For the first time in almost seven years, Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia sent a group tour to Japan for training. This occurred in November 2023 and was a marvellously successful trip with an intense training schedule.
KIMAA’s trips to Japan for training with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (Hanshi, 10th Dan Goju-Ryu Karate and Kobudo) began when Hanshi Howard Lipman first met Sensei Hokama in January 2008. During this meeting, Hanshi Howard knew at once that this Sensei was the man with whom he wished to continue his martial arts studies.
For the next few years, KIMAA senior grades went several times a year for training – sometimes just Hanshi Howard and one or two other seniors, or larger group tours. Over time, Hanshi Howard was made Australian Branch Chief of International Hokama Kobudo and the training trips continued biennially. A KIMAA Japan trip was planned for March 2020 but had to be cancelled last minute due to international border closures and the COVID-19 outbreak. After many years away from Okinawa, this year was a triumphant return for KIMAA.
The main purpose of these trips has been to learn Kobudo so it could be taught to the KIMAA students as well as Kyokushin, and therefore broadening the organisation’s martial arts knowledge, as well as learning kata bunkai from Sensei’s Goju-Ryu school to add significant depth and relevant self-defence application to KIMAA’s Kyokushin syllabus. This tradition continued with the 2023 group tour.
The tour officially began when the bulk of the group departed Sydney on Sunday November 19th, with Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Trish arriving in Okinawa a day prior. Monday was a day off to arrive and settle in.
Tuesday November 20th was the first day of training with Sensei Hokama and some of his senior students. The morning session focused on self-defence work: pressure points, grabs, takedowns, chokeholds and more. This session expanded on previous bunkai we had learned, as well as continuing and advancing previous sequences. The day also included dexterity exercises and Sanchin conditioning.
The afternoon session was Kobudo, practicing single and double nunchuck techniques. We then revised Sensei Hokama’s nunchuck Kata, where we discovered new bunkai and took the pattern to a more advanced level with additional moves and making it more dynamic. We then learned a second nunchuck kata that was new to everyone.
This was the first Okinawa training session for Sensei Ben, Sensei Mark Long and Sempai Angus. All of the group learned something new this day and enjoyed a valuable experience in what was a promising start to the week.
On Wednesday, in the morning we trained again with Sensei Hokama, revising more self-defence techniques, going over bunkai for Okinawan Seipai and Saiha Kata, and practised the new nunchuck kata. Shihan James, Sensei Alex and Sensei Ben could already repeat the pattern from it first being taught the day prior, now only requiring more finesse and speed going forward.
That evening, the group returned to its martial arts roots by training with Shihan Shichinohe (8th Dan) and his senior class in Kyokushin Karate. Hanshi Howard and Shihan Shichinohe have been friends for a long time, and the tour group thoroughly enjoyed the class that focused on Kihon, Kata and application to Kumite techniques. The KIMAA group tour in 2013 trained with Shihan Shichinohe, and went to tournaments he hosted in 2015 and 2017, so it was wonderful to train together again after a whole decade. Training was followed by a group dinner to celebrate the occasion.
On Thursday, KIMAA enjoyed reuniting with Shihan Ken Ogura (8th Dan). Shihan Ken is one of Sensei Hokama’s leading instructors and has taught KIMAA Kobudo and karate bunkai in Okinawa and at multiple Australian seminars hosted by Hanshi Howard.
Thursday’s class with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken centred around partner work, Seienchin bunkai and then a Kobudo session, going through nunchucks, Bo staff and the Eku. Speed, hip power and more speed was the theme of the day, thoroughly testing everyone’s agility – and knees!
Friday’s training with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken was extensive, as the group revised the remainder of the Bo syllabus. Some classic partner work and takedowns were revisited, giving the juniors a firsthand opportunity to experience this with Sensei, while the seniors were also given some further refinement of their kata in terms of movement, dynamism and of course “more speedo!”
The Saturday morning class with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken was another valuable session. The group went through the Tonfa and Sai kata – a new experience for some, and the seniors were once again on this trip introduced to a higher level of movement, integrating speed and body power to create a more powerful and faster performance. The seniors all remarked on what a difference these more advanced elements made to the Tonfa kata in particular, transforming their practice of it into a much more impressive and meaningful kata. The class finished with some extra Seienchin and Saiha bunkai.
Saturday night November 25th 2023 was a great honour for KIMAA. Sensei Hokama, after spending the week assessing the tour group, surprised Hanshi Howard Lipman by awarding him 10th Dan, the highest grade in the International Hokama Kobudo Organisation. As a further surprise and honour, out of recognition for years of dedicated training at seminars in Okinawa and Sydney, Hanshi and the senior Kobudo students were also given honorary Dan grades in Goju-Ryu Karate.
Sensei Hokama chose to honour Hanshi Howard with an unexpected 10th Dan grade for his commitment, knowledge, execution and support of both Goju-Ryu Karate and Kobudo since 2008 as Australian Branch Chief. Among his many trips to train in Japan, Hanshi has also facilitated representatives from Goju-Ryu to come to Australia to instruct aspects of this Karate style, including bunkai for kata, and Kobudo.
Hanshi already has dedicated his life to karate – including as Kyokushin Australian Branch Chief under Sosai Mas Oyama, who promoted him to 5th Dan, and has continued teaching the martial arts since Sosai’s passing in 1994. Hanshi has practised Kyokushin for over 50 years, and has risen to the highest levels within Australia and the world as a Kyokushin 9th Dan. Now Hanshi Howard has been elevated to the most senior grade in both Goju-Ryu and Kobudo by Sensei Hokama. Both are now ‘Hanshi’ and 10th Dan in these two styles.
The honorary grades bestowed upon Renshi Mark, Shihan James, Shihan Mark, Shihan Alex and Sensei Ben also reflect well upon their years of study. Throughout the week of training, Sensei Hokama was delighted and impressed by their technical ability and martial arts spirit.
Sempai Trish continued to impress Sensei with her cross-disciplinary knowledge and insightful questions. Sensei Ben, Sensei Mark Long and Sempai Angus all excelled in their first trip, stepping up to receive the ‘pressure point fun’ from Sensei Hokama when required and gave all the training great gusto.
Hanshi Howard treasures the long-standing association between KIMAA and Sensei Hokama and Okinawa Goju-Ryu Kenshikai Karatedo, Kobudo Association, and looks forward to continuing the wonderful relationship well into the future.
After the presentation of grades, the tour group participated in the final official training session of the trip with Sensei Hokama’s senior students, taken by Shihan Arakawa. This included Sanchin with the jars and partner conditioning, kata, and a final Q&A with Sensei where a variety of topics were discussed.
After training, Sensei Hokama and his senior students shared a meal with the KIMAA team, in a long and happy celebratory dinner.
In a handful of periods of time off training, the group also split up and enjoyed some sightseeing: exploring the reconstruction of Shurijo, performing kata in gi at Nakagusuku, seeing various karate museums, the beach, Street Kart Okinawa, the aquarium and shopping. Sunday was a day-off after the momentous events (and two training sessions) on Saturday.
The group departed Okinawa on Monday November 27th for Kyoto, on the Japanese mainland. We spent a few restful days of sightseeing before leaving Japan on the evening of Thursday November 30th.
Special thanks go to Masumi and Ken for their support, Masumi again for translation and training photography.
The participants all agreed this was the best trip for the knowledge gained, the camaraderie and the memories forged. We look forward to our return – Hanshi Howard is already planning a follow-up group trip in late 2024.
On Sunday May 15th, karateka from Turramurra Dojo competed in Kancho Doug Turnbull’s KIKO Kata & Kobudo Tournament in Tempe, Sydney.
Sempai Tony, Shihan James and Sensei Alex perform Seienchin.
Competitors ranged from the young to not-so-young, with entries in Kyokushin individual and group kata of various ages and belt levels, as well as Kobudo.
The day began with a Bo staff demonstration by Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Sensei Alex Lloyd, performing Kihon and Ufugusuku. They had to adapt their 3-man drill to a 2-man performance last minute when the third practitioner was unwell on the day.
This was followed by a special demonstration by Sempai Tony Kuo and his sons, Ethan and Ryan. The three performed Naihanchi kata, showing how Karate is a discipline that reaches across the years in spirit and appeal.
Sempai Tony Kuo with his sons, Ethan and Ryan, performing Naihanchi.
After the opening ceremony, the first competition division was Kobudo. Shihan Mark and Shihan James Sidwell each competed with the Bo, Sensei Alex with the Sai and Sempai Stephen Runge with the Eku. Thanks go to Shihan Rick Cunningham and Shihan Mark for ongoing instruction in International Hokama Kobudo.
After the weapons, the individual and group Karate kata followed. Each student performed admirably in their category, displaying outstanding technique, excellent focus and calm under pressure. In the adults, Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Tony Kuo performed Kyokushin kata, and in the kids were Maia Brown, Ethan Kuo, Ryan Kuo, Sophie Shi, Aaron Goh and Ashlee Kim. The following video is a brief highlights reel of each entry, as well as the opening demo.
From the various categories, Turramurra Dojo (Honbu KIMAA) students scored the following placements:
Kyokushin Adult Black Belt Group Kata 1st place Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Alex Lloyd, Sempai Tony Kuo (Seienchin)
Kyokushin 11-12 years Group Kata 1st place Maia Brown, Ethan Kuo, Ryan Kuo (Naihanchi) 2nd place Sophie Shi, Aaron Goh, Ashlee Kim (Tsukino)
Kyokushin Adult Black Belt Individual Kata 3rd Place Sempai Tony Kuo (Okinawan Seipai)
Kyokushin Intermediate Individual Kata 1st place Ryan Kuo (Gekusai Dai) 2nd place Maia Brown (Yantsu) 3rd place Ethan Kuo (Yantsu)
Congratulations to all who competed, and again to those who achieved placements. Thanks go to all instructors who helped students prepare for the day, with special acknowledgement to Shihan Idir Bahamid. It must be said that the most rewarding part of the tournament was not the day itself, but the lead up to it, for the Budo spirit in which each competitor prepared themselves week after week displayed true dedication to pursuing the martial way. The collegiality and camaraderie within the dojo is second-to-none, and head instructor and KIMAA Chairman Hanshi Howard Lipman could not be prouder of all his students.
All students who entered the competition placed or won their division.
These included a team kata demonstration of Tsuki No by Maia Brown, Ethan Kuo and Ryan Kuo, who won their division.
Maia also won her individual division, for Pinan Sono Yon.
Sempai Tony Kuo won his division with his demonstration of Seienchin.
Aaron Goh won his division, Peter Tsu placed in his division and Yue Leong Chia placed in his division.
In his division, Ethan Kuo came second.
And in his division, Ethan’s brother Ryan came first.
Congratulations to all for participating, and showcasing strong Kyokushin Karate kata in the tradition of Sosai Mas Oyama. They were coached by Hanshi Howard, Shihan Idir Bahamid and Shihan James Sidwell on the day.
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 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.
KIMAA karateka from Turramurra, Annangrove, Lismore and Young dojos converged on Sydney to attempt various senior kyu grades.
Sensei Alex Lloyd during the grading.
The grading was the usual gruelling six-hour Kyokushin text of technique, stance, knowledge, fitness, focus and commitment.
Students were tested thoroughly on kihon (basics), ido geiko (movements through stance), advanced techniques, bunkai (application), kata (form), terminology and other surprises Hanshi Lipman threw at the students.
Sempai Jasper Choi during the grading.
The day ended with kumite (sparring). Most notable was Jasper Choi, attempting his first black belt grade, who endured the legendary 40 fights.
All students passed their grading. Among the grades, two black belt grades were awarded: Sensei Alex Lloyd was promoted to Sandan (3rd Dan), and Sempai Jasper Choi attained his Shodan (1st Dan).
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For their grading, Sensei Alex and Sempai Jasper each wrote an essay. Both are now on the website:
The first KIMAA seminar of 2018 was held in Sydney, on the weekend of March 10-11, at Annangrove Dojo.
The focus of the seminar was Kyokushin Karate. Kihon and kata were practised at length, interspersed with fitness and sparring sessions. Tameshiwari (board breaking) and Kobudo (weapons) were also undertaken.
Saturday kicked off with an intense basics session with Shihan Rick Cunningham and Shihan Peter Olive. After everyone was suitably sweaty, the class turned its attention to partner work, Sanbon Kumite, leg blocks and defence, and bunkai from Pinan Ni.
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After lunch, the seminar broke up into groups. Students not attempting a board break were assigned to a particular group and instructor to revise kata pertinent to their grade level.
For everyone else, Hanshi Howard Lipman led the class through tameshiwari. Hanshi introduced first-timers to the basics of board breaking, while more experienced karateka got some pointers before attempting larger breaks and multi-board combinations.
The class then recombined for an intense bag session, where students rotated through pairings to practise their roundhouse kicks.
Next was the Naihanchi kata. Shihan Idir Bahamid took the seminar through the kata, emphasising the importance of a solid stance and correct focus in the execution of techniques.
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After studying the kata, the group loosened up for kumite. Kyu grades and the Little Lions had turns sparring the black belts. A few egos were bruised, but everyone enjoyed and learned from the experience.
The seminar group on the Saturday.
That evening, Shihan Rick hosted a dinner for the out-of-Sydney guests and senior grades.
The next morning began with a suitably tiring basics session, led by Hanshi Howard.
After the basics, the seminar spent the rest of the day on self-defence, fighting techniques and kata revision, often broken into smaller groups by grade level. The group also revisited Naihanchi kata. The Kyokushin focus was briefly interrupted for a Kobudo session. Students had the option of learning a Bo, Sai or Eku kata, dependent on their experience level.
Sempai Jason Lambe and Sempai Patricia Tan during the Sydney KIMAA Seminar.
Shihan Peter Olive instructing.
The class finished up after a final group session. The KIMAA seminars continue to be an important feature on the calendar for students to interact with members from other parts of the organisation, and for the instructors to ensure unity in technical standards and Kyokushin spirit. Thanks go to all the organisers, and those who made the effort to travel to Sydney.
The next KIMAA seminar is at the North Coast in May.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 