Category: Little Lions

KIKO Tournament – November 2, 2025

On Sunday 2nd November 2025, KIMAA attended the KIKO end of year Full Contact tournament.

Overall there were 12 competitors from KIMAA who participated on the day. We had five competitors travel down from Taree Dojo and seven competitors came from Turramurra Dojo. The event was supported by Masumi Lipman, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Ben Ng and Sensei Mark Long.

(Pictured: Shihan Mark, Masumi, Kancho Doug Turnbull of KIKO, Shihan James)

It was a good day with a slight hiccup at the beginning with the car park being closed due to another event being held early in the morning. However, once we got parked and ready the KIMAA team got settled and ready to compete.

The event had several dojos and many competitors. The largest event had 20 participants which meant the draws went deep.

Overall KIMAA competed strongly and supported one another with true Budo spirit.

KIMAA competitors achieved five first places, five second places and five third places. An excellent outcome.

Special mention to Sempai Narmie Thambipillay, who won Most Spirited Adult Fighter along with a nice big trophy.

Also congratulations to Sophie Shi who entered the Colts Full Contact despite her division being 13-15 under 60kg padded. Nevertheless, Sophie fought full contact and won with her relentless pace.

Maliha also won a double 1st competing well and winning the mixed division for freestyle.

Well done to all.

Results are below:

Semi Contact freestyle sparring

8-10 Mixed (This was the largest division of the day with 20 competitors)

– Michael Paunescu fought well to the finals and finished fourth

– Liam Bowen fought competitively although he didn’t place

11-12 Mixed (This division had 13 competitors overall)

– Maliha Azeem Placed 1st🥇

– Chris Paunescu 2nd Place 🥈

– Talitha Ferguson (4th) and Theodore Gray fought well but did not place

13-15 Males

Jameson Smith placed 3rd 🥉

13-15 Females

Sophie Shi 1st Place🥇

CJ Shelmerdine (4th) fought competitively but did not place

16 and Over Males

Peter Madigan place 2nd🥈

16 and Over Females

Narmie Thambipillay 3rd 🥉

Padded contact

8-10 under 30kg Males

– Michael Paunescu 1st Place 🥇

– Liam Bowen placed 3rd 🥉

8-10 over 30kg Males

– Lochlan Easton fought well but did not place

11-14 under 50kg Female

– Maliha Azeem place 1st 🥇

– Talitha Ferguson place 2nd 🥈

11-12 under 50kg Male

– Chris Paunescu and Theodore Gray competed well but did not place.

13-15 under 60kg Female

– CJ Shelmerdine placed 3rd 🥉

13-15 under 60kg Male

– Jameson Smith placed 3rd 🥉

Female Colts Contact sparring under 60kg

– Sophie Shi 1st Place 🥇

Veterans Males contact sparring

– Peter Madigan placed 2nd 🥈

Veterans Females contact sparring

– Narmie Thambipillay 2nd Place

KIMAA Seminar – July 18-20, 2025

Over the weekend of 18-20 July 2025, the annual KIMAA seminar was held for a weekend of quality learning in the martial arts. This year it was hosted by Taree Dojo, at the nearby town of Harrington. For the weekend, KIMAA hired the house at Riverlodge at Harrington Waters. Instructors and students of Turramurra and Taree dojos gathered for a weekend of training together.

On the Friday night, Sensei Ben Ng led an evening class focusing on Kyokushin Karate basics, moving in stance and some bunkai relating to basic block forms.

The next morning, Sensei Ben led a 7am run along the shoreline to the marina and back.

Training resumed at 9.30am. The first part of the class focused on renraku (ippon kumite), led by Shihan James Sidwell. The rest of the morning focused on Kobudo, led by Renshi Mark Shelmerdine. The group practised the Bo staff.

After breaking for lunch, training resumed. Shihan James led a kata class. The group practised Pinan sono Ni, with an extensive breakdown of bunkai (self-defence applications) pulled out from the pattern.

Masumi Lipman attended the seminar to oversee the running of the weekend, take training photos, walk the dogs and be Group Mum. We thank Masumi for her ongoing support of and involvement with KIMAA.

When afternoon training was complete, the group broke for free time and enjoyed dinner at the adjacent tavern.

The next morning, Sensei Alex Lloyd led a fitness class at 7.00am.

A portion of the group left after breakfast due to family and other commitments for the Sunday. The group recovered over breakfast, then regathered for the final training session of the day. Sensei Mark Long led a fight training class, going through fighting basics, combinations and then kumite (sparring). Shihan Mark Shelmerdine also showed some fight drills and pressure points.

After many rounds of Kumite, the group packed up then broke for lunch.

Special thanks go to Shihan James and Sensei Mark for organising the weekend. With the exception of Saturday night dinner, all catering was managed by Sensei Mark’s partner Ken and their friends. We’re grateful for all the assistance in feeding us over the weekend, and for the support of parents who came along with their Little Lions students.

We look forward to the 2026 KIMAA seminar. Osu!

Jin Sei Ryu Tournament – July 5, 2025

KIMAA were honoured to be invited to attend the Jin Sei Ryu Tournament on Saturday July 5th. Kancho Ino Maquirang hosted a benefit tournament with the proceeds going to a number of charities.

KIMAA had four participants attend and compete in Kyokushin kata, Kobudo, freestyle kumite, point sparring, full contact kumite and sword fighting. The contingent was supported by Shihan James Sidwell and Sempai Adam Roach.

Sempai Narmie competed strongly in the women’s senior grade divisions for Kyokushin kata and Kobudo kata.

Oliver fought extremely well in a bout against a well matched opponent. Despite his opponent being shodan, Ollie fought competitively in his second ever tournament. The bout went to decision. He placed Second in his category, 16 & 17 years male Colts Full Contact (all grades).

Brothers Chris and Michael competed in five events, placing in several. A top effort from the boys in continuing to enter tournaments and they are growing quickly in skill and experience. Chris placed 3rd in Traditional Forms 8-10 years (beginners to intermediate) and 1st in Traditional Forms 8-10 years (advanced to black belt), performing Pinan San. He also placed 3rd in the fun ‘sword combat’ event for 8-10 years. Michael placed 3rd in Point Sparring 8-10 years and 3rd in Freestyle Sparring for 8-10 years.

It was good to see so many other dojos present also supporting the event and generating the sense of community that is so important in the martial arts.

Well done to our students. Osu.

Kyokushin Senior Grading – June 21, 2025

Kyokushin Karate students of KIMAA Turramurra and Taree dojos attempted a 5.5-hour Senior Grading at the KIMAA Honbu (Turramurra) on Saturday June 21st 2025. Many younger karateka attempted 4th Kyu (Green Belt) while two adult students – Sempai Josh Darley and Trent Lim – attempted their black belt grades.

The students were assessed by Shihan Idir Bahamid, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell. The grading was run with support from other senior black belts, including Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Don Cheong, Sensei Alireza Miri and Sensei Alex Lloyd.

The grading’s first section focused on the usual elements, comprising a warm-up, basics and moving through stance.

Next, the students were assessed on their technical ability through their kata demonstrations.

Following an extensive kata display, especially for Sempai Josh Darley, the grading moved on to one-step kumite, then the general fitness section.

Finally, the long part of the day commenced. The 40 fights for 1st Dan Black Belt. The ‘Kyokushin 40 fights’ are legendary. Both Josh and Trent completed their 40 one-and-a-half minute full-contact fights. Josh had done the 40 during his 1st Dan grading in 2016. He achieved a rare feat of grading to black belt while being under 18 years old. As he graded when he was 12 years of age, he did the 40 fights again for his 3rd Dan grading to be tested as an adult. Trent did the 40 fights as a routine part of his 1st Dan grading.

All students were thoroughly tested, repeatedly sparring against black belts senior to them, junior black belts including Sempai Maia Brown and Sempai Narmie Thambipillay, and a few fights with juniors being tested on the day. The young men were pushed to their limits and excelled in the face of adversity.

Congratulations to all who attempted the grading, especially our newest Yudansha:

“Congratulations to all who graded. Especially to Sensei Josh Darley on his 3rd Dan grading and Sempai Trent Lim on shodan. Both who completed 40 consecutive full contact fights at 1.5 minutes each. Osu.” – Shihan James Sidwell

Gold Coast Budo Challenge – June 7-8, 2025

On the weekend of June 7-8, 2025, Taree Dojo represented KIMAA at the Gold Coast Budo Challenge.

Over the course of the weekend, Sensei Mark Long accompanied his student Jameson Smith to compete in the kata component of the tournament on the Saturday, and the kumite on the Sunday.

On Saturday, Jameson achieved First Place in the 13-15 years old Intermediate Kata division, performing the Gekusai Sho kata. On Sunday, he also made First Place in the 50kg and under in 12-13 years old Intermediate Full Contact fighting division.

Congratulations to Jameson for doing KIMAA and Taree Dojo proud. Jameson drives from Port Macquarie to Taree regularly for training, wonderfully supported by his parents Donna and Garrod.

KIKO Tournament – June 1, 2025

On Sunday June 1st, KIMAA had 20 students compete at the Kancho Doug Tunbull’s KIKO tournament in Tempe from our Turramurra and Taree dojos.

All competitors participated with focus and precision. They were supported on the day by Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Mark Long, Masumi Lipman and parents of the younger students.

Of the 20, KIMAA achieved the following results:

  • 1st & 2nd Place 7-9yrs Junior Kata
  • 3rd Place 8-9yrs Point Sparring
  • 1st Place 10-12yrs Beginner Kata
  • 2nd Place 10-12yrs Junior Kata
  • 1st & 2nd Place 10-12yrs Advanced Kata
  • 1st & 3rd Place 10-12yrs Point Sparring
  • 1st Place 13-15yrs Beginner kata
  • 1st & 3rd Place 13-15yrs Advanced kata
  • 3rd Place 13-15yrs Point Sparring
  • 1st Place Open Advanced Weapons Kata
  • 3rd Place Adult Beginner Kata
  • 3rd Place Adult Advanced Kata

Congratulations to all the participants, the instructors, parents and families who have worked hard to enable such a great result.

We all contribute to, and share in, each other’s success.

Osu.

MKA State Tournament – May 25, 2025

A contingent of 8 KIMAA competitors (7 from Turramurra Dojo, 1 from Taree Dojo) entered the MKA State Tournament. All students represented their dojo admirably and displayed strong Kyokushin spirit. We had 3 students achieve 2nd Place in their division.

Special mention also goes to Oliver Roach for his tournament debut. Oliver is a 9th Kyu that fought a Shodan in Male 16-17 Full Contact and held his own in the fight, even though he copped a few strikes and elbow to the face and throat along the way.

Congratulations to all students. Thanks also goes to the coaching support from Shihan James Sidwell, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine, Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Alex Lloyd, Sensei Mark Long and Sempai Josh Darley.