2016 – Page 2 – Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia

KIMAA Ballina Seminar – October 15, 2016

A Kyokushin Karate seminar was held for KIMAA students at Ballina Dojo, on the NSW Far North Coast.

Hosting the event was dojo operator Sensei Jon Ellis. Travelling from Sydney was guest instructor Shihan Rick Cunningham.

An afternoon class was held for all students, covering all things Kyokushin, including basics, kata and self-defence. A senior session was held afterwards, focusing on kata and bunkai.

Students from Ballina and Lismore dojos attended. Thanks go to Sensei Jon for organising the day and to Shihan Cunningham for coming up to Ballina to teach.

The next KIMAA seminar will be with Shihan Ken in Sydney in November.

ballinaseminar2016-12 — Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham & Sempai Wally Gray at the Ballina Dojo 2016 Seminar.

Gold Coast Budo Challenge – October 2, 2016

Students from KIMAA’s North Coast dojos participated in the Gold Coast Budo Challenge on Sunday October 2nd.

Sensei Jon Ellis led the team from Ballina Dojo and Sempai Wally Gray led the team from Lismore Dojo.

Sensei Jon and Sempai Wally with the KIMAA competitors.

Sensei Mark McFadden had pepped up the team the night before with the following words:

gcbc16-4 — Trish Tan wins third place in a kata division.

“The only thing I would add is enjoy the tournament, the atmosphere, whether it is your first or 31st. Enjoy the camaraderie, and being with stacks of people all into Kyokushin. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. It matters that you participated and gave it a shot.

Of course we will celebrate those who do well, but we will also celebrate those who tried. The competitors have all put in extra training, extra effort. You will all be fine.”

The first trophy of the day was won shortly after lunch by Patricia Tan, coming third place in a kata division.

The success for the KIMAA team followed, with our karateka taking out gold trophies in three divisions.

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Congratulations to all who participated, whether you won a trophy or not. You represented KIMAA proudly.

Sensei Matsumoto Visit – September 9-11, 2016

Shihan Howard Lipman and Masumi travelled to Cairns on September 9th and returned on September 11th.

One of Shihan’s students, Mr Han Barkmeyer (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Iaido) has been living in Cairns for some time.

Shihan Lipman, Masumi, Han and his partner at dinner together.

Sensei Han met with Shihan Lipman and Masumi on the night of Friday 9th and went together to Sensei Matsumoto’s dojo.

Shihan Lipman and Sensei Matsumoto were born in the same year, 1942, during the Second World War; one in Australia, the other in Japan. Both have long histories in the martial arts and have enjoyed mutual respect and friendship for a long period.

Shihan Lipman with Sensei Matsumoto at his dojo.

On Sunday afternoon, Shihan and Masumi visited Sensei and his wife Fusashi at their home. They were invited to dinner on Sunday night at a Japanese restaurant with some other friends of Sensei.

Shihan Lipman, Sensei Matsumoto and his wife Fusashi.

“It was great to be able to spend time with Sensei again. A true martial artist and one of whom I am proud to call my friend,” – Shihan Howard Lipman.

Yudansha Training Weekend – September 10-11, 2016

A Yudansha training weekend was held in Sydney for black belt grades in Kyokushin Karate and Kobudo weapons. Sydney black belts, and Sensei Jon Ellis from Ballina Dojo, participated in the training.

Sensei Peter Olive runs Sempai Jason Lambe through Kanku Dai.

On the Saturday was an afternoon class at Turramurra Dojo. Shihan Rick Cunningham took the class. Every Kyokushin kata was revised, from the first Taikyoku to Seienchin, Sushi Ho and Kanku Dai.

Training continued on Sunday morning at Annangrove Dojo, instruction again led by Shihan Cunningham. The Bo and Sai katas were revised with attention paid to technique and pacing.

Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Ian Holdaway and Sempai Alex Lloyd

KIMAA Brisbane Seminar – July 23-24, 2016

The third KIMAA seminar of 2016 was held in Brisbane on the weekend of July 23rd to 24th.

The seminar was hosted by Sempai Rob James, head instructor at North Brisbane and Nundah dojos. Shihan Rick Cunningham travelled from Sydney to lead instruction.

The seminar began on the Saturday afternoon. Much of the afternoon was dedicated to kata and bunkai. Attention was also given to breathing technique and the importance of expanding one’s lung capacity. Self-defence applications were derived from the three Taikyoku katas, Sokugi Taikyoku sono Ichi and the first three Pinan katas. The more senior grades also went through Sanchin and Tsukino.

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Kumite was a big part of the afternoon, with Shihan Cunningham discussing the finer points of stances, kicking, timing, distance and a good defence.

The seminar resumed on the Sunday, beginning with a Little Lions session. The class covered Kyokushin kihon, kata and pad work.

Kata, bunkai and pad work were the main focuses of the Sunday adults class as well.

The weekend was very successful and the students learned a lot. Thanks goes to the venue, Healthworks Fitness Centre Aspley. Sempai Rob and his students were also enormously grateful to Shihan Cunningham for teaching the seminar.

“It’s not everyday you train with someone like Shihan Rick, who has a wealth of knowledge in the martial arts, is a great mentor and genuinely wants to see you grow,” said Sempai Rob.

Shihan Rick Cunningham with Sempai Rob James and his adult students.

Kobudo Photo Shoot – June 26, 2016

Following the Black Belt class and senior Kyokushin grading the day before, a Kobudo class was held on Sunday June 26.

Ready for partner work with the Bo staff.

The class was held at Annangrove Dojo, with instruction led by Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo). Assisting with teaching was Sensei Mark Shelmerdine (4th Dan Kyokushin, 4th Dan Kobudo), Sensei Paul Finnerty (4th Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo) and Sempai Alex Lloyd (2nd Dan Kyokushin, 1st Dan Kobudo).

KIMAA Kobudo black belts: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Paul Finnerty & Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.

From KIMAA’s North Coast and Queensland dojos were Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo) and Patricia Tan from Lismore Dojo, Sensei Jon Ellis (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo) and Will Brook from Ballina Dojo, and Sempai Rob James (2nd Dan Kyokushin) and Amanda Bolger from North Brisbane Dojo. Trish, Will and Amanda did very well at training considering the rigours of the Kyokushin grading the previous day.

Sensei Mark and Sensei Jon from the North Coast with Shihan Cunningham.

Sensei Mark and Trish from Lismore Dojo with Shihan Cunningham.

Amanda and Sempai Rob from North Brisbane Dojo with Shihan Cunningham.

An extended and intensive Kobudo class was held revising various weapons and katas. Turramurra student Jonathan Lee attended the class to do some photography.

Shihan Rick Cunningham with the Eeku.

Sensei Mark Shelmerdine with the Bo.

Partner work: Sensei Jon with Sensei Mark.

Partner work: Sensei Jon blocks Sensei Mark.

Sempai Rob James with the Sai.

Sensei Ian Holdaway with the Bo.

Sensei Jon Ellis with the Sai.

The class perform the Eeku kata.

Partner work: Amanda with Sempai Alex.

Sensei Mark McFadden with the Bo.

Amanda Bolger with the Eeku.

Partner work: Will with Amanda.

Sempai Alex Lloyd and class perform a Bo kata.

Patricia Tan with the Sai.

Will Brook with the Bo.

Sensei Paul Finnerty with the Bo.

Sempai Alex Lloyd with the Eeku.

Thank you to Shihan Cunningham for taking the class, Jonathan for doing the photos and everyone who came along to train.

KIMAA Kobudo class: Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Jon Ellis, Patricia Tan, Will Brook, Sensei Mark McFadden, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Amanda Bolger, Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sempai Rob James & Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.

Senior Kyokushin Grading – June 25, 2016

After the Black Belt Class that morning, a senior Kyokushin grading was held on the afternoon of Saturday June 25 at Turramurra Dojo.

Shihan Howard Lipman corrects technique of students while assessing them. — Shihan Howard Lipman corrects the technique of students in the grading.

Students from all five KIMAA dojos (before the opening of Nundah Dojo) participated in the grading. Shihan Howard Lipman assessed students while Shihan Rick Cunningham took the grading.

Shihan Rick Cunningham leads the grading.

Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis and Sempai Rob James flew down to Sydney to support their students in the grading. Patricia Tan from Lismore Dojo, Will Brook from Ballina Dojo and Amanda Bolger from North Brisbane Dojo accompanied their instructors to Sydney to participate in the grading.

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Some of the students grading from Turramurra included Jasper Choi, Bernard Wilson and Elia Parsanejad. They kept pace well with the senior grades, Will and Trish, from up the coast.

Will performed admirably in his 20 fights for 1st Kyu (Senior Brown Belt).

Amanda sparring for her grading.

Sempai Rob sparring.

Will Brook with Sensei Jon after his 20th fight.

Results decided upon by Shihan Lipman will be announced by the various dojo head instructors. Congratulations to all who passed, and well done on everyone for attempting.

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