On Sunday June 22nd, the fortnightly Kobudo class of Turramurra Dojo was held at Freshwater Beach. In attendance were Renshi Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan James Sidwell, Shihan Alex Lloyd, Sensei Ben Ng and Narmie Thambipillay. Masumi Lipman came by to watch and photograph the training session.
The weapons used on the beach were the Bo, Eku, Sai and Jō.
After training, Masumi and the training group enjoyed brunch at Harbord Diggers.
On the morning of Saturday March 22nd, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell led a beach training session at Freshwater Beach in Sydney for students of Turramurra Dojo. Special guests included Sensei Mark Long from Taree Dojo and photographer Masumi Lipman.
The training included fitness and basic training on the sand and in the waves, and kumite in the waves, finishing with some water wheel kicks.
Thanks to Masumi for the photography, Sensei Mark’s partner Ken for his support, and for the parents who came to watch, cheer and dry off some damp young karateka after the surf kumite.
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.
On the weekend of 7-9 May 2021, a KIMAA seminar was held on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. The seminar was to celebrate the 15th birthday of Sensei Mark McFadden‘s Lismore Dojo.
KIMAA instructors and students from all 6 dojos participated in the weekend, which was held at Evans Head. The group met on the Friday for dinner at the bowling club. Training began promptly on the Saturday morning, beginning with a basics session led by Hanshi Howard Lipman.
Later in the day, the 50+ students broke up into various groups for further training in Kyokushin kata as well as a Kobudo group.
That night the group gathered for a meal and Kyokushin trivia competition at the Evans Head RSL. Unsurprisingly, Hanshi Howard’s team won the competition, judged by Shihan Peter Olive, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell.
Training started bright and early on the Sunday morning at Evans Head Beach, where Shihan Rick Cunningham led a beach training session. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all, from basics to kumite in the water. To finish the session, all children ganged up on Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Don Cheong and Sensei Alex Lloyd.
After a shower and change of dogi, the students went back to the hall for further training.
It was an outstanding weekend of training. The KIMAA cohort had not been able to unite in large numbers except briefly for the Senior Grading at the end of 2020, and after a substantial period of time apart it was enjoyable, practical and useful to gather the students from Turramurra, Annangrove, Lismore, Ballina, Young and Brisbane dojos to train together once again.
Thanks go to Sempai Patricia Tan for organising the weekend, and congratulations again to Sensei Mark for 15 years of Lismore Dojo.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 