Category: Year

KIMAA North Coast Seminar – July 1-2, 2023

On the weekend of July 1-2, 2023, Sensei Mark McFadden hosted a Kyokushin and Kobudo seminar at Lismore Dojo on the NSW Far North Coast.

Hanshi Howard Lipman, Shihan James Sidwell, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sensei Mark Long travelled to the North Coast for two nights to instruct the adults and kids.

Saturday began with Shihan James leading instruction in basics and kata.

After a sausage sizzle lunch, training resumed, led by Sensei Mark Long. The first afternoon session focused on fighting techniques, combinations and ended with many rounds of kumite. The Lismore karateka fought each other and the visiting black belts. After the kumite, Shihan James and Sensei Alex split the class up for further kata training.

The local senior grades joined the visiting instructors for dinner on the Saturday night.

Sunday morning began with a Little Lions session, led by Shihan James and Sensei Mark.

After the Little Lions went home, Sunday training finished with a long Kobudo session. Shihan James and Sensei Alex took the group through the basics of the Bo staff in the introductory exercises and first kata. Hanshi Howard and Shihan James also ran the group through pressure points, and Sensei Alex took the class through a senior Bo exercise. Shihan James also taught Sensei Wally Gray and Sempai Patricia Tan the second Eku kata and Sensei Alex refreshed Sempai Trish on the Jo kata.

Throughout the weekend, Hanshi Howard presented students with grading certificates. These were for senior kyu grades as a result of the June grading in Sydney, and gradings conducted in Lismore by Sensei Mark for junior kyu, Little Lions and Kobudo.

Hanshi Howard was delighted with the standard of Karate and Kobudo he saw on display. The weekend was a great opportunity for the Lismore Dojo students to train with other martial artists, and be pushed in a constructive way. These KIMAA seminars with Sydney instructors visiting Lismore will continue in 2024.

Announcement: KIMAA Senior Instructors

Hanshi Howard Lipman is pleased to announce that Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell now both have the title of Vice-Chairman of Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia, as deputies to KIMAA Chairman Hanshi Howard.

Shihan Mark began Kyokushin Karate with Hanshi Howard in 1986 and has been a regular instructor at Turramurra Dojo since 2000. Shihan James began Kyokushin in 1993 and started training with Hanshi in 1994, and has been a regular instructor at Turramurra Dojo since the early 200s. Both have competed in tournaments, taught at KIMAA seminars and travelled many times to Japan to represent KIMAA.

In addition to Hanshi Howard, Shihan Mark and Shihan James, the KIMAA senior leadership team also includes Shihan Idir Bahamid and Sensei Mark McFadden. 

Shihan Idir remains a valued senior instructor, as the longest-practising martial artist in the organisation. Shihan Idir began training in Shotokan Karate in the 1960s and was a 5th Dan in that style before commencing his Kyokushin journey with Hanshi in 2004. 

Sensei Mark McFadden – Dojo Operator of KIMAA Lismore Dojo – has taught Kyokushin since the 1980s, and competed in local, state and national tournaments. He opened Lismore Dojo in 2006 and has travelled to Japan many times with Hanshi Howard.

Hanshi Howard extends his warm thanks to Shihan Mark, Shihan James, Shihan Idir and Sensei Mark for their expertise and ongoing support of KIMAA. When you have trained with the rest, train with the best – Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia.

Hanshi Howard Lipman
9th Dan Kyokushin
KIMAA Chairman

Senior Kyu Kyokushin Grading – June 10, 2023

Karateka of Turramurra and Lismore dojos came together at the KIMAA Honbu for a senior kyu Kyokushin Karate grading.

Hanshi Howard Lipman and Sensei Mark McFadden assessed the students while Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell ran the grading. Well done to all students, who displayed a high level of technical ability and discipline.

Thanks to all those who came in support of students attempting a new grade.

Turramurra Gradings – June 7, 2023

On the night of Wednesday June 7th, Kids and Junior Kyu Kyokushin gradings were held at Turramurra Dojo.

Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan James Sidwell assessed the Kids grading, while senior student Maia Brown ran them all through their techniques and kata. All students involved trained well and demonstrated good technique.

Later that evening, Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine ran the Junior Kyu grading at Turramurra Dojo. The students performed well and displayed great determination.

KIKO Kata Tournament – June 4, 2023

The KIKO Kata Tournament on Sunday June 4th was a fantastic day for KIMAA Turramurra Dojo.

Hanshi Howard Lipman would like to thank Kancho Doug Turnbull for great day and congratulate all our students who entered from ages 6-16 years. We had 14 competitors, and 11 of these students either placed or won all their divsions in kata.

Thank you also to Shihan James Sidwell for assisting with kids on the day. Special mention goes to the youngest students Sophie and Ken, 6 years old and 7 years old, for as well as competing individually they also did synchronised kata together.

Congratulations to the following students for their results:

Kata 16 years & over Beginner/Intermediate
Ashley Kim – 2nd
Narmie Thambipillay – 3rd

Kata 13-15 years Advanced
Maia Brown – 1st

Kata 11-12 years Advanced
Ethan Kuo – 1st
Ryan Kuo – 3rd

Kata 8-10 years Beginner
Chloe Le Bescont – 1st
Christopher Paunescu – 2nd
Aimee Kim – 3rd

Kata 7 years & under Beginner/Intermediate
Mau An (Ken) Quang – 1st
Shivan Thambipillay – 2nd
Sophie Chan – 3rd

When you have trained with the rest, train with the best – KIMAA Turramurra Dojo.

Hanshi Howard Lipman
9th Dan Kyokushin
KIMAA Chairman

North Coast Seminar – February 25-26, 2023

On the weekend of February 25-26th 2023, the North Coast dojos of Lismore and Ballina hosted Shihan Rick Cunningham, who travelled from Sydney to host a weekend seminar.

On the first Saturday session, Shihan Rick worked the adults and Little Lions in a combined class through Kyokushin basics (Kihon), self-defence applications (bunkai) and fitness at Ballina Dojo.

The second Saturday session was an adults-only class, focussing on more senior techniques and kata.

The third training session, on Sunday morning, was for KIMAA students of Kobudo (weapons), held at Lismore Dojo.

Special thanks go to Shihan Rick for coming up to teach the students, and to North Coast dojo operators Sensei Mark McFadden and Sensei Jon Ellis for hosting and organising.

Sensei Ian Holdaway – February 8, 2023

Hanshi Howard Lipman made a surprise visit to Annangrove Dojo during training on the night of Wednesday 8 February to present Sensei Ian Holdaway with his 4th Dan (Yondan) Black Belt and certificate in Kyokushin Karate.

Sensei Ian (4th Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo) began his training in Kyokushin Karate under Shihan John Williams (then Sensei) in 1989 at Minchinbury Dojo. In 1991 he moved to Werrington Dojo under Sempai Sandy Ivanovic, before stopping training as a 5th Kyu in 1993 due to work commitments.

In 1999, Sensei Ian resumed his study of Karate under Shihan Rick Cunningham. He was graded to 1st Dan in 2004 and to 2nd Dan in 2007 by Hanshi Howard Lipman.

Sensei Ian partook in the third trip to Okinawa in 2008. He is one of the regular instructors at Annangrove Dojo for children and adults, as well as being master of the BBQ at all KIMAA weekend seminars.

Congratulations from all the instructors and students at Annangrove Dojo. Osu!