Karate Instructors

The following black belts are the senior KIMAA instructors you can expect to learn from on your Kyokushin journey. Many of them also teach Kobudo (weapons).

Founder: Hanshi Howard Lipman (RIP)

RIP Hanshi Howard Lipman, 1942-2024.

Hanshi Howard Lipman was 9th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 10th Dan in Kobudo, 10th Dan (honorary) in Goju-Ryu and the founding KIMAA Chairman.

His life in the martial arts and the creation of KIMAA is chronicled in his honour in this biography.

Hanshi commenced his karate training in Sydney in 1969. His Sensei was Shihan Bob Boulton, who trained with Sosai Mas Oyama at Honbu in Tokyo from 1959 to 1964. Returning to England as 3rd Dan to form the UK Kyokushin organisation, Shihan Boulton then travelled to Australia and was to be responsible for the martial arts training and development of Hanshi Howard.

Hanshi Howard progressed with time to the rank of 3rd Dan (Sensei) and trained national champions both male and female in Kata and Kumite (fighting). He was elected to the position of Vice Chairman of Australia, which he held for many years and was also responsible for the organisation and running of national tournaments.

In 1989, after being promoted to the rank of 4th Dan, he was invited to Tokyo by Sosai Oyama and was promoted by him to Branch Chief and was asked to form his own branch of Kyokushin in Australia. He travelled to Tokyo at least twice yearly to attend Branch Chief camps and also to referee at the All Japan and World Tournaments. In May of 1992, Hanshi Howard was promoted to the rank of 5th Dan (Shihan, “Master”) by Sosai Oyama.

In February of 1993, Hanshi Howard became the South Pacific Representative to the International Committee of Kyokushin, Honbu Tokyo.

Following the death of Sosai Mas Oyama, Hanshi Howard’s role was confirmed by the Branch Chief Committee in Japan, and he became a member of the World Board of Directors. Due to continuing political upheaval and instability which unfortunately followed the death of Sosai Oyama, Hanshi Howard resigned officially from the IKO on 1 August 2000, and did so for a better future for his students and dojos, who shall continue to be instructed in the art of Kyokushin and to follow the teachings and philosophies of Sosai Oyama as they were taught to him. He was promoted to 8th Dan in 2007.

As original KIMAA chairman and head instructor at the Turramurra Dojo (Honbu), Hanshi Howard continued to push his students to broaden their knowledge of the martial arts while keeping on the Kyokushin path, through the study of bunkai, self-defence and Kobudo (of which Hanshi Howard was Australian Branch Chief). Until the year before his passing, Hanshi Howard continued to travel with his students to Japan for Kyokushin training and to compete in tournaments.

The KIMAA grading committee presented Hanshi Howard with the rank of 9th Dan and title of Hanshi in August 2017, in recognition of his lifelong devotion to Kyokushin and his leadership of KIMAA. The year 2019 marked Hanshi’s 50th year of studying the martial arts.

In addition to his core martial art of Kyokushin, Hanshi Howard studied under Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama since 2008. In 2023, during Hanshi’s 71st trip to Japan, Sensei Hokama chose to honour Hanshi Howard with an unexpected 10th Dan grade for his commitment, knowledge, execution and support of both Goju-Ryu Karate and Kobudo since 2008 as Australian Branch Chief. Among his many trips to train in Japan, Hanshi also facilitated representatives from Goju-Ryu to come to Australia to instruct aspects of this Karate style, including bunkai for kata, and Kobudo. Hanshi Howard was thus elevated to the most senior grade in both Goju-Ryu and Kobudo by Sensei Hokama – 10th Dan (Hanshi).

Hanshi Howard Lipman passed away in July 2024. His widow Masumi Lipman transferred KIMAA to Shihan James Sidwell as its new Chairman, as per the wishes of her late husband. In the wake of Hanshi’s passing, his organisation KIMAA will continue onwards and upwards, as per the guiding principles taught to his students as Sosai Mas Oyama taught to him. Rest in peace, Hanshi.

Shihan James Sidwell

Shihan James Sidwell is 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 5th Dan in Kobudo, 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and KIMAA Chairman. He commenced training Karate in 1981 in Shōrinjiryū Kenkōkan in Switzerland.

Upon returning to Australia in 1986 he sought to continue his training, finding a self-defence martial art including Kobudo in which he reached Shodan and opened a dojo in 1990. Due to studying workloads, James closed his dojo in 1991.

Seeking to continue his growth in the martial arts, Shihan James trained in GKR Karate until commencing Kyokushin Karate as a Sydney University student in 1993. In mid-1994, he came to train under Hanshi Howard Lipman in St Ives. In Kyokushin he found an effective martial art, highly applicable to any and all challenges encountered in life. He reached the rank of 1st Dan in Kyokushin in 2004.

Shihan James is a senior instructor within the KIMAA organisation at Turramurra Dojo, teaching since 2001 including supporting the development of Knox Grammar Karate that ran 2005-24. He has competed in full contact, non-contact and kata tournaments, and travelled supporting numerous KIMAA fighting teams within Sydney and to Queensland, New Zealand and Japan.

Shihan James was graded to 2nd Dan in 2006, 3rd Dan in 2009, 4th Dan in 2013 and 5th Dan in 2020. Hanshi Howard appointed Shihan James as KIMAA Vice-Chairman in 2023. During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama graded James to 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo and an honorary 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate at his honbu dojo in Okinawa.

Following the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman, KIMAA was transferred to Shihan James Sidwell by Hanshi’s widow Masumi Lipman, as per the wishes of her late husband. Shihan James became KIMAA Chairman on 24 July 2024. Shihan James led the first KIMAA Japan Group Tour to Okinawa since Hanshi’s passing in March 2025.

Shihan Idir Bahamid

Shihan Idir Bahamid is 6th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 5th Dan in Shotokan Karate, 1st Dan in Kobudo and a KIMAA Executive Board Member. He commenced his karate training in 1966. He trained in the style of Shotokan in Europe and North Africa with Sensei Taiji Kase, Sensei Hiroshi Shirai and Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda.

He obtained his 1st Dan in Shotokan in 1971 and was graded to the rank of 5th Dan by Sensei Kasein in 1988 at an international training camp in Paris. Between 1977 and 1982, Shihan Idir was instrumental in the promotion and development of Karate in Romania. He established dojos in different cities and conducted regular training camps.

After moving to Australia in 1988, he continued his karate training in Shotokan in a number of dojos across Sydney before beginning his training in Kyokushin Karate with Hanshi Howard Lipman in 2004 at the Turramurra Dojo.

Over his many years with KIMAA, Shihan Idir has been an integral instructor at Turramurra Dojo and at KIMAA seminars, with his karate epitomising the harmony between power, speed and focus. Hanshi Howard graded Shihan Idir to 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate in 2010, 5th Dan in 2017 and 6th Dan in 2024. Shihan Idir was appointed as a KIMAA Executive Board Member by Shihan James Sidwell in July 2024.

Shihan Mark Shelmerdine

Shihan Mark Shelmerdine is 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 6th Dan (Renshi) in Kobudo, 6th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary), a KIMAA Executive Board Member and Kobudo Head Instructor. He began his Kyokushin Karate training with Hanshi Howard Lipman in 1986.

Shihan Mark has competed and placed in state and national tournaments. He is a senior instructor within the KIMAA organisation, and has benefited from years of training with other elite martial artists locally and abroad, as well as having been closely instructed by Hanshi Howard for almost forty years. Shihan Mark first started teaching in 2000 at the Turramurra Dojo and was graded to 1st Dan in 2002, 2nd Dan in 2004 and 3rd Dan in 2008.

Shihan Mark has travelled to Okinawa ten times since 2008 to train under Sensei Hokama in Karate bunkai and Kobudo, most recently in 2025. Shihan Mark was graded to 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate in 2013 and to 5th Dan in 2020. Hanshi Howard appointed Shihan Mark as KIMAA Vice-Chairman in 2023. During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama graded Mark to 6th Dan (Renshi) in Kobudo and an honorary 6th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate.

Following the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman, Shihan Mark was appointed as a KIMAA Executive Board Member by Shihan James Sidwell in July 2024. Shihan Mark also acts as KIMAA’s Kobudo Head Instructor.

Sensei Ben Ng

Sensei Ben Ng is 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 3rd Dan in Kobudo and 3rd Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary). Sensei Ben commenced his Karate training at twelve years old. He has competed in state tournaments and the Australian championship. He was graded to 1st Dan in 2009.

Sensei Ben became a regular instructor at Turramurra Dojo after his 2nd Dan grading in 2011. He also has participated in and taught at KIMAA seminars in Sydney and the North Coast. He was the lead Zoom instructor during the COVID-19 quarantine classes for the entire organisation in 2020 and 2021.

In 2015, Sensei Ben came second in the IFKKA Tournament and two months later was graded to 3rd Dan in Kyokushin by Hanshi Howard Lipman. He has also placed second at national championships. Sensei Ben was graded to 4th Dan in 2020. In 2023 and 2025, Sensei Ben travelled to Okinawa for training with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Shichinohe.

During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan) graded Ben to 3rd Dan (Sensei) in Kobudo and an honorary 3rd Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate.

Sensei Don Cheong

Sensei Don Cheong is 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate. He commenced his Kyokushin training in Cooma, New South Wales, in 2005. After reaching the rank of 1st Dan, Sensei Don moved to Sydney and began training with Hanshi Howard Lipman at Turramurra Dojo.

Sensei Don was graded to 2nd Dan in 2011. In 2013, Sensei Don participated in the KIMAA Japan Group Tour, which included training under Sensei Hokama and Shihan Shichinohe. He has represented KIMAA in local, national and international tournaments, including placement, most notably when he competed in Okinawa in 2015.

Sensei Don assists with teaching at Turramurra Dojo and at KIMAA seminars. He wrote an essay on visual focus in Karate and was graded to 3rd Dan in 2015. Sensei Don graded to 4th Dan in 2020.

Sensei Alireza Miri

Sensei Alireza Miri is 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate. He commenced his Karate training in 1988 in Iran. Over the years he has learned from Shihan Farhad Froozan and Shihan Amir Mottahed. He began training at the Turramurra Dojo in 2021.

Sensei Ali is a world-class fighter. Over the years he has placed in many tournaments, including:

  • 1st place in Fars province, Iran, 5 times (1995-2014)
  • 2nd place in Fars province, Iran, 4 times (1995-2014)
  • 1st place in Iran National Championship, 3 times (2000, 2004, 2005)
  • 2nd place in Iran National Championship (2003)
  • 3rd place in Iran National Championship, 2 times (1999, 2019)
  • 2nd place in Asian Championship (2018)
  • 1st place in Kempo Ryu National Championship, Australia (2022)
  • 1st place in Veterans Division, KIKO National Full-Contact Tournament, Australia (2024)

Sensei is regularly showing the students of Turramurra Dojo fighting techniques and displaying the true meaning of the Kyokushin Karate spirit.

Sensei Alex Lloyd

Sensei Alex Lloyd is 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo, 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and is the KIMAA Secretary. He began his Kyokushin training at Turramurra Dojo under Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan James Sidwell through the Knox Grammar School Karate sports program in 2005.

Sensei Alex continued his Karate journey beyond school, and began teaching at Turramurra Dojo in 2010. Sensei Alex was graded to 1st Dan in 2011, 2nd Dan in 2014 and 3rd Dan in 2018. He has continued to teach at the dojo over the years. He wrote an essay on the role of teaching in the development of a martial artist for his 3rd Dan grading.

Sensei Alex has taught at North Coast and Sydney KIMAA seminars. He has travelled to Japan on five occasions in KIMAA group tours (2013, 2015, 2017, 2023 and 2025), training with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama, Shihan Ken Ogura and Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe in Okinawa. He has fought in tournaments, placing locally and competing at the state level, and placed first in kata.

During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Hokama graded Alex to 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo and an honorary 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate. In 2024, Hanshi Howard Lipman graded Sensei Alex to 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate. Shihan James Sidwell appointed Sensei Alex as the official KIMAA Secretary in July 2024.

Sensei Mark Long

Sensei Mark Long is 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate and a KIMAA Regional Lead for the Mid North Coast, including as Taree Dojo Operator. He commenced his training in boxing from 1986-9, then began Kyokushin in 1990. Sensei Mark commenced training with Hanshi Howard Lipman in 2000 when he moved up to the Blue Mountains. He graded to 1st Dan in 2001 and 2nd Dan in 2003.

Sensei Mark is an accomplished fighter and has competed in a huge range of tournaments, from Griffith Riverina Championship, Sydney and Wollongong local tournaments, state titles in New South Wales and Queensland, nationals in Australia and New Zealand, and also in Japan.

Sensei Mark has wide experience across the martial arts. In Kyokushin, he has competed a 6-day Uchi-Deshi camp in Thailand in 2018 with Shihan Judd Reid, a seminar with Shihan Cameron Quinn, and attended various KIMAA seminars. He has also trained in the karate styles of Matsubayashi, Kumiai Ryu and Shotokan. He was graded to 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate by Hanshi Howard Lipman in 2022. Sensei Mark undertook his first KIMAA Okinawa trip in 2023, during which Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama graded him to 1st Kyu in Kobudo.

In February 2024, Sensei Mark opened Taree Dojo as part of KIMAA. Sensei Mark was appointed KIMAA Regional Lead for the Mid North Coast in July 2024 by Shihan James Sidwell. He came 2nd Place in the Veterans Division of the KIKO National Full Contact Tournament in November 2024.

Sensei Josh Darley

Sensei Josh Darley is 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate. He commenced his karate training in 2011, at the age of 6, with Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan James Sidwell.

Sensei Josh is one of the KIMAA Little Lions program success stories, continuing his dedicated and high standard of training from childhood into adulthood. He often teaches the junior classes, and provides mentorship to students for fight training and weight training.

Sensei Josh has attended many KIMAA seminars over the years, including with Shihan Ken Ogura. He was graded to 1st Dan in 2016 and to 2nd Dan in 2018 by Hanshi Howard. He has competed in local, state and national tournaments, including placement and winning his division. Sensei Josh was graded to 3rd Dan in 2025, once again completing the Kyokushin 40 fights.