The first Kyokushin kata and bunkai seminar of 2014 was held on Sunday April 6. Students from Turramurra, Annangrove, Aspley, Ballina and Lismore dojos all attended, including members of the Little Lions and Knox Grammar School classes.
Saturday afternoon Kobudo group
This seminar followed the one in October 2013. Shihan Howard Lipman introduced these seminars to be held twice a year as a compulsory component in senior gradings. They are to keep students across all five KIMAA dojos up to speed on kihon (basics), kata (pattern or form) and bunkai (application).
Basics training led by Shihan Howard Lipman
Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Jon Ellis, Patricia Tan and Little Lions Ben and Jack came down from the North Coast dojos.
Sempai Rob James, Gen Moller and Jermaine Downs travelled from Aspley Dojo. They all arrived on the Saturday.
That afternoon, a three hour Kobudo class was conducted by Shihan Rick Cunningham with the visiting KIMAA members and Sydney Kobudo students. The weapons focused on were the Bo, Eeku, Jō and Sai.
The class finished at 5pm and was followed by a group dinner, kindly hosted by Shihan Cunningham and his wife, Kirsti. Shihan Cunningham broke out a case of Orion beer imported from Okinawa, a fond favourite of those who have been there.
Shihan Rick Cunningham demonstrates bunkai on Sempai Don Cheong
The main Kyokushin seminar began at 9am on the Sunday. Shihan Lipman led an opening session on basic techniques.
After this, the Taikyoku and Pinan sono Ichi, Ni and San katas were revised. Shihan Cunningham took the class through bunkai for these katas, with Sempai Jon Ellis and Sempai Don Cheong demonstrating throughout the day. Sensei Peter Olive provided some alternative bunkai techniques in Pinan sono San.
The bunkai covered all moves of the katas and were taught in great detail. Students practised their bunkai, throws, chokes and takedowns in pairs.
Learning bunkai is not just an important syllabus point in students’ gradings, but also to improve their depth of knowledge of the katas, the importance of each movement and to improve their understanding of what they are doing and why.
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As always, KIMAA students enjoyed the experience of training with members from all dojos.
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These seminars shall continue, with the next one on August 17. It will be focused on bunkai for Pinan sono Yon and Pinan sono Go, as well as tameshiwari (board breaking).
KIMAA students extend their thanks to Shihan Lipman and Shihan Cunningham for organising the weekend.
On March 15, Aspley Dojo held its first Karate grading for 2014. The grading was conducted by Sempai Rob James.
The Little Lions kicked off the day at 8am.
The Adults class followed at 10am.
Sempai Rob was very happy with the technical ability displayed on the day. Everyone participated with the ‘Kyokushin spirit’. Particular congratulations go to Aspley’s senior student Jermaine on his 4th Kyu, earned after 8 kumite bouts, and Little Lion Sarah on her 5th Kyu after 5 kumite bouts. Sarah trains under Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis in Karate at the North Coast NSW dojos, but graded with the Brisbane students today.
Congratulations to all those who graded.
Aspley Little Lions after the gradingAspley Adults after the grading
On Sunday December 15, the final Sydney Kobudo class for 2013, a grading was held. Sempai Don Cheong, Sempai Alex Lloyd and Sempai Todd Murphy all successfully graded.
A Senior First Aid course was held on Saturday February 1 at Annangrove Dojo. The course was taken by Shihan Des Paroz (6th Dan Shorinjiryu Karate). Shihan Paroz has trained with KIMAA before at Sensei Hokama’s Australian 2012 seminar, as well as introducing KIMAA’s Kobudo students to the Jō last July. KIMAA students were fortunate to receive Shihan Paroz’s expertise on an area other than the martial arts. He also related some treatments in the first aid syllabus to common martial arts injuries.
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KIMAA extends its thanks to Shihan Paroz, and his assistant Kevin, for their time.
Students of Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia participated in a range of seminars, gradings, tournaments and a group tour to Okinawa. 2013 was a big year for KIMAA students, with the head instructors working hard to give every opportunity possible to deepen and diversify the knowledge of the martial arts across all KIMAA dojos.
Sydney, NSW
Turramurra and Annangrove Dojos were home to a lot of important events in the KIMAA calendar.
Sensei Mark & Sempai Rob’s visit to Sydney in February
The year started with Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo) and Sempai Rob James (1st Dan Kyokushin) visiting Sydney for training in Karate and Kobudo. This was the beginning of a lot of travelling between dojos by the head instructors to further each others’ skills and share knowledge. The North Coast dojos and Aspley Dojo formed a particularly close rapport.
Sempai Sammy Vieira after his forty fights for Shodan.
Sensei James Sidwell, Sempai Sammy Vieira and Sensei Mark Shelmerdine with their new grades.
Shihan Howard Lipman with Shihan Rick Cunningham, October 2013
In October, the KIMAA Kyokushin & Kobudo Seminar was held at Turramurra and Annangrove Dojos. KIMAA President Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo) and Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 5th Dan Kobudo) have instigated these KIMAA seminars as an annual event, with all green belts and above expected to attend. The seminars will also be a prerequisite for anyone attempting a senior Kyu grading or higher.
The weekend seminar was attended by members from all five KIMAA dojos in New South Wales and Queensland. The Friday night and Saturday sessions were spent on Karate, focusing on basics, bunkai, kumite and senior kata. The Sunday spent some time on Karate but was mainly focused on Kobudo. Sessions were led by Shihan Lipman, Shihan Cunningham, Sensei Paul Finnerty (4th Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo), Sensei Peter Olive (4th Dan Kyokushin, 1st Dan Kobudo) and Sensei Mark Shelmerdine.
The rationale behind these seminars is to bring seniors from all KIMAA dojos together to train and uphold strong, correct technique across all dojos. The seminar was seen as a great success, with the next one scheduled for March 2014.
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Two Knox gradings were held in 2013, one in March and the other in November. Knox alumnus Nicholas Cheng has also joined the Knox Sports Academy as a member of the coaching staff. He will be assisting Shihan Lipman with the Knox Karate classes in 2014.
Sempai Alex Lloyd vs Hanai Rifai, November 2013
Knox Senior School Karate class, November 2013
Knox Prep School Karate Grading, November 2013
Knox Prep students perform kata
Knox Prep students after the November grading
North Coast, NSW
Following the combined training weekend in Sydney, Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis (2nd Dan Kyokushin, 1st Dan Kobudo) hosted Sempai Rob and students of Aspley Dojo at Lismore Dojo. Training focused on both Karate and Kobudo. After this weekend in March, another North Coast and Brisbane combined seminar took place at Lismore Dojo in August.
Shihan Howard Lipman awards Sensei Mark McFadden his 3rd Dan
Shihan Cunningham and Shihan Lipman with their newest Sensei
Sensei Mark McFadden is awarded his 2nd Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama and Shihan Lipman
In October 2012, students from Lismore and Ballina Dojos competed in the National All Styles competition and achieved some impressive results. North Coast KIMAA students continued to enjoy success at the National All Styles, winning placements and trophies in May and December, with Patricia Tan becoming the Australian Kata Champion in her division in December.
May National All Styles
QLD (National) 2013
Trish & Jackson, May
Patricia Tan, December
Sydney (National) 2013
After the final week of training in 2013, North Coast and Brisbane students joined together for a day of beach training.
Sempai Rob James, Sempai Wally Gray, Sensei Mark McFadden & Sempai Jon Ellis
The tour group included Shihan Howard Lipman, his wife Masumi, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Sensei Mark McFadden, Sempai Don Cheong, Sempai Alex Lloyd and Sempai James Campbell.
They spent a week training with Sensei Hokama in Kobudo, as well as kata bunkai and general self-defence. They also had one training session with Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe (7th Dan) in Kyokushin Karate.
After the week of training, the group spent a few days sightseeing in Kyoto.
The trip was instructional and enjoyable, as there is always much to learn from Sensei Hokama, who has such an incredible knowledge of the martial arts.
The next group tour to Japan is being planned for March 2015.
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Closing
Dates for dojo closure periods are available in the calendar. The KIMAA instructors give their best regards to all for the festive season.
We look forward to seeing you back in 2014.
Shihan Howard Lipman
KIMAA President
8th Dan Kyokushin
6th Dan Kobudo
Members of the Lismore and Ballina dojos finished training for 2013 with a beach session at Wardell. Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis led instruction on the day. Sempai Rob James of Aspley Dojo also attended the training session.
The morning was spent on ‘The 3 Ks’ of Kyokushin: kihon, kata and kumite. The junior grades then worked on cardio, running along the beach while the black belts practised kata. Following this was some self-defence work, kumite drills, moving basics and finally some sparring.
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At the end of training, some North Coast students received new grades. The North Coast ‘Student of the Year’ and other awards were also presented.
After the beach session was a party at Sempai Jon’s house.
Thanks go to Sensei Mark and Sempai Jon for organising a great day of training and to Sempai Rob’s partner, Kerry, for the wonderful photography.
Sempai Rob James, Sempai Wally Gray, Sensei Mark McFadden & Sempai Jon Ellis
On the weekend of December 14-15, KIMAA student Patricia Tan entered the National All Styles Championships, held at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, and achieved great success.
On the Saturday Patricia performed Saiha kata for the Kyu Grade Kata competition, intermediate section, and won the Gold Trophy. Patricia also performed the Bo kata Sushi no Kon Sho in the Traditional Weapons section, which was an open division. Sensei Mark McFadden and Sempai Jon Ellis performed the Bo kata Ufugusuku with Patricia, displaying the application partner work and finished with a take down for the Creative Weapons demonstration. This demonstration won them the Silver Trophy.
Patricia entered the Continuous Sparring and Points Sparring divisions on the Sunday. These were the Veterans Open division and the fights were against black belts from a mix of styles.
North Coast KIMAA students, including Patricia, have previously enjoyed success in the National All Styles competitions in October 2012 and May 2013. Congratulations to the North Coast students for their consistently high standard of performance in these national competitions. Extra congratulations to Patricia Tan for becoming an Australian champion!
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 