On the night of Wednesday June 7th, Kids and Junior Kyu Kyokushin gradings were held at Turramurra Dojo.
Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan James Sidwell assessed the Kids grading, while senior student Maia Brown ran them all through their techniques and kata. All students involved trained well and demonstrated good technique.
Later that evening, Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine ran the Junior Kyu grading at Turramurra Dojo. The students performed well and displayed great determination.
The KIKO Kata Tournament on Sunday June 4th was a fantastic day for KIMAATurramurra Dojo.
Hanshi Howard Lipman would like to thank Kancho Doug Turnbull for great day and congratulate all our students who entered from ages 6-16 years. We had 14 competitors, and 11 of these students either placed or won all their divsions in kata.
Thank you also to Shihan James Sidwell for assisting with kids on the day. Special mention goes to the youngest students Sophie and Ken, 6 years old and 7 years old, for as well as competing individually they also did synchronised kata together.
Congratulations to the following students for their results:
Kata 16 years & over Beginner/Intermediate Ashley Kim – 2nd Narmie Thambipillay – 3rd
Kata 13-15 years Advanced Maia Brown – 1st
Kata 11-12 years Advanced Ethan Kuo – 1st Ryan Kuo – 3rd
Kata 8-10 years Beginner Chloe Le Bescont – 1st Christopher Paunescu – 2nd Aimee Kim – 3rd
Kata 7 years & under Beginner/Intermediate Mau An (Ken) Quang – 1st Shivan Thambipillay – 2nd Sophie Chan – 3rd
When you have trained with the rest, train with the best – KIMAA Turramurra Dojo.
Hanshi Howard Lipman 9th Dan Kyokushin KIMAA Chairman
On the weekend of February 25-26th 2023, the North Coast dojos of Lismore and Ballina hosted Shihan Rick Cunningham, who travelled from Sydney to host a weekend seminar.
On the first Saturday session, Shihan Rick worked the adults and Little Lions in a combined class through Kyokushin basics (Kihon), self-defence applications (bunkai) and fitness at Ballina Dojo.
The second Saturday session was an adults-only class, focussing on more senior techniques and kata.
The third training session, on Sunday morning, was for KIMAA students of Kobudo (weapons), held at Lismore Dojo.
Special thanks go to Shihan Rick for coming up to teach the students, and to North Coast dojo operators Sensei Mark McFadden and Sensei Jon Ellis for hosting and organising.
Sensei Ian (4th Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo) began his training in Kyokushin Karate under Shihan John Williams (then Sensei) in 1989 at Minchinbury Dojo. In 1991 he moved to Werrington Dojo under Sempai Sandy Ivanovic, before stopping training as a 5th Kyu in 1993 due to work commitments.
In 1999, Sensei Ian resumed his study of Karate under Shihan Rick Cunningham. He was graded to 1st Dan in 2004 and to 2nd Dan in 2007 by Hanshi Howard Lipman.
Sensei Ian partook in the third trip to Okinawa in 2008. He is one of the regular instructors at Annangrove Dojo for children and adults, as well as being master of the BBQ at all KIMAA weekend seminars.
Congratulations from all the instructors and students at Annangrove Dojo. Osu!
Participants included karateka from Turramurra, Annangrove and Ballina dojos. Also coming down to support those grading were instructors and students from Lismore and Young.
Sempai Mark Long, Sempai Ben Brady and Sempai Blayne Gale were attempting higher level black belt grades, while Rientz, Brad, Jurgen and Nevin attempted their Shodan (1st) Dan grading, including the Kyokushin 40 fights.
Congratulations to all those who graded successfully, including KIMAA’s newest Yudansha (black belts). After the grading, Hanshi Howard awarded the new black belt grades. This included grading Shihan Peter Olive to Rokudan, 6th Dan.
The new Kyokushin black belt grades are:
Shihan Peter Olive (6th Dan)
Sensei Mark Long (3rd Dan)
Sempai Ben Brady (2nd Dan)
Sempai Blayne Gale (2nd Dan)
Sempai Rientz Inglis (1st Dan)
Sempai Bradley Chisholm (1st Dan)
Sempai Jurgen Bradatsch (1st Dan)
Sempai Nevin Alwis (1st Dan)
New Kobudo grades were also announced, with certificates from Sensei Hokama soon to be awarded. These were graded by Hanshi Howard and Shihan Rick in 2020, and the COVID pandemic prevented the awarding of these grades until now, with certification approved by Sensei Hokama. The new grades include:
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.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 