On the weekend of November 2-3 2024, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell travelled to KIMAA’s Taree Dojo on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Sensei Mark Long greatly enjoyed hosting the two senior instructors from KIMAA Honbu to run their students through basics, kata and fight training over the course of the weekend.
On the 10th of August, KIMAA Turramurra Dojo held a Hanshi Howard Lipman Memorial Beach Training session the day after what would’ve been Hanshi’s 82nd birthday. Karateka from Turramurra Dojo, and Sensei Mark Long of Taree Dojo, participated on the Saturday morning training session organised by Shihan James Sidwell.
The training involved kihon, fitness, kumite and kata, all immersed in the waves of Freshwater Beach. The session was captured photographically by GM Photographics.
You can read more about the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman here and about recent changes to the KIMAA leadership here.
~ANNOUNCEMENT~
Following the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman, KIMAA Founder & Chairman, Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia (KIMAA) was transferred to Shihan James Sidwell by Hanshi’s widow Masumi Lipman, as per the wishes of her late husband.
Shihan James, the new KIMAA Chairman, immediately created an Executive Leadership Board, and appointed Shihan Idir Bahamid and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine as Executive Board Members.
The Executive Board will be supported by Sensei Mark Long (Regional Lead) and Sensei Alex Lloyd (Secretary).
KIMAA will continue onwards and upwards, as per the guiding principles taught to us by Hanshi Howard Lipman, as Sosai Mas Oyama taught him.
OSU.
KIMAA held our June Kyokushin senior grading at Turramurra Honbu Dojo. Instructors and students from Turramurra Dojo, Lismore Dojo and Taree Dojo attended.
The four Shihans of KIMAA – Shihan Idir Bahamid, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan James Sidwell and Shihan Mark McFadden – assessed the participating karateka. The grading lasted over 5 hours, testing students on their basics, kata, fitness, knowledge and kumite.
At the end of the grading, Sempai Maia Brown and Sempai Narmie Thambipillay were graded to 1st Dan (Shodan) in Kyokushin Karate. Sempai Maia completed her 40 fights for black belt, after many years of devoted training and teaching with KIMAA. Sempai Narmie was already a Shodan in Kyokushin, but after an extended absence from karate, she wanted to ‘start over’ and began training at KIMAA a few years ago as a white belt and has since raced up through the grades.
Congratulations to all who completed the grading. Some of the instructors and students enjoyed a celebratory dinner afterward at Hanuman Thai.
The students of the Knox Karate sports program, from Knox Grammar Senior and Preparatory Schools, participated in Kyokushin Karate gradings on Saturday June 15th.
Knox Karate coaches Sensei Mario Bonetta, Sempai Angus Sweeney and Sempai Trent Lim ran the grading, with assistance from Sensei Alex Lloyd. KIMAA Vice-Chairman Shihan James Sidwell assessed the students and oversaw proceedings.
The combined junior and senior classes of the high school completed a 2.5-hour grading and the prep school class completed a 1.5-hour grading. The students displayed enthusiasm and determination during the morning.
Hanshi Howard Lipman will review Shihan James’s marking and results will be made available through class in due course. Well done to all for their efforts.
Students of Turramurra Dojo across a variety of ages and Kyu grades competed in the KIKO Kata Tournament at the Robyn Webster Sports Centre on Sunday June 2nd. The students were supervised on the day by Shihan James Sidwell and Sensei Alex Lloyd.
KIMAA students performed their Kyokushin Karate kata very well, winning a large number of placements in various categories. All students displayed strong technical competence in their kata, showing great kime (focus). Any student in a group comprising more than four participants, if they were selected as a finalist based on their initial score, had to perform their kata a second time to secure their final position on the podium.
The following KIMAA karateka participated:
KIMAA held our March Kyokushin senior grading at Turramurra Honbu Dojo. Attendees from Lismore Dojo and Taree Dojo as well as Turramurra participated.
Sensei Ben Ng conducted the grading while Hanshi Howard Lipman assessed the students, assisted by Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell.
The grading covered all the usual key points – kihon, kata, fitness and kumite. Basics were covered extensively, as well as partner work, combinations, ido geiko and senior techniques. Kata of all level were performed by those attempting new grades.
The karateka from Lismore – Evelyn, Annabelle, Letitia and James – showed great spirit in their fights, including up to 15 bouts for Evelyn and Annabelle, who were grading for 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt).
Congratulations to all those who graded. In addition to several Kyu grades, three new Black Belt grades were awarded:
At the end of the grading, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine presented Hanshi Howard Lipman and his wife Masumi a photobook of the 2023 Japan trip, as a group thank-you gift for the tour. Afterwards, Hanshi presented Shihan Idir, Shihan Mark McFadden and Sensei Alex their new grades.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 