Karate students of Lismore and Ballina dojos joined forces on Sunday December 12 for beach training. The weather was a bit overcast but the water was warm as the students pushed through their end-of-year training session.
After the beach training session, the end-of-year awards were given out by Sensei Mark McFadden and Sensei Jon Ellis. The Little Lions of the Year were Isaac from Lismore and Allan from Ballina, and the Adult Student of the Year was Seb from Lismore Dojo.
On Tuesday December 14, Lismore Dojo held gradings for the Little Lions and Adult classes. Congratulations to all students who achieved new grades.
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.
On the weekend of 7-9 May 2021, a KIMAA seminar was held on the Far North Coast of New South Wales. The seminar was to celebrate the 15th birthday of Sensei Mark McFadden‘s Lismore Dojo.
KIMAA instructors and students from all 6 dojos participated in the weekend, which was held at Evans Head. The group met on the Friday for dinner at the bowling club. Training began promptly on the Saturday morning, beginning with a basics session led by Hanshi Howard Lipman.
Later in the day, the 50+ students broke up into various groups for further training in Kyokushin kata as well as a Kobudo group.
Training started bright and early on the Sunday morning at Evans Head Beach, where Shihan Rick Cunningham led a beach training session. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all, from basics to kumite in the water. To finish the session, all children ganged up on Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Don Cheong and Sensei Alex Lloyd.
After a shower and change of dogi, the students went back to the hall for further training.
It was an outstanding weekend of training. The KIMAA cohort had not been able to unite in large numbers except briefly for the Senior Grading at the end of 2020, and after a substantial period of time apart it was enjoyable, practical and useful to gather the students from Turramurra, Annangrove, Lismore, Ballina, Young and Brisbane dojos to train together once again.
Thanks go to Sempai Patricia Tan for organising the weekend, and congratulations again to Sensei Mark for 15 years of Lismore Dojo.
A boxing seminar was held at Turramurra Dojo on Sunday March 21st.
The class was held with the goal of introducing Kyokushin students to boxing techniques, footwork and fitness routines.
KIMAA remains a proud Kyokushin organisation, but introducing knowledge from other styles opens doors to becoming even more well-rounded martial artists.
At the invitation of Hanshi Howard Lipman, Boxing Coach Mario (a staff member with Knox Karate) led the class. Mario has a long history of boxing and impressed the students.
The class – made up of students from Turramurra, Annangrove and Young Dojos, all enjoyed the day with some great techniques being demonstrated by Mario. Thanks to all instructors and students for their participation.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 