In September 2012, Aspley Dojo was opened by Sempai Rob James. Within three years of the opening of KIMAA’s Brisbane dojo, on April 11 this year, Sempai Rob and students celebrated their first milestone: five Aspley Dojo fighters competed in a state tournament – the Queensland IKO State Titles. Some have been training with Sempai Rob since the beginning, while others are a lot more recent to join the fold. All did their dojo proud.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Aspley Dojo came away with three medals:
1st Colts Middleweight Novice
2nd in the Men’s Light Weight Novice
2nd Boys Aged 7-8 Years
Sempai Rob was “extremely proud” of all of his students, “not just the ones who came away with a medal. You all worked hard on the day and displayed great spirit and determination.”
Congratulations to the competitors of Aspley Dojo, and to Sempai Rob. Special thanks also goes to Sensei Mark McFadden, who came up from Lismore to help support the team on the day.
The following article continues the story of the 2015 KIMAA Group Tour to Japan. Click here to read Part 1 and click here to read Part 2.
We had no training on Monday, so we used the free time to enjoy doing a couple of Kyokushin photo shoots, following the paths of many martial artists before us. First, we did a shoot at Shurijo.
Sempai Alex Lloyd, Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sempai Don Cheong, Sempai James Campbell and Trish Tan at Shurijo, Okinawa
We then went to the old ruins of Nakagusuku and continued the shoot.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
On Tuesday morning, Sensei Hokama presented new Kobudo black belt grades, based on the Friday and Saturday sessions and on the recommendation of Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham. The new Kobudo grades included:
KIMAA tour group with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura
Sensei was still feeling unwell so his visiting Branch Chief from Nagoya, Shihan Ken Ogura, took the class. Shihan Ogura was very impressed with the standard displayed by KIMAA and proclaimed the “Australian team” the best he had ever taught!
Shihan Ken Ogura with nunchaku
We had the afternoon off. Some of the group took Trish to the Chinese Gardens, where we enjoyed the tranquility of the grounds.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
That night it was back to Sensei’s dojo for our final training session. Sensei watched as Shihan Arakawa took the class. We did some fitness and conditioning, then some more traditional Okinawan training, including moving through Sanchin with jars and dumbbells. We then moved onto kata and bunkai.
Tuesday night class
The following day, Wednesday March 18, we were off to Hiroshima for the next stage of our trip.
We left Hiroshima on Friday but did a lot in our brief time there. This included taking a ferry to Miyajima to explore the island and climb to the peak of Mt Misen; visiting the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum; and seeing Hiroshima Castle. Sensei Mark had been to Hiroshima before and took up the mantle of KIMAA Tour Guide.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
After Hiroshima we made our way to Kyoto. We explored the markets on Friday afternoon and went to a green tea shop.
We started off Saturday with a traditional green tea ceremony, which was delicious and enjoyable.
We spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday exploring a range of beautiful shrines and temples. These included the streets surrounding Kiyomizu-dera (Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka) and the nearby Yasaka no To Pagoda; Kodai-ji; Kennin-ji; Heian Shrine; Nanzen-ji, Eikan-do Zenrin-ji; Ginkaku-ji and Kinkaku-ji. We also perambulated the Philosopher’s Walk, all the while admiring the local scenery.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The cherry blossoms were just starting to come into bloom during our time in Kyoto.
On Monday the group went to Kurama and hiked through the mountains to Kibune, where it snowed as we finished the trek. We then made our way back to Kurama to relax in the outdoor Onsen while the snow fell.
Shihan Rick Cunningham in the sleet of Kibune
Tuesday was the group’s final day in Kyoto. They started with Sanjusangen-do Temple, featuring the Hall of 1001 Kannon Statues. The group split up for the rest of the day, until a final dinner that night: Shihan Lipman and Masumi shopped; Shihan Cunningham, Sensei Mark, Sensei Jon and Trish went back to Kiyomizu-dera and the surrounding streets, followed by watching an impressive archery demonstration at the Budo Centre; and Sempai Don, Sempai James and Sempai Alex shopped and enjoyed the food markets, and Sempai Alex also went to Nijo Castle.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The group arrived safe and sound back in Sydney on the morning of Thursday March 26. The trip was a great success and very enjoyable, from Sempai Don and Sempai James competing at a high standard in the tournament; quality training with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura; a number of new Kobudo black belt grades; and the sightseeing in Hiroshima and Kyoto.
Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham are now looking ahead to consolidate the knowledge gained on the trip and to pass it onto the wider KIMAA student body. Of particular note is the upcoming seminar in May.
The rest of the group thank Shihan Lipman, Masumi and Shihan Cunningham for a wonderful trip!
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.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Sempai Don Cheong fought very well but unfortunately lost his fight.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Sempai James approached his second fight with the same intensity as his first. He won, making it to the Quarter Finals.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
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.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
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.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
We congratulate both competitors on their excellent performance. They made their instructors and coaches very proud.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
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.
All of us had been to Japan before – an understatement for some! – but it was Trish’s first time in Okinawa and first KIMAA tour.
The trip had three main focuses:
The Okinawa Karate Tournament
Training with Sensei Hokama, including a Kobudo black belt grading
Sightseeing in Hiroshima and Kyoto
We reached our hotel early in the afternoon on Thursday. After checking in our first destination was Shureido, the martial arts shop. We stocked up on supplies and caught up with Yoshi, our account manager at Shureido for many years. After this we wandered through the shops on Kokusai Dori before heading to our favourite gyazo bar for dinner.
Friday morning was training with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan Goju-ryu and Kobudo) at his dojo. We did Kobudo training followed by some empty hand self-defence applications.
KIMAA and Russian teams with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura
After training we enjoyed some sushi and explored the markets of Kokusai Dori and Tsuboya, the pottery village.
We were back at Sensei’s dojo again on Saturday, expanding on the previous day’s work of self-defence applications (bunkai) from kata.
We then had an easy afternoon to rest up Sempai Don and Sempai James, as the tournament was the next day. Photos and videos from the tournament are available in Japan Tour Pt 2: The Tournament.
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.
Karate training starts back at all KIMAA dojos this week. Kobudo training resumes at Annangrove Dojo for Sydney students and Lismore Dojo for North Coast students this Sunday.
Turramurra Dojo has exciting news for 2015 – it has launched its own Facebook page. This is for Turramurra Dojo students to keep up with the latest announcements from Shihan Howard Lipman, for the wider KIMAA organisation to know what’s going on in the Honbu Dojo, and to extend our organisation’s reach via social media.
2014 was a busy and exciting year for Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia. The growing number of seminars and dojo events gave students new avenues to pursue the martial way, while tournaments and gradings were opportunities to measure and reward the progress of KIMAA students in Kyokushin Karate and Kobudo.
Following the November 2013 trip to Okinawa, a Kobudo grading was held December last year. Sempai Todd Murphy, Sempai Alex Lloyd and Sempai Don Cheong received their belts from Shihan Cunningham in February and were presented their certificates by Shihan Lipman in March. Kobudo training has been diligently attended by the core group of Sydney students throughout 2014, as many of the class look towards heading back to Okinawa to train with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan) in March 2015.
The biannual KIMAA seminars were held in April and August this year. Instructors and students from the North Coast and Brisbane dojos flew down to Sydney for these events. Both weekends followed the same template: Kobudo training on the Saturday afternoon, with an all-day Karate session on the Sunday. The Sunday classes were attended by students of all grade levels, and was a prerequisite for anyone attempting either the June or September senior gradings. The Sunday sessions were also attended by students of Knox Grammar School.
The seminars this year had an increased focus on bunkai (self-defence applications derived from kata). This was to provide students with a wider repertoire of self-defence techniques, as well as increasing their understanding of the katas they perform in class every training. Instruction was led by Shihan Lipman, Shihan Cunningham and Sensei Peter Olive. The August seminar also focused on tameshiwari, where students enjoyed smashing through a great deal of wood.
These grade promotions were earned from the long years of service to the organisation and regular hard work in training. They reflect the growing collective knowledge of KIMAA instructors. Sensei Jon and Sempai Rob run Ballina and Aspley dojos respectively, while Sensei Ian and Sempai Todd regularly teach at Annangrove, and Sempai James and Sempai Alex at Turramurra.
Sydney students were also very active – and successful – in tournaments in 2014. Sempai James Campbell competed in his first tournament, the Queensland Kyokushin State Titles, in May and was runner up in his division.
He later competed in the annual Australian Open Full Contact Karate Tournament in August. Sempai Ben Ng and Sempai Don Cheong from Turramurra Dojo and Daniel Williams from Annangrove Dojo also competed in this tournament. Daniel won the 3rd and 4th Kyu Open Heavy Weight division.
All students did their instructors proud and admirably represented KIMAA. They followed a hard training program under the watchful eyes of Shihan Lipman, Shihan Cunningham and Sensei Mark Shelmerdine. Sempai James and Sempai Don will compete in Japan next March, representing Australia.
QLD (State) 2014
Sydney (National) 2014
Sempai Ben: August 2014
Daniel: August 2014
Sydney (National) 2014
Zac: November 2014
Sydney (Local) 2014
Shihan Lipman with Angus, Zac & Victor
In November, three students from Turramurra Dojo fought in a tournament run by the International Federation of Karate Kyokushinkai Australia. Brothers Angus and Victor Sweeney, students of Shihan Howard Lipman and Sensei James Sidwell, both won places. Angus came Second in the Cadet Male Heavy Weight division and Victor Third in the Boys 14-15 years over 70kg. Young Zac Zibaee was originally a Knox Prep Karate student taught by Shihan Lipman and Sempai Alex Lloyd, but has since also trained with Shihan Lipman and Sensei James in the Turramurra Dojo Little Lions classes. Zac placed Second in the Boys 11-14 years 40-45kg. Shihan Lipman was very pleased with all the boys’ efforts and looks forward to watching them give it another go in future tournaments.
Knox Karate Demonstration, November 2014
Knox School Karate had another successful year. Students participated in the major seminars, and Zac Zibaee in a tournament.
Gradings for Knox were held in May and November, with many students moving up through the Kyu belt levels. Once again, Knox held an end-of-year Karate BBQ at the school. This was the first year where the BBQ also included a demonstration for parents.
2015 will be the tenth of year of Knox’s affiliation with KIMAA.
Besides Sensei Jon Ellis’s promotion to ‘Sensei’ (3rd Dan) and Jeremy Gray reaching 1st Kyu in Sydney’s September grading, the North Coast held their own gradings. This included a Little Lions grading in April, among others, documented photographically on the North Coast Facebook page. The attendance and success of these gradings and seminars were marked by an increasing body of students at Lismore and Ballina dojos, all passionately striving to better their karate.
Creative Weapons win at NAS
Sensei Mark played host at Lismore Dojo to more than just gradings and seminars, including the Blue September fundraiser event. Sensei Mark, assisted by Sensei Jon and others, also cooked a record number of snags at the various Bunnings BBQ events, raising funds for the dojo and promoting the Kyokushin way.
The North Coast enjoyed many successes in tournaments in 2013, and this continued in 2014. Patricia Tan placed First in the Advanced Women’s Kata division in the National All Styles in July, as well as competing in the Traditional Weapons section. Wesley Snyder placed Third in the 14-years-old age group in the 10th-4th Kyu Kata section in the July NAS. Trish continued her streak of tournament victories by placing Third in her Kata division of the Queensland NAS in October. In this event, she also competed with Sensei Mark McFadden in the Creative Weapons division. Sensei Mark and Trish placed First.
Sensei Mark, Sensei Jon, Sempai Wally and Jeremy Gray, Trish Tan, Will Brook and others from the North Coast were regular attendees of seminars and gradings in Sydney as well.
North Coast karateka with Senseis from Turramurra Dojo at the Sydney September grading. L-R: Sensei James Sidwell, Jeremy Gray, Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Jon Ellis, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Will Brook and Sempai Wally Gray
Sempai Rob strove to keep giving his students new challenges in their study of Kyokushin. Sempai Rob often took students to seminars held at Lismore Dojo. He returned the favour and played host in May and November, with instructors and students from the North Coast dojos travelling up to Brisbane to train with Sempai Rob’s students.
Sempai Rob held a Karate grading in March and an Open Kata Tournament in July, among other grading events. All were great successes, with a strong, healthy core group of Kyokushin students developing at Aspley Dojo.
KIMAA’s Queensland branch trained hard throughout 2014, as evidenced through Sempai Rob’s keen posting on the Aspley Dojo Facebook page. The students were constantly challenged by their instructor, as well as often being motivated by their Sempai’s regular online updates and images.
Sempai Rob brought his senior student, Jermaine, down to train in Sydney. Jermaine, like his Sempai, attempted the senior grading in Sydney in September.
In other news
Online
A new Student Profiles section started on the KIMAA website this year. Four students were profiled: Josh Darley, Turramurra Dojo Little Lion; Eliza Bolger, Aspley Dojo Little Lion; Sempai James Campbell, Turramurra Dojo Nidan; and Ayla Calnan, Ballina Dojo Little Lion. These profiles will continue in 2015. These are to complement the Karate instructor and Kobudo instructor profiles already on this website, building the reputation of what KIMAA is all about: its students. It is also for the stories of these exemplar students to be shared across dojos and to motivate one another to keep pushing and training harder.
Shihan Bob Boulton
On December 2nd, Shihan Bob Boulton sadly passed away. Shihan Boulton was an early student of Sosai Mas Oyama at the Honbu in Tokyo and brought Kyokushin to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. Shihan Boulton then moved to Australia and was responsible for the martial arts training and development of KIMAA President Shihan Howard Lipman. May he rest in peace.
Looking forward
There is a lot to look forward to in 2015 for all KIMAA dojos. This includes a fast-approaching Japan group tour in March, for training with Sensei Hokama and competing in an international Kyokushin tournament.
Your instructor will advise you of which dates your dojo is closed over the holiday period, or of your holiday training timetable.
Annangrove Dojo will stay open on Monday nights, with training at 6.30-8.00pm on the 22nd and 29th of December. Turramurra Dojo will reopen on Monday the 5th of January.
KIMAA instructors wish their students a safe and happy holiday season.
KIMAA’s head instructors: Sensei Jon, Sensei Mark, Shihan Lipman, Shihan Cunningham & Sempai Rob – April 2014
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 