A Karate and Kobudo seminar was held on the weekend of July 4-5 at Lismore Dojo on the NSW Far North Coast. Instructors and students attended from Lismore, Ballina and Aspley dojos.
Thanks go to Shihan Cunningham for travelling from Sydney to teach the seminar, to Sensei Mark for hosting, Patricia for her organisational skills (including feeding a small Kyokushin army), and to Genevieve, Amanda and Julie for other lunch duty assistance.
Sensei Hokama (10th Dan) awarded new Dan (black belt) grades in Kobudo during the recent Okinawa tour. Sensei Hokama awarded these grades based on what he saw during training, as well as on the recommendation of Australian Kobudo Branch Chief, Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 7th Dan Kobudo).
The 2015 KIMAA Japan Tour Group after being graded by Sensei Hokama.
The following article continues the story of the 2015 KIMAA Group Tour to Japan. Click here to read Part 1 and click here to read Part 2.
We had no training on Monday, so we used the free time to enjoy doing a couple of Kyokushin photo shoots, following the paths of many martial artists before us. First, we did a shoot at Shurijo.
Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sempai Don Cheong, Sempai James Campbell and Trish Tan at Shurijo, Okinawa
We then went to the old ruins of Nakagusuku and continued the shoot.
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On Tuesday morning, Sensei Hokama presented new Kobudo black belt grades, based on the Friday and Saturday sessions and on the recommendation of Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham. The new Kobudo grades included:
KIMAA tour group with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura
Sensei was still feeling unwell so his visiting Branch Chief from Nagoya, Shihan Ken Ogura, took the class. Shihan Ogura was very impressed with the standard displayed by KIMAA and proclaimed the “Australian team” the best he had ever taught!
Shihan Ken Ogura with nunchaku
We had the afternoon off. Some of the group took Trish to the Chinese Gardens, where we enjoyed the tranquility of the grounds.
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That night it was back to Sensei’s dojo for our final training session. Sensei watched as Shihan Arakawa took the class. We did some fitness and conditioning, then some more traditional Okinawan training, including moving through Sanchin with jars and dumbbells. We then moved onto kata and bunkai.
Tuesday night class
The following day, Wednesday March 18, we were off to Hiroshima for the next stage of our trip.
We left Hiroshima on Friday but did a lot in our brief time there. This included taking a ferry to Miyajima to explore the island and climb to the peak of Mt Misen; visiting the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum; and seeing Hiroshima Castle. Sensei Mark had been to Hiroshima before and took up the mantle of KIMAA Tour Guide.
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After Hiroshima we made our way to Kyoto. We explored the markets on Friday afternoon and went to a green tea shop.
We started off Saturday with a traditional green tea ceremony, which was delicious and enjoyable.
We spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday exploring a range of beautiful shrines and temples. These included the streets surrounding Kiyomizu-dera (Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka) and the nearby Yasaka no To Pagoda; Kodai-ji; Kennin-ji; Heian Shrine; Nanzen-ji, Eikan-do Zenrin-ji; Ginkaku-ji and Kinkaku-ji. We also perambulated the Philosopher’s Walk, all the while admiring the local scenery.
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The cherry blossoms were just starting to come into bloom during our time in Kyoto.
On Monday the group went to Kurama and hiked through the mountains to Kibune, where it snowed as we finished the trek. We then made our way back to Kurama to relax in the outdoor Onsen while the snow fell.
Shihan Rick Cunningham in the sleet of Kibune
Tuesday was the group’s final day in Kyoto. They started with Sanjusangen-do Temple, featuring the Hall of 1001 Kannon Statues. The group split up for the rest of the day, until a final dinner that night: Shihan Lipman and Masumi shopped; Shihan Cunningham, Sensei Mark, Sensei Jon and Trish went back to Kiyomizu-dera and the surrounding streets, followed by watching an impressive archery demonstration at the Budo Centre; and Sempai Don, Sempai James and Sempai Alex shopped and enjoyed the food markets, and Sempai Alex also went to Nijo Castle.
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The group arrived safe and sound back in Sydney on the morning of Thursday March 26. The trip was a great success and very enjoyable, from Sempai Don and Sempai James competing at a high standard in the tournament; quality training with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura; a number of new Kobudo black belt grades; and the sightseeing in Hiroshima and Kyoto.
Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham are now looking ahead to consolidate the knowledge gained on the trip and to pass it onto the wider KIMAA student body. Of particular note is the upcoming seminar in May.
The rest of the group thank Shihan Lipman, Masumi and Shihan Cunningham for a wonderful trip!
First was a Kids grading, followed later in the evening by an Adults junior kyu grading.
The belts and certificates were awarded to students on December 19th, the final night of training for 2014 at Turramurra. The grading results are available below.
The Senior School began in the morning, with their grading going for several hours. Standout performances were by young James Tan, Zac Zibaee and Jay Stubbs. These boys are in fact Knox Prep students who, due to their skill and dedication to their training, graded with the older boys.
Senior School Grading Group
The Prep School students went next, and also performed well. Long-time student Hugh Graham led the pack, while beginner Mark Guvlekjian gave all those above him new standards to strive for in flexibility.
The Senior School grading results will be presented by Shihan Lipman at a BBQ Presentation and Demonstration morning at Knox on Saturday November 15 at 9am, instead of normal training. The BBQ will be held at the Lawson PE Centre at the Senior School.
The Prep School will have their final training session for the term on Friday November 14, and receive their results then.
KIMAA’s Knox instructors extend a happy holiday season to all of the Knox students and look forward to seeing them back next year.
Sempai Alex Lloyd (2nd Dan), Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan), Sempai Nick Cheng (1st Kyu)
A Kyokushin Karate grading was held on Saturday September 13 at Turramurra Dojo.
1st Row, L-R: Sempai Jon Ellis, Sempai Rob James, Sempai Alex Lloyd. 2nd Row, L-R: Sempai Todd Murphy, Jeremy Gray, Will Brook.
Shihan Howard Lipman assessed KIMAA students from Sydney, the NSW Far North Coast and Brisbane. A number of Little Lions and adults participated in the grading for kyu and dan (black belt) grades. The black belts who attempted the grading included:
Sempai Alex Lloyd (1st Dan Kyokushin): Sempai Alex is a student at Turramurra Dojo, Sydney, a former Knox Karate student and now instructor.
Sempai Todd Murphy (1st Dan Kyokushin): Sempai Todd is a student and instructor at Annangrove Dojo, Sydney.
Photos from the day
Kyokushin senior grading, September 2014
Sempai Alex
Jeremy
Sempai Rob
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Kata
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Fitness & Kumite (sparring)
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All attempting the grading performed to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone who participated. Special mention goes to the new black belt grades: Jon Ellis received his Sandan (3rd Dan) and the title of Sensei; while Rob James, Alex Lloyd and Todd Murphy were graded to Nidan (2nd Dan). Jeremy Gray fought an admirable 20 fights for his 1st Kyu (Senior Brown Belt) and Joshua Darley was graded to 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt). Will Brook also was graded to 2nd Kyu, despite having to attempt the grading with a broken hand!
KIMAA held a Senior Kyokushin Grading on Saturday June 7. Black belts and senior kyu grades from Annangrove, Aspley, Lismore and Ballina dojos came to Shihan Howard Lipman’s Turramurra Dojo to participate.
Shihan Lipman graded Sempai James Campbell to 2nd Dan (Nidan), and Azaan Vohra and Jason Lambe to 1st Dan (Shodan). The full list of results is available below:
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 