai katas were revised with attention paid to technique and pacing.

Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Ian Holdaway and Sempai Alex Lloyd
Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Ian Holdaway and Sempai Alex Lloyd

Kobudo Photo Shoot – June 26, 2016

Following the Black Belt class and senior Kyokushin grading the day before, a Kobudo class was held on Sunday June 26.

Ready for partner work with the Bo staff.
Ready for partner work with the Bo staff.

The class was held at Annangrove Dojo, with instruction led by Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo). Assisting with teaching was Sensei Mark Shelmerdine (4th Dan Kyokushin, 4th Dan Kobudo), Sensei Paul Finnerty (4th Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo) and Sempai Alex Lloyd (2nd Dan Kyokushin, 1st Dan Kobudo).

KIMAA Kobudo black belts: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Paul Finnerty & Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.
KIMAA Kobudo black belts: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Paul Finnerty & Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.

From KIMAA’s North Coast and Queensland dojos were Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo) and Patricia Tan from Lismore Dojo, Sensei Jon Ellis (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo) and Will Brook from Ballina Dojo, and Sempai Rob James (2nd Dan Kyokushin) and Amanda Bolger from North Brisbane Dojo. Trish, Will and Amanda did very well at training considering the rigours of the Kyokushin grading the previous day.

An extended and intensive Kobudo class was held revising various weapons and katas. Turramurra student Jonathan Lee attended the class to do some photography.

Thank you to Shihan Cunningham for taking the class, Jonathan for doing the photos and everyone who came along to train.

KIMAA Kobudo class: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Jon Ellis, Patricia Tan, Will Brook, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Amanda Bolger, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sempai Rob James & Sensei Mark Shelmerdine
KIMAA Kobudo class: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Jon Ellis, Patricia Tan, Will Brook, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Amanda Bolger, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sempai Rob James & Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.

Senior Kyokushin Grading – June 25, 2016

After the Black Belt Class that morning, a senior Kyokushin grading was held on the afternoon of Saturday June 25 at Turramurra Dojo.

Shihan Howard Lipman corrects technique of students while assessing them.
Shihan Howard Lipman corrects the technique of students in the grading.

Students from all five KIMAA dojos (before the opening of Nundah Dojo) participated in the grading. Shihan Howard Lipman assessed students while Shihan Rick Cunningham took the grading.

Shihan Rick Cunningham leads the grading.
Shihan Rick Cunningham leads the grading.

Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis and Sempai Rob James flew down to Sydney to support their students in the grading. Patricia Tan from Lismore Dojo, Will Brook from Ballina Dojo and Amanda Bolger from North Brisbane Dojo accompanied their instructors to Sydney to participate in the grading.

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Some of the students grading from Turramurra included Jasper Choi, Bernard Wilson and Elia Parsanejad. They kept pace well with the senior grades, Will and Trish, from up the coast.

Will performed admirably in his 20 fights for 1st Kyu (Senior Brown Belt).

Results decided upon by Shihan Lipman will be announced by the various dojo head instructors. Congratulations to all who passed, and well done on everyone for attempting.

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Group photo of those who attempted the grading and supporting black belts.
Group photo of those who attempted the grading and supporting black belts.
Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Jon Ellis, Will Brook, Patricia Tan, Shihan Howard Lipman & Sensei Mark McFadden.
Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Jon Ellis, Will Brook, Patricia Tan, Shihan Howard Lipman & Sensei Mark McFadden.

Black Belt Class – June 25, 2016

On the morning of Saturday June 25th, a Kyokushin Black Belt class was held at Turramurra Dojo.

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Instruction was led by KIMAA President, Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 7th Dan Kobudo). Yudansha from Turramurra, Annangrove, Lismore, Ballina and North Brisbane dojos were in attendance.

Shihan Howard Lipman corrects technique for Tensho kata.
Shihan Howard Lipman corrects technique for Tensho kata.

Basic techniques, breathing and teaching imperatives were revised, before moving onto partner work, bunkai and senior grade katas.

The KIMAA black belts always enjoy coming together for training, learning new skills, checking each others’ technique and pushing towards new goals. Thank you to all who came.

KIMAA Yudansha ready for the next kata.
KIMAA Yudansha ready for the next kata.

AKKA NSW State Tournament – May 22, 2016

KIMAA karateka from Turramurra and Annangrove dojos competed in the Australian Kyokushin Karate Association NSW State Tournament on May 22.

Sempai Jason Lambe (1st Dan Kyokushin) and Christian Girdham competed from Annangrove Dojo, while Angus and Victor Sweeney represented Turramurra.

Christian Girdham and Sempai Jason Lambe with Shihan Rick Cunningham.
Christian Girdham and Sempai Jason Lambe with Shihan Rick Cunningham.

Acting as coaches and other support on the day were Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Sensei James Sidwell and Sensei Don Cheong.

Victor and Angus Sweeney with Sensei James Sidwell and Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.
Victor and Angus Sweeney with Sensei James Sidwell and Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.

Sempai Jason, Angus and Victor all fought in the COLTs heavy weight division while Christian fought in the COLTs light weight division.

Sempai Jason and Victor were up against each other for their first fight. Victor lost to Jason by a half-point due to a solid kick to the ribs, but the round still went to completion.

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Angus was up against a black belt in his first round. Angus lost by a half-point when he took a jodan mae geri to the face, but continued the fight to completion.

Sempai Jason then went up against the black belt who had bested Angus. Sempai Jason fought well but also lost by a half-point due to a head kick, yet he finished the round all the same.

These three had fought in the AKKA state titles last year and in others, but for Christian, it was his second tournament. He fought well for his second time, but ultimately lost his round due to an ushiro geri kick.

Well done to all competitors for turning up and representing KIMAA.

Sempai Jason Lambe, Victor Sweeney, Sensei James Sidwell, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Angus Sweeney, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine & Christian Girdham.
Sempai Jason Lambe, Victor Sweeney, Sensei James Sidwell, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Angus Sweeney, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine & Christian Girdham.

Black Belt & Kobudo Class – May 15, 2016

Sunday May 15 saw another KIMAA Black Belt Class held at Annangrove Dojo. The session was an extension of normal the normal Sydney Kobudo (weapons) training schedule.

Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo) held the class. A number of Turramurra and Annangrove black belts attended. Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo) and Patricia Tan from Lismore Dojo also came down for the weekend.

A number of katas were covered in the class to revise basics, finesse and correct timings. Some were kyu-grade katas, such as Sanchin or the Pinans, as well as dan-grade, such as Seienchin or Garyu. The Kyokushin Bo kata, Chion, was also practised.

Sempai Alex Lloyd, Patricia Tan, Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei James Sidwell, Sensei Don Cheong, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Peter Olive, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jason Lambe.
The Black Belt class: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Patricia Tan, Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei James Sidwell, Sensei Don Cheong, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Peter Olive, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jason Lambe.

After the black belt session finished, the bulk of students participated in a Kobudo class.

Weapons revised included the Bo, Sai and Kama.

The Kobudo class: Sempai Alex, Sensei Mark, Patricia, Sensei James, Shihan Cunningham, Sensei Paul, Sensei Peter, Sensei Ian, Sensei Mark and Sensei Ben.
The Kobudo class: Sempai Alex, Sensei Mark, Patricia, Sensei James, Shihan Cunningham, Sensei Paul, Sensei Peter, Sensei Ian, Sensei Mark and Sensei Ben.

At the end of the class, Shihan Cunningham presented Trish Tan with her 3rd Kyu in Kobudo, having been graded in the April KIMAA Lismore Seminar.

Trish Tan receives her 3rd Kyu in Kobudo from Shihan Rick Cunningham.
Trish Tan receives her 3rd Kyu in Kobudo from Shihan Rick Cunningham.