The students of Lismore Dojo came together for an end-of-year beach training session. Basics, fitness, partner work and kumite was undertaken in the surf.
After the training session, a Christmas BBQ was held. Sensei Mark McFadden presented the Student of the Year awards to Little Lions Zarni McGregor and Jackson Wirasa. He also presented his thanks to all those who have helped with classes this year: Sensei Wally Gray, Sempai Trish Tan, Sempai Scott Bettridge, Letitia, Annabel, Evelyn and Zac.
Students of Lismore Dojo competed in kata and kumite at the Gold Coast Budo Challenge on the weekend of 30 September – 1 October, 2023.
The full team comprised Evelyn Wyatt, Annabelle Davis, Zac Curran, Letitia Bolton, James Sun, Paige Duncan, Zarni McGregor, Jackson Wirasa, Kate Waspe and James Waste.
On the Saturday was the kata competition. KIMAA Little Lions competed at a variety of grade lavels. Lismore head instructor Sensei Mark McFadden was a judge for the kata divisions. There were some very large divisions and strong competition – well done to all. The placements in the kata division were:
The next morning was the kumite component of the tournament, with Little Lions fronting up again to the mats. Sempai Trish Tan and Sempai Scott Bettridge were kumite referees. Sensei Wally Gray and Sempai Letitia Bolton coached the fighters.
It was a great day of kumite for the Lismore team. Placements in the karateka’s respective divisions included:
All showed great determination in their fights. Videos of their fights are available in the North Coast Kyokushin Karate Facebook page (for members only). Congratulations to all who represented KIMAA at this tournament – they did their dojo and the organisation proud.
On the weekend of July 1-2, 2023, Sensei Mark McFadden hosted a Kyokushin and Kobudo seminar at Lismore Dojo on the NSW Far North Coast.
Hanshi Howard Lipman, Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sensei Mark Long travelled to the North Coast for two nights to instruct the adults and kids.
Saturday began with Shihan James leading instruction in basics and kata.
After a sausage sizzle lunch, training resumed, led by Sensei Mark Long. The first afternoon session focused on fighting techniques, combinations and ended with many rounds of kumite. The Lismore karateka fought each other and the visiting black belts. After the kumite, Shihan James and Sensei Alex split the class up for further kata training.
The local senior grades joined the visiting instructors for dinner on the Saturday night.
Sunday morning began with a Little Lions session, led by Shihan James and Sensei Mark.
After the Little Lions went home, Sunday training finished with a long Kobudo session. Shihan James and Sensei Alex took the group through the basics of the Bo staff in the introductory exercises and first kata. Hanshi Howard and Shihan James also ran the group through pressure points, and Sensei Alex took the class through a senior Bo exercise. Shihan James also taught Sensei Wally Gray and Sempai Patricia Tan the second Eku kata and Sensei Alex refreshed Sempai Trish on the Jo kata.
Throughout the weekend, Hanshi Howard presented students with grading certificates. These were for senior kyu grades as a result of the June grading in Sydney, and gradings conducted in Lismore by Sensei Mark for junior kyu, Little Lions and Kobudo.
Hanshi Howard was delighted with the standard of Karate and Kobudo he saw on display. The weekend was a great opportunity for the Lismore Dojo students to train with other martial artists, and be pushed in a constructive way. These KIMAA seminars with Sydney instructors visiting Lismore will continue in 2024.
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 KIMAA Turramurra 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.
KIMAA karateka of the North Coast Dojos joined together for a Kyokushin beach training session. Training was led by Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis and Sempai Blayne Gale, with Sempai Trish Tan taking photos. After the training, the students of Ballina and Lismore dojos enjoyed a joint Christmas party and bestowed Student of the Year awards.
Happy Christmas and New Year to all.
