A senior kata class was held at Turramurra Dojo on Saturday October 10th. Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan), Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan) and Sensei Peter Olive (4th Dan) were instructing on the day.
KIMAA black belts from Turramurra and Annangrove (and young 2nd Kyu Josh Darley) attended the training session. Sensei Jon Ellis (3rd Dan), head instructor of Ballina Dojo, also made it down for the weekend.
The session focused on a number of black belt katas. Particular focus was given to studying Seipai, Kanku Dai and Sushi Ho. The correct technical execution, bunkai, kiai and timings (with and without count) were heavily emphasised.
Left to right: Sempai James Campbell, Sempai Don Cheong, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sempai Ben Ng, Sensei Peter Olive, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Sensei Idir Bahamid, Sempai Mark Long, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sempai Alex Lloyd, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Shihan Howard Lipman, Joshua Darley.Thank you to Shihan Lipman for hosting the day.
Normal Sydney Kobudo training followed on Sunday the 11th, with Sensei Jon also in attendance. It’s always a pleasure to have other KIMAA practitioners from other dojos training with us.
Round 1 got underway promptly at 10 am. Aaryan Sahukhan and James Parasyn in the ‘Boys 11-13 years under 40kg’ division were up first. It was Aaryan’s first tournament. He showed great spirit, but his more experienced opponent won the match. James used his high kicks to keep his opponent away, scoring points quickly and progressing to Round 2.
Next up was the ‘Men’s Open Middle Weight’ division. Sempai Alex won his fight with aggression and continuous movement. He moved to Round 2, where Sempai Ben and Sempai Don were waiting after both having a bye. The younger years were back to the fighting mats again.
Bernard Wilson, ‘Boys 11-13 years 40-45kg’, held his own against a young black belt from another dojo, but the more advanced fighter won the bout. Next was Kasra Parsanejad, ‘Boys 11-13 years over 45kg’. Kasra had a great first fight, using his height and long legs to overpower his opponent with numerous head kicks.
Andy Kuo of ‘Men’s Novice Heavy Weight’ followed next. Andy copped some heavy hits from his opponent but kept pushing through, winning the round, after two extensions, with gusto. Jasper Choi, ‘Boys 14-15 years 50-57kg’, fought after Andy. Jasper displayed great energy, narrowly losing but still showing the right aggression and pace that a young Kyokushin fighter should have.
Round 2 was the round of extensions and determination. James Parasyn fought hard, narrowly losing to his black belt opponent. His fight went to one extension before the judges could determine a winner, however.
Sempai Don entered Round 2 after his bye, quickly overpowering his opponent. Don used his strong leg techniques and relentless chasing to out-muscle his opponent, earning his place in the Finals for the ‘Men’s Open Middle Weight’ division.
After his win in Round 1, Sempai Alex came up against Sempai Ben, who’d had a bye. The two exchanged many blows: Ben’s trademark strong side and thigh kicks against Alex’s punching barrage and uppercuts. It was a close fight, but Ben’s blocking and fast leg techniques ultimately prevailed. After two exhausting two-minute extensions, the judges finally declared a winner, giving the fight to Sempai Ben.
Kasra fronted up to his second fight in the ‘Boys 11-13 years over 45kg’ division. Kasra again used his height and kicks techniques to great effectiveness, giving him another win.
The final round of fights saw the placement play-offs and finals. Sempai Alex was up first against the opponent Sempai Don and beaten in Round 2. Alex used his aggression and strength to overpower his opponent. The referee awarded Alex the match after he scored two waza-ari, securing Alex as Third Place in the ‘Men’s Open Middle Weight’ division.
Elia Parsanejad had her first fight of the day in the final of the ‘Girls 14-15 years over 55kg’ division. Elia had energy and aggression, dominating much of the fight. However, despite her grit and resilience, her opponent won the bout due to scoring waza-ari from well-timed techniques.
Following Elia’s fight was the big event, the final for the ‘Men’s Open Middle Weight’ between Sempai Ben and Sempai Don. Sempai Ben started the fight a bit more tired than Sempai Don after his longer session in Round 2, but both competitors showed nothing but strong resolve and Kyokushin fighting spirit. The two went punch-for-punch, leading to a two-minute extension. Both sides give it their all in the extension, but ultimately Sempai Don’s leg techniques had more power. The fight went to Sempai Don.
The ‘Boys 14-15 years 50-57kg’ division continued in a round robin. Christian Girdham and Jasper Choi both had losses in this division, but faced each other as part of the play-offs. Jasper moved around a lot but Christian’s height gave him the advantage he needed, taking the win. (A video of this fight is not available.)
KIMAA’s last fight in the tournament was Andy Kuo in the ‘Men’s Novice Heavy Weight’. It was a long, hard fight with an extension. Andy took a hit to the groin and the jaw. His opponent won the fight, despite the penalty against him, but Andy couldn’t have done KIMAA any prouder.
Most of the fighters won placements at the end of the day. These included:
Men’s Open Middle Weight champions: Sempai Don (1st), Sempai Ben (2nd) & Sempai Alex (3rd).
Men’s Open Middle Weight
Sempai Don Cheong – 1st
Sempai Ben Ng – 2nd
Sempai Alex Lloyd – 3rd
Men’s Novice Heavy Weight
Andy Kuo – 2nd
Girls 14-15 years over 55kg
Elia Parsanejad – 2nd
Boys 14-15 years 50-57kg
After the tournament.
Christian Girdham – 2nd
Jasper Choi – 3rd
Boys 11-13 years over 45kg
Kasra Parsanejad – 1st
Boys 11-13 years 40-45kg
Bernard Wilson – 2nd
Boys 11-13 years under 40kg
James Parasyn – equal 3rd
KIMAA victors.
Congratulations to everyone involved. Both first-time fighters and the more experienced combatants all displayed great determination and attitude, regardless of the strength and experience of their opponents. Shihan Lipman was very proud of all involved. Having KIMAA take so many placements, including the top three of the ‘Men’s Open Middle Weight’, was an extra special reward for all the hard effort put in by students and instructors alike.
Thanks again to Shihan Lipman, Shihan Cunningham and Sensei James for the coaching support, both on the day and in all the months of training prior.
KIMAA’s next big event will be the October/November Seminar & Grading.
On the weekend of August 22-23, KIMAA Yudansha (black belt grades) came together to do senior Kobudo and Kyokushin training.
Sensei Mark McFadden
Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo), head instructor from Lismore Dojo, came down to participate in the regular Friday night class and special weekend seminar.
Following the normal Friday night training, the seminar began on the Saturday afternoon.
The Saturday afternoon session was Kobudo training. The group revised multiple Bo katas, the Sai katas, the Eeku, the Jō and the Arnis (screamer sticks) in exhaustive detail.
Seienchin kata
The full Yudansha group came back together on the Sunday morning, including Sempai Rob James (2nd Dan Kyokushin) from Brisbane’s Aspley Dojo.
Shodan, Nidan and Sandan Kyokushin katas were all reviewed at great length.
Particular focus was given to the count and timing of techniques, how to break down the katas when teaching, and the overall kimae (focus) a martial artist must apply when executing these movements.
The purpose of each movement and possible bunkai were looked as well.
Yudansha Training Weekend
Most senior katas were revised, from the relatively junior Gekisai Sho and Taikyoku Ura katas to Seienchin and Kyokushin Seipai. The Bo kata Chion (a requirement for Kyokushin Nidan) was practised as well.
The group enjoyed a meal together after training.
The weekend was seen as very successful and productive, with the senior grades able to tackle a lot of high-end content quickly yet in detail. More black belt training weekends will be held in the future.
Thanks go to Shihan Cunningham for taking the seminar and to Sensei Mark and Sempai Rob for making the journey to Sydney.
KIMAA Yudansha: Sempai Jason Lambe, Sempai Jessica Den, Sempai James Campbell, Sensei James Sidwell, Sempai Rob James, Sempai Don Cheong, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Peter Olive, Sensei Paul Finnerty and Sempai Alex Lloyd
A Karate and Kobudo seminar was held on the weekend of July 4-5 at Lismore Dojo on the NSW Far North Coast. Instructors and students attended from Lismore, Ballina and Aspley dojos.
Thanks go to Shihan Cunningham for travelling from Sydney to teach the seminar, to Sensei Mark for hosting, Patricia for her organisational skills (including feeding a small Kyokushin army), and to Genevieve, Amanda and Julie for other lunch duty assistance.
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.
Sensei Hokama (10th Dan) awarded new Dan (black belt) grades in Kobudo during the recent Okinawa tour. Sensei Hokama awarded these grades based on what he saw during training, as well as on the recommendation of Australian Kobudo Branch Chief, Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 7th Dan Kobudo).
The 2015 KIMAA Japan Tour Group after being graded by Sensei Hokama.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 