Category: Gradings

Senior Grading – June 11, 2022

On Saturday June 11, a Kyokushin grading was held at Annangrove Dojo. Students were assessed by Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan Rick Cunningham, with Shihan Peter Olive leading the grading.

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 (8th Dan)
  • Shihan Rick Cunningham (7th Dan)
  • Shihan Mark Shelmerdine (5th Dan)
  • Shihan James Sidwell (4th Dan)
  • Sensei Paul Finnerty (4th Dan)
  • Sensei Mark McFadden (4th Dan)
  • Sensei Jon Ellis (4th Dan)
  • Sensei Alex Lloyd (4th Dan)
  • Sensei Ben Ng (2nd Dan)
  • Sensei Ian Holdaway (2nd Dan)
  • Sempai Patricia Tan (1st Dan)
  • Sempai Stephen Runge (1st Dan)

North Coast End-of-Year Sessions – December 2021

Karate students of Lismore and Ballina dojos joined forces on Sunday December 12 for beach training. The weather was a bit overcast but the water was warm as the students pushed through their end-of-year training session.

After the beach training session, the end-of-year awards were given out by Sensei Mark McFadden and Sensei Jon Ellis. The Little Lions of the Year were Isaac from Lismore and Allan from Ballina, and the Adult Student of the Year was Seb from Lismore Dojo.

On Tuesday December 14, Lismore Dojo held gradings for the Little Lions and Adult classes. Congratulations to all students who achieved new grades.

Kyokushin Grading – June 19, 2021

A Kyokushin Karate grading was held for senior adult kyu grade students at Turramurra Dojo on Saturday June 19th. Hanshi Howard Lipman assessed the students of Turramurra and Annangrove dojos attempting the grading, which was taken by Sensei Ben Ng.

The quality of technique, level fitness and spirit on display were all of a high standard. Congratulations to all students who attempted the grading.

KIMAA Senior Grading – December 12, 2020

After a challenging year, it was a great pleasure for karateka from all six KIMAA dojos to gather in Sydney for the end-of-year grading.

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The KIMAA senior grading was conducted on Saturday 12 December at Annangrove Dojo. It was a 6-hour event, finishing with the famous 40 fights for Kyokushin Shodan. Select younger students from Sydney and a range of adult students from all dojos participated, with grade levels varying from 7th Kyu to 4th Dan.

Hanshi Howard & Shihan Idir assess the students.

Hanshi Howard Lipman, Shihan Rick Cunningham and Shihan Idir Bahamid assessed those attempting the grading, while Shihan Peter Olive, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sempai Jason Lambe and Sempai Josh Darley led various components of the grading test. During the grading was a Kobudo demonstration by Sensei Mark Shelmerdine (Bo), Sensei James Sidwell (Eku), Sensei Alex Lloyd (Sai) and Sempai Patricia Tan (Bo).

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Hanshi Howard was pleased with the standard displayed by all attempting to grade, especially given to the disruption in training earlier in the year.

It was a memorable, long afternoon of fights. All the kids did their fights first…

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… followed by the adults.

Thirteen Black Belt grades were awarded. Congratulations go to Shihan Mark Shelmerdine (5th Dan), Shihan James Sidwell (5th Dan), Sensei Ben Ng (4th Dan), Sensei Don Cheong (4th Dan), Sempai Patricia Tan (2nd Dan), Sempai Tony Kuo (1st Dan), Sempai Larissa Watson (1st Dan), Sempai Blayne Gayle (1st Dan), Sempai Mick Calnan (1st Dan), Sempai Nalin Alwis (1st Dan), Sempai Eric Wright (1st Dan), Sempai Sean Stevens (1st Dan) and Sempai Annika Allen (1st Dan).

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Thanks go to all instructors and students who travelled intrastate and interstate to Sydney for the occasion to Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Jessica Den for the photos and videos of the day, and to Shihan Rick Cunningham for use of his dojo.

Turramurra Grading – September 23, 2020

2020 has been a year of surprises, challenges and recalibration of goals for us all. After getting back into in-Dojo training post-lockdown, it was a great pleasure for Kyokushin gradings for both Kids and Adult Junior Kyu grades to take place on Wednesday September 23rd at Turramurra Dojo.

Hanshi Howard Lipman assessed students while Sensei Mark Shelmerdine and Sensei James Sidwell conducted the gradings. Across both classes, twelve students were tested for new grades. The Sydney students enjoyed participating in contact activities, as per NSW Health guidelines, during the grading.

Congratulations to all who participated. The senior grading for the year will be held in December.

Senior Grading – June 29, 2019

Written by Sensei James Sidwell

The KIMAA Kyokushin Karate senior grading was in held in Sydney’s Turramurra Dojo on Saturday 29th June. It was a gruelling five hour session run by Hanshi Howard Lipman.

Class in Mokuso
Hanshi Lipman instructing Ben Brady and Tony Kuo in Tsukue Uke Bunkai
Jurgen Bradatsch executes an axe kick
Sensei Mark Shelmerdine with an over the top punch during kumite with Eric Wright
Basics in zenkutsu dachi during the grading
Left to right – Sensei David Craigie (Young Dojo), Sensei Ben Ng (Turramurra Dojo) and Shihan Peter Olive (Annangrove Dojo)
Larissa Watson strikes Sensei Mark Shelmerdine with chudan mawashi geri
Foreground – Jurgen and Sean Stevens during kumite. Background – Ben Brady and Blayne Gale

Sempai Ben Brady receives his Shodan grade from Hanshi Howard Lipman

Congratulations to Ben Brady from Ballina Dojo, who successfully completed his Shodan grade!

Tony Kuo from Turramurra Dojo, and Eric Wright and Jurgen Bradatsch from Annangrove Dojo completed their 1st kyu grades.

Nalin and Nevin Alwis from Annangrove, Larissa Watson, Blayne Gale and Lauren King from Ballina, and Sean Stevens from Young Dojo also graded.

A special mention to kids Peter Zhu and Yue Leon Chia from Turramurra who participated in the senior grading, and performed with discipline and focus during the entire 5 hours.

Senior Grading June 2019

Congratulations to all participants! Osu.

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The following day, Kobudo practitioners from Sydney and Young trained together at Annangrove Dojo in a class taken by Shihan Rick Cunningham. Sensei David Craigie from Young remarked, “Thanks everyone for your patience and instruction once again, we always enjoy our morning Kobudo with all.”

Kobudo class the morning after the Senior Grading

Kobudo Grading – May 5, 2019

On Sunday May 5th 2019, a Kobudo grading was held at Annangrove Dojo.

Hanshi Howard Lipman awarded two new grades:

Congratulations to Sensei Ben (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 1st Dan Kobudo) and Sempai Stephen Runge (1st Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Kyu Kobudo).

Special mention also goes to Sensei James Sidwell for breaking his Eku during the grading, in a display of raw power and great technique.

Osu!