Everyone fought well against their opponents. Notable mentions go to James Parasyn and James Kosimar for their wins, including James Parasyn’s two jodan mawashi geri techniques that led him to victory in his first round.
Victor Sweeney came equal third in his division and powered through many rounds to win his trophy.
Congratulations to Victor, and all involved.
Shihan Howard Lipman, Victor Sweeney and Sensei James Sidwell.
The following article continues the story of the 2015 KIMAA Group Tour to Japan. Click here to read Part 1.
The 22nd Okinawa Karate Tournament was held on March 15. This Kyokushin tournament was hosted by Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe (7th Dan Kyokushin). Shihan Howard Lipman’s friendship with Shihan Shichinohe goes back many years.
Sensei Jon and Sensei Mark with their fighters, James and Don.
Shihan Shichinohe gave the group the great honour of all having seats at the Officials Table.
Sempai James Campbell won his first round with great strength.
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Sempai Don Cheong fought very well but unfortunately lost his fight.
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Sempai James approached his second fight with the same intensity as his first. He won, making it to the Quarter Finals.
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As a Quarter Finalist, the local press interviewed Sempai James – with help from Masumi!
After a lunch break, it was time for the quarter finalists to perform Tameshiwari (“trial by breaking”, or board breaking). Four breaks (minimum three boards per break) had to be made using forefist, knife hand, elbow and heel. Sempai James was one of the few entrants to complete each break on the first attempt.
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Sempai James’s Quarter Final round was hard-fought, but he lost the round. He finished in the top eight adult male competitors at the tournament.
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We congratulate both competitors on their excellent performance. They made their instructors and coaches very proud.
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We were invited to attend the Sayonara Party that night, where Sempai Don and Sempai James received further congratulations. Shihan Shichinohe expressed to James how impressed he was with his punch! We enjoyed socialising with old friends from Shihan Shichinohe’s dojo and new friends made on the day.
Sydney Kobudo students enjoyed their first class for the year on January 11th, 2015.
The class kicked off using the kama for tameshigiri – the art of test cutting. Afterwards, Shihan Rick Cunningham practised tameshigiri with his sword.
Knox Karate students held a demonstration for parents at the school on Saturday November 15, the end of their sports term for 2015.
Students from the senior school performed some basics and Taikoyoku sono Ich.
Senior students Karan Mehroke, Hani Rifai, Clayton Ho and Vincent Su then did the kata ‘straight through’. Following this, they performed Tsukino. Clayton and Vincent also demonstrated some self-defence techniques.
The group was led by Sempai Alex Lloyd, who also explained the Karate and practical application to parents. After the demonstration, Shihan Howard Lipman awarded new belts and certificates to those who were successful at the previous weekend’s grading.
Once the formalities were over, Knox held a BBQ for all to enjoy.
The Prep School Karate students received their certificates and belts on Friday November 14, at their final training session for the year.
Shihan Lipman’s wife, Masumi, kindly inscribed each Knox student’s name in Japanese on their belt, which was most appreciated by the boys.
Knox Karate classes resume at the beginning of first term 2015. Knox students are invited to train in the general classes over the holiday period.
Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan) entered three students from his Turramurra Dojo: Angus Sweeney (1st Kyu), Victor Sweeney (2nd Kyu) and Zac Zibaee (4th Kyu). The Sweeney brothers have been training with Shihan Lipman at Turramurra for many years. Zac began his Karate training at Knox Grammar Prep School Karate, under Shihan Lipman and Sempai Alex Lloyd (2nd Dan), and now trains with Shihan Lipman and Sensei James Sidwell (4th Dan) at the regular classes at Turramurra as well as Knox Karate.
The above shows footage of Victor competing, then Angus and then Zac.
None of these three young KIMAA karateka had competed in a tournament before, but all performed admirably. Angus placed Second in the Cadet Male Heavy Weight division, Victor placed Third in the Boys 14-15 years over 70kg, and Zac placed Second in the Boys 11-14 years 40-45kg. Some photos of the day are below.
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Congratulations to these students. A special mention goes to young Zac, who fought in the tournament after attempting the Knox Karate grading with the Senior School the day before. Thanks also go to Stephen Runge for coaching on the day, and Sempai Alex for filming and photographing the event for KIMAA. Angus, Victor and Zac represented KIMAA well and made their instructors proud.
Shihan Lipman with Angus, Zac & Victor
Shihan Lipman with Angus & Victor Sweeney
Sempai Alex, Zac Zibaee and Shihan Lipman
The following article and photo was sent to Shihan Lipman and other entrants from Sensei Jenny Fuller, President of the IFKKA:
We had a great day today at the IFKKA Interclub Tournament Round 6 Full Contact Kumite Individuals and a special Clicker Kumite event for the Juniors. With 35 entries, we had students from three other Kyokushin organisations entered. It was a great day and we were treated to some excellent displays clicker and full contact fighting.
Thank you to Shihan Howard Lipman (Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia) Sensei Alicia Smith and Senpai Rob Smith (Young Tigers Dojo, Kyokushin World Federation), and Sensei Graeme Rose CCK Dojo (Kyokushin Union). Your support for our event is very much appreciated.
For full results from today click here. It will be interesting to see how the overall series Champions results pan out for 2014, as today’s event may have decided some of the final results. The results will be announced at the IFKKA End of Year dinner to be held on Saturday 22nd November at the Ottoman Turkish Restaurant. For details of THAT event click here.
A day such as today cannot be possible without our helpers and we need many. Thank you to :
those who transported and set up the venue yesterday (Saturday) and then again transported the mats back to Petersham after the event: Shihan Doug, Sensei Shah, Senpai André, Chris Spencer, Jack Britton, Ken Randhawa, Eddy Noujaim, Simon Allaway, Anthony Zamattia, and Robbie Simmons.
the ring officials: Shihan Doug, Sensei Shah, Sensei Graeme Rose, Senpai André, Senpai Ben, Senpai Shigemi, & Franc Pujono,.
the table officials: Diane Deller and Chris Spencer.
to Casey & Chris Mardoquio, Meagan Salmond, and of course Louie for setting up and running the sausage sizzle. Well done and we did sell out! Gross takings on the sausages and drinks were $333.
our raffle sellers Nisha Hewitt and Kris Parekh. We raised $137 from the raffle. Every little bit helps towards the fund raising for the international competition travel!
Once again thank you to all for helping. Without you we cannot give our students the opportunity to enter and demonstrate what they are learning in the dojo. I must say I always love watching how the students from all the dojo are developing in their karate.
The second of the biannual KIMAAKyokushin seminars for 2014 was held on the weekend of August 16-17.
There was a special Kobduo training session on the Saturday afternoon at Annangrove Dojo. Sydney Kobudo practitioners and guests from the Brisbane and North Coast dojos then enjoyed a dinner at Shihan Rick Cunningham‘s after training.
The Sunday session began promptly at 9 am. Before training commenced, Shihan Howard Lipman awarded some new grades. In Kobudo, Sempai Todd Murphy and Sempai Alex Lloyd were promoted to 1st Kyu, and Trish Tan was promoted to 5th Kyu. In addition, after years of dedication to Kyokushin and teaching at Annangrove Dojo, Sempai Ian Holdaway was promoted to 3rd Dan (Sandan) and to the title of ‘Sensei’. Congratulations to these KIMAA members on their new grades.
Shihan Lipman & Sempai Alex
Shihan Lipman & Sempai Todd
Shihan Lipman & Trish
Shihan Lipman & Sensei Ian
After these grades were awarded, training began, continuing on from the ground covered in the April seminar. Bunkai – the application of practical self-defence techniques derived from kata – from Pinan Yon and Pinan Go were studied. Sempai Jon Ellis and Sempai James Campbell demonstrated bunkai throughout the day under the instruction of Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham. Students worked in pairs, constantly swapping partners to work with a range of karateka from the various KIMAA dojos.
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After working through the bunkai in great depth, Pinan Yon was demonstrated by Sempai Jon, Sempai Ben Ng and Sempai Don Cheong, and young Josh Darley; and Pinan Go by Sempai Don.
From the August 2014 seminar.
The group took a break for a BBQ lunch, kindly prepared by Shihan Cunningham’s wife, Kirsti, Shihan Lipman’s wife, Masumi, and Sempai Rob James‘s partner, Kerry. Sensei Ian Holdaway took up his usual post at the BBQ, of which he is a master.
Following lunch, the seminar was split up. Junior grades were taken by Sensei Paul Finnerty and Sensei Peter Olive to run through kyu level katas and their bunkai, while seniors practised Saiha and its bunkai.
The groups then recombined for tameshiwari. This literally means ‘trial by breaking’ and is the Kyokushin term used for board breaking. Breaking techniques for sokuto (knife-foot), hiji (elbow), shuto (knifehand) and seiken (forefist) were used to break the wood. Adults broke one to three pieces, depending on their grade level. Little Lions and Knox students broke one, or a ‘kids board’ depending on their age. After this, 2nd Dans (or those attempting that grade soon) performed a ‘multi-break’, as demonstrated in the video footage below.
As always, the KIMAA students were grateful for the time and effort put into the weekend by Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham to further their understanding of Kyokushin and the techniques and kata they do in everyday training. The tameshiwari was particularly enjoyed. Special mention also goes to those from Lismore, Ballina and Aspley dojos who made the effort to fly down to Sydney.
Following this seminar will be the senior grading at Turramurra Dojo in September.
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 