Sensei Idir Bahamid has introduced KIMAA students to the kata Naihanchi. The video of Naihanchi is available below for students to watch as a supplement to training in class.
Naihanchi is a widely practised kata in Okinawa, other parts of Japan and many styles of Karate. Kyokushin founder Sosai Mas Oyama trained in both Shotokan and Gōjū-ryū and knew this kata. Shihan Lipman has an old video of Sosai performing Naihanchi. Although Naihanchi was not formally incorporated into the mainstream Kyokushin syllabus, Shihan Lipman has introduced the kata for Shodan level KIMAA students. This allows KIMAA students to learn a traditional kata with much history behind it.
Sensei Idir demonstrates Naihanchi:
Click here to see a photo gallery of Sensei Idir training in his youth, as he demonstrates the power of Karate.
Shihan Des Paroz, 6th Dan in Shorinjiryu Karate, was invited to teach an introductory seminar for the Jō, a four foot staff. Assisting Shihan Paroz was Sensei Chrissy Hanley.
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The morning class introduced students to the basic handling of the weapon and how it varies from using the six foot Bo staff. A lot of attention was given to how the Jō is a mid-range weapon, allowing greater versatility than a staff like the Bo, which is largely limited to long-range.
The class progressed onto bunkai and Kudaka No Jō, a kata. It was a successful morning and the KIMAA Kobudo students will be able to build on these basic techniques and exercises in their fortnightly classes, exploring further applications and combinations of weapons (e.g. Bo vs Jō).
KIMAA extends its warm thanks to Shihan Paroz and Sensei Chrissy for their time.
At the invitation of Shihan Howard Lipman and Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Robert King (5th Dan) and Sempai Aaron Jones of Koryu Uchinadi (KU) Kempo Jujutsu were invited back to teach a second knife attack and defence seminar for KIMAA students. The seminar was once again held at Annangrove Dojo, attended by Annangrove and Turramurra students and Sensei Mark McFadden from the North Coast.
2013 June Knife Seminar – Group Shot
Some time was spent recapping content from the first knife seminar before instruction moved onto more techniques, styles of defence, take downs and responses to a variety of scenarios.
The seminar ran all morning, followed by a group lunch.
As with the first knife seminar, the students learned a great deal and much fun was had while receiving instruction about a serious, unfortunately common weapon.
KIMAA extends its warm thanks to Sensei Robert and Sempai Aaron for their time. You can read more about Koryu Uchinadi (KU) Kempo Jujutsu on their website here, and read more about Sensei Robert here.
Sensei Robert King runs the students through basic knife drill.
Sensei Robert King (5th Dan) and Sempai Aaron Jones of Koryu Uchinadi (KU) Kempo Jujutsu were invited to teach a knife attack and defence seminar by Shihan Rick Cunningham, who has trained with their organisation before. The seminar was held at Annangrove Dojo, attended by Annangrove and Turramurra KIMAA students as well as Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis from the North Coast.
The seminar focused on attack, block and counter-attack techniques and combinations involving a knife. There was a great emphasis on the reality of fighting with a knife, dispelling any illusion of imitating what one sees in film or television. A variety of different situations were covered as students were taught, if there is no alternative, how to use a knife effectively against an armed opponent.
Sempai Aaron (left) and Sensei Robert (right) demonstrate a combination.
Multiple sparring exercises were conducted in the class. The last one was a particularly effective demonstration of the lethality of the weapon, where students swapped their wooden and plastic knives for permanent marker pens, and were told to free fight with a partner. The number of arms and t-shirts coloured in red and black pen said it all!
After the seminar, the group went to a cafe in Round Corner for lunch.
The seminar was seen as a great success that was enjoyable, but also gave a realistic understanding of the knife as a weapon. Shihan Lipman, Shihan Cunningham and all the students were grateful for the time given by Sensei Robert and Sempai Aaron. To Shihan Cunningham and the guest instructors, the most important thing to take away from the seminar was a healthy respect for the knife, as well as a key martial arts principle: if one can walk away from a fight, walk.
Mark McFadden has been promoted to 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate by Shihan Howard Lipman. This grants Mark the rank of Sensei (teacher). The grade promotion was awarded at Shihan Lipman’s Dojo in Turramurra.
Shihan Lipman also promoted Sensei Mark to 2nd Dan in Kobudo. He will formally receive his certificate from Sensei Hokama in the upcoming November KIMAA Japan Tour.
Sensei Mark has been teaching Kyokushin since the 1980s and running his own Dojo since 1996. He has won places in local and state level tournaments, and has taught many students who have done the same.
Sensei Mark currently leads training at the Lismore and Ballina Dojo halls in KIMAA’s NSW North Coast branch, teaching Kyokushin Karate and Kobudo. Congratulations to Sensei Mark for his years of training and diligence as a teacher to so many fine students.
You can read more about Sensei Mark’s career in Kyokushin by clicking here, or his Kobudo career here.
Shihan Howard Lipman awards Sensei Mark McFadden his 3rd Dan
Shihan Cunningham and Shihan Lipman with their newest Sensei
Group shot of those at the class
Sempai Jon Ellis and Sensei Mark McFadden, head instructors of KIMAA’s North Coast classes
Grading tests were held at Turramurra Dojo for the Knox Grammar Senior School and Prep School Karate classes on Saturday March 9th. Shihan Howard Lipman, who has been the head instructor of the Knox classes since 2005, judged the performance of the boys on the day and was pleased with the standard displayed by the Knox groups. Click here to read more about the Knox Karate program.
March 9th was the final sports session for Term 1. Students are advised to collect their belt and certificate from Shihan Lipman before or during one of the public classes. Click here to see the Turramurra Dojo timetable.
The results for both grading tests are available for download below. Congratulations to all those who achieved new grades.
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.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 