KIMAA karateka of the North Coast Dojos joined together for a Kyokushin beach training session. Training was led by Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis and Sempai Blayne Gale, with Sempai Trish Tan taking photos. After the training, the students of Ballina and Lismore dojos enjoyed a joint Christmas party and bestowed Student of the Year awards.
Happy Christmas and New Year to all.
Karateka from Turramurra Dojo competed in Kancho Doug Turnbull’s KIKO tournament on Sunday November 6th, at Tempe Public School.
Shihan James Sidwell represented KIMAA at the Officials Table, with Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Matt Wolnizer as ringside coaches.
Rhoy Tarnate competed in the Males Adults Advanced/Black Belts Heavyweight, and Peter Zhu in the Males 10-12 years Beginners/Intermediate Over 50kg.
Both students fought well. Peter displayed great resilience in the face of some bigger opponents.
Rhoy powered through his fights, using his great strength to his advantage, placing Second at the end of the day. Well done to both Peter and Rhoy.
Over the first weekend of October 2022, karateka of Lismore Dojo competed at the Gold Coast Budo Challenge. The Challenge saw 178 competitors enter, with a focus on Kata on Saturday October 1st and Kumite on Sunday October 2nd. Competitors came from various Kyokushin organisations and other martial arts styles, locally and from far away as Perth.
The tournament was opened by the Japanese Consul, alongside Federal and State MPs. Competitors were led into the ring by Taiko drummers, and spectators were treated to a display of Taiko drumming. Throughout the event there were displays of Kobudo and Tameshiwari, with Sensei Phil Cox performing a multiple ice break.
Representing KIMAA on the mats were Kate Waspe, Chris Lindsay, Zac Curran and Deacon Thew. Lismore dojo head instructor Sensei Mark McFadden was a judge for Kata and Kumite events, Sempai Wally Gray was the ringside coach, and Sempai Trish Tan judged the Kumite events as well.
Congratulations to all the karateka who participated, and again for their results:
Great effort by all at Lismore Dojo.
On Saturday June 11, a Kyokushin grading was held at Annangrove Dojo. Students were assessed by Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan Rick Cunningham, with Shihan Peter Olive leading the grading.
Participants included karateka from Turramurra, Annangrove and Ballina dojos. Also coming down to support those grading were instructors and students from Lismore and Young.
Sempai Mark Long, Sempai Ben Brady and Sempai Blayne Gale were attempting higher level black belt grades, while Rientz, Brad, Jurgen and Nevin attempted their Shodan (1st) Dan grading, including the Kyokushin 40 fights.
Congratulations to all those who graded successfully, including KIMAA’s newest Yudansha (black belts). After the grading, Hanshi Howard awarded the new black belt grades. This included grading Shihan Peter Olive to Rokudan, 6th Dan.
The new Kyokushin black belt grades are:
New Kobudo grades were also announced, with certificates from Sensei Hokama soon to be awarded. These were graded by Hanshi Howard and Shihan Rick in 2020, and the COVID pandemic prevented the awarding of these grades until now, with certification approved by Sensei Hokama. The new grades include:
On the afternoon of Saturday May 28th, Hanshi Howard Lipman led a Black Belt training class at Turramurra Dojo (KIMAA Honbu). Karateka from 1st Dan to 5th Dan, from Turramurra and Annangrove dojos, participated in the session.
The class spent several hours revising most senior Kyokushin kata, refining technique, and checking details and consistency.
These black belt sessions are important not just for the technical work, but the sense of community and collegiality across dojos within the organisation. Good, strong karate starts from the top, and KIMAA instructors are dedicated to continuing to improve their own martial arts for the benefit of KIMAA students.
The class ended by practising some break-fall techniques and rolls with Sempai Tony Kuo.
After two years of great disruption to the normal KIMAA calendar, it is great to be able to train together at opportunities like this, and we will continue to run these sessions and encourage all our black belts to attend. Thanks to everyone who trained and to Hanshi for his instruction.
On Sunday May 15th, karateka from Turramurra Dojo competed in Kancho Doug Turnbull’s KIKO Kata & Kobudo Tournament in Tempe, Sydney.
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.
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.
On Sunday March 20th, four students from Hanshi Howard Lipman’s Turramurra Dojo competed in the 26th Karate Championships of Kempo Ryu (IKO), with Kancho Peter Mylonas hosting the event.
The four KIMAA karateka represented our organisation in Kyokushin Karate. Sensei Ben Ng, Sempai Angus Sweeney and Alireza Miri competed in the Full Contact Kumite, Adults All Grades, Male Middleweight division. Sempai Josh Darley competed in both the Freestyle Kumite, 16-17 years (Colts), Blue to Black Belt, Male division, and in the Full Contact Kumite, 16-17 years (Colts), All Grades, Male Lightweight Division.
Hanshi Howard Lipman, his wife Masumi and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine were special guests on the VIP table. Shihan James Sidwell and Sensei Alex Lloyd coached the fighters, while Sempai Stephen Runge did the photography and videography.
All students admirably represented KIMAA, facing strong opponents and displayed great budo and fighting spirit.
Congratulations go to Sempai Josh, for placing Third in his Freestyle Colts Kumite division and Second in his Full Contact Colts division. Due to luck of the draw, Sempai Josh ended up having four fights in a row, drawing the praise of Kancho Mylonas and other senior instructors for his fierce fighting attitude and never backing down.
Congratulations also go to Sensei Ben and Ali, both fighting their way to the Final of the day’s main event: the Male Middleweight for Full Contact Kumite. After one extension, Ali’s persuasive kicks won the bout, leading KIMAA to take the top two spots of the division.
After having a notable period without tournament events due to the Covid situation, it was gratifying for all involved to be at a large event and compete against other martial artists. Hanshi Howard expresses his warm pride in all his students and coaches efforts.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 