Sensei Mark McFadden assisting a Little Lion with her technique.
On Saturday 31 May, Sempai Rob James hosted a special class at Aspley Dojo for his students, with some special guests in attendance.
Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Jon Ellis, Sempai Wally Gray and Jeremy Gray from the North Coast dojos came to train with Sempai Rob and his students at Aspley Dojo.
A Little Lions class ran 9-10 am and an Adults class ran from 10 am. The Balina, Lismore and Aspley karateka covered basics, flow drills, break falls, self defence, kata and bunkai.
The highlight of the day’s training was an intense kumite session. Sempai Rob remarked that the juniors excellently displayed the Kyokushin spirit.
The day ended with a group lunch. It was Sempai Rob’s pleasure to host members from the North Coast, as previous combined training sessions have been held at Lismore Dojo.
The seniors from the North Coast and Queensland look forward to these continued combined classes.
On Saturday May 10, KIMAA’s Sempai James Campbell competed in the Queensland Kyokushin State Titles (IKO Matsui).
Sempai James Campbell with Shihan Rick Cunningham
Sempai James came runner up in his division. He fought exceptionally well.
Shihan Rick Cunningham flew up with James from Sydney for the occasion. Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Jon Ellis, Sempai Rob James and others also came to support Sempai James.
Over the long weekend on Monday April 21, the North Coast NSW and Brisbane yudansha (black belts) got together for a training session at Lismore Dojo. This session included Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Jon Ellis, Sempai Wally Gray and Sempai Rob James.
Kata, bunkai and exchanging training ideas were the focus of the day. The katas looked at were Tensho, Saiha and Garyu.
On Sunday April 13 a Little Lions Karate grading was held at Lismore Dojo in Goonellabah.
Sensei Mark assesses his students.
Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis ran the grading. The students participating were all juniors from the Lismore and Ballina dojos, ranging from Year 9 down to Kindergarten.
A sausage sizzle was enjoyed after the grading.
Thanks to all the adult Karateka who came on the day to assist and congratulations to the following on their new ranks:
Elijah Fraser – 7th Kyu (Senior blue belt)
Wes Snyder – 7th Kyu (Senior blue belt)
Brad Chisolm – 10th Kyu (Orange belt)
Cooper Powell – 10th Kyu (Orange belt)
Isaac McAlphine-King – 10th Kyu (Orange belt)
The first Kyokushin kata and bunkai seminar of 2014 was held on Sunday April 6. Students from Turramurra, Annangrove, Aspley, Ballina and Lismore dojos all attended, including members of the Little Lions and Knox Grammar School classes.
Saturday afternoon Kobudo group
This seminar followed the one in October 2013. Shihan Howard Lipman introduced these seminars to be held twice a year as a compulsory component in senior gradings. They are to keep students across all five KIMAA dojos up to speed on kihon (basics), kata (pattern or form) and bunkai (application).
Basics training led by Shihan Howard Lipman
Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Jon Ellis, Patricia Tan and Little Lions Ben and Jack came down from the North Coast dojos.
Sempai Rob James, Gen Moller and Jermaine Downs travelled from Aspley Dojo. They all arrived on the Saturday.
That afternoon, a three hour Kobudo class was conducted by Shihan Rick Cunningham with the visiting KIMAA members and Sydney Kobudo students. The weapons focused on were the Bo, Eeku, Jō and Sai.
The class finished at 5pm and was followed by a group dinner, kindly hosted by Shihan Cunningham and his wife, Kirsti. Shihan Cunningham broke out a case of Orion beer imported from Okinawa, a fond favourite of those who have been there.
Shihan Rick Cunningham demonstrates bunkai on Sempai Don Cheong
The main Kyokushin seminar began at 9am on the Sunday. Shihan Lipman led an opening session on basic techniques.
After this, the Taikyoku and Pinan sono Ichi, Ni and San katas were revised. Shihan Cunningham took the class through bunkai for these katas, with Sempai Jon Ellis and Sempai Don Cheong demonstrating throughout the day. Sensei Peter Olive provided some alternative bunkai techniques in Pinan sono San.
The bunkai covered all moves of the katas and were taught in great detail. Students practised their bunkai, throws, chokes and takedowns in pairs.
Learning bunkai is not just an important syllabus point in students’ gradings, but also to improve their depth of knowledge of the katas, the importance of each movement and to improve their understanding of what they are doing and why.
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As always, KIMAA students enjoyed the experience of training with members from all dojos.
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These seminars shall continue, with the next one on August 17. It will be focused on bunkai for Pinan sono Yon and Pinan sono Go, as well as tameshiwari (board breaking).
KIMAA students extend their thanks to Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham for organising the weekend.
On March 15, Aspley Dojo held its first Karate grading for 2014. The grading was conducted by Sempai Rob James.
The Little Lions kicked off the day at 8am.
The Adults class followed at 10am.
Sempai Rob was very happy with the technical ability displayed on the day. Everyone participated with the ‘Kyokushin spirit’. Particular congratulations go to Aspley’s senior student Jermaine on his 4th Kyu, earned after 8 kumite bouts, and Little Lion Sarah on her 5th Kyu after 5 kumite bouts. Sarah trains under Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis in Karate at the North Coast NSW dojos, but graded with the Brisbane students today.
Congratulations to all those who graded.
Aspley Little Lions after the gradingAspley Adults after the grading
On Sunday December 15, the final Sydney Kobudo class for 2013, a grading was held. Sempai Don Cheong, Sempai Alex Lloyd and Sempai Todd Murphy all successfully graded.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 