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).

Hanshi Howard Lipman

Hanshi Howard Lipman is 9th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 10th Dan in Kobudo, 10th Dan (honorary) in Goju-Ryu and KIMAA Chairman. He 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 has 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 has done 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 have been taught to him. He was promoted to 8th Dan in 2007.

As KIMAA chairman and head instructor at the Turramurra Dojo (Honbu), Hanshi Howard has 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 is Australian Branch Chief). Hanshi Howard continues 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 has 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 has also facilitated representatives from Goju-Ryu to come to Australia to instruct aspects of this Karate style, including bunkai for kata, and Kobudo. Now Hanshi Howard has been elevated to the most senior grade in both Goju-Ryu and Kobudo by Sensei Hokama – 10th Dan (Hanshi).

Hanshi Howard Lipman continues to oversee the entire KIMAA organisation, travelling to other dojos to conduct seminars and hold senior gradings at the KIMAA Honbu Dojo, as well as taking classes at Honbu each week. 

Shihan Idir Bahamid

Shihan Idir Bahamid is 6th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 5th Dan in Shotokan Karate and 1st Dan in Kobudo. 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 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. Hanshi Howard graded Shihan Idir to 4th Dan in Kyokushin Karate in 2010, 5th Dan in 2017 and 6th Dan in 2024.

Shihan Mark Shelmerdine

Shihan Mark Shelmerdine is 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 6th Dan (Renshi) in Kobudo, 6th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and KIMAA Vice-Chairman. He began his Kyokushin Karate training with Hanshi Howard Lipman in 1986. 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 competed in state and national tournaments, including placement. He is a regular instructor during KIMAA seminars, and has benefited from years of training with other elite martial artists locally and abroad, including Shihan Shichinohe in Kyokushin.

Shihan Mark has travelled to Okinawa seven times with Hanshi Howard since 2008 to train under Sensei Hokama in Karate bunkai. Shihan Mark was graded to 4th Dan 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 (10th Dan) graded Mark to 6th Dan (Renshi) in Kobudo and an honorary 6th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate.

Shihan James Sidwell

Shihan James Sidwell is 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 5th Dan in Kobudo, 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and KIMAA Vice-Chairman. He commenced training in Kyokushin Karate as a Sydney University student in 1993. In mid-1994, he came to train under Hanshi Howard Lipman, and reached the rank of 1st Dan in 2003.

Shihan James teaches many of the kids classes at Turramurra Dojo, and has previously taught Karate for Knox Grammar. He has competed in full contact, non-contact and kata tournaments and won several trophies in these events. Furthermore, he has travelled and trained in mainland Japan and Okinawa in 2008 and 2017.

Shihan James was graded to 3rd Dan in 2009, 4th Dan in 2013 and to 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 (10th Dan) graded James to 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo and an honorary 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate.

Shihan Mark McFadden

Shihan Mark McFadden is 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate, 5th Dan in Kobudo (Shihan), 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and Lismore Dojo Operator. He commenced his Karate training in 1980. He participated in local, state and national tournaments from 1982 to 1990, gaining places at the local and state levels. He began teaching Karate in the mid 1980s.

After competing in the Australian Championships in 1990, Shihan Mark took time out to further his education, career and family. He returned to training in 1996, opening a dojo at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow NSW, and graded to 1st Dan in March 2000.

After relocating to the North Coast, Shihan Mark opened Lismore Dojo in 2006, and in 2008 opened Ballina Dojo, which ran for 15 years. Shihan Mark is responsible for all KIMAA karateka on the NSW Far North Coast, and did so in partnership with Sensei Jon Ellis until 2023. Shihan Mark regularly travels to Sydney for black belt training with other KIMAA senior grades. He has gone to Japan four times for training in 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Shihan Mark was promoted to 3rd Dan by Hanshi Howard Lipman in 2013 and to 4th Dan in 2017. During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan) graded Mark to 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo and an honorary 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate. In 2024, Shihan Mark was graded to 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate by Hanshi Howard.

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.

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.

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)

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 and 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary). He began his Kyokushin training at Turramurra Dojo under Hanshi Howard Lipman 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 at the Knox, kids and adults classes. 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 four occasions in KIMAA group tours (2013, 2015, 2017 and 2023), training with Sensei Hokama, Shihan Ken and Shihan 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 Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan) 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.

Sensei Mark Long

Sensei Mark Long is 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate and Taree Dojo Operator. He commenced his training at the age of 9 doing boxing from 1986-9, then began Kyokushin in 1990 with Sensei David Craigie. Sensei Mark then began 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 Ushi 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 (10th Dan) graded him to 1st Kyu in Kobudo.

In February 2024, Sensei Mark opened Taree Dojo as part of KIMAA.

Sensei Wally Gray

Sensei Wally Gray is 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate and 1st Dan in Kobudo. He began his Kyokushin training in 1983 under Sempai Sebastian Arcidiacono. He was graded to 1st Dan in 1986 by Hanshi John Taylor.

Sensei Wally is a well-known and highly regarded karate exponent. He has represented his town, state and country in Kyokushin full contact tournaments. He was State Champion for several years, fought in national tournaments and represented Australia in the IFK Kyokushin Full-Conatct Karate World Tournament held in Russia in 1997.

Sensei Wally is a regular instructor at Lismore Dojo under Sensei Mark McFadden. He graded to 2nd Dan in 2015 and was graded to 3rd Dan in 2022 by Hanshi Howard Lipman.

Sempai Patricia Tan

Sempai Patricia Tan is 2nd Dan in Kyokushin Karate and 1st Dan in Kobudo. She began her Kyokushin journey under Sensei Mark McFadden at Lismore Dojo in 2008.

Sempai Trish always looks for the next challenge to test herself, competing in a multitude of tournaments for kata, applications, sparring and creative weapons, and nearly always winning placements.

Sempai Trish has travelled twice to Okinawa for training in Karate bunkai under Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken, in 2015 and 2017. She regularly assists with instructing at Lismore Dojo, and is also a widely regarded Tai Chi instructor.

Sempai Trish was graded to 1st Dan in 2016 and to 2nd Dan in 2020. Sempai Trish undertook her third KIMAA Okinawa trip in 2023.

Sempai Josh Darley

Sempai Josh Darley is 2nd Dan in Kyokushin Karate. He commenced his karate training in 2011, at the age of 6, with Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan James Sidwell.

Sempai 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.

Sempai 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. He has competed in local, state and national tournaments, including placement and winning his division.

Sempai Angus Sweeney

Sempai Angus Sweeney is 2nd Dan in Kyokushin Karate. He commenced his karate training in 2004, at the age of 6, with Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan James Sidwell.

Sempai Angus was graded to 1st Dan in 2016 and to 2nd Dan in 2019. He has competed in local, state and national tournaments, including placement. He has attended many KIMAA seminars over the years, including with Shihan Ken Ogura.

Sempai Angus has developed over the years into a well-rounded martial artist. He teaches the Knox Karate classes in support of Hanshi Howard. Sempai Angus undertook his first KIMAA Okinawa trip in 2023, during which Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan) graded him to 1st Kyu in Kobudo.

Sempai Scott Bettridge

Sempai Scott Bettridge is 1st Dan in Kyokushin Karate. He commenced his karate training in 1973, his first instructors being Harry Rogers and then Shihan Bob Boulton – Hanshi Howard Lipman’s instructor.

Sempai Scott trained with Hanshi Howard in the 1970s. He was graded to Shodan in 1979 and competed in 21 tournaments in his youth. In 1983 he was the NSW Heavyweight Champion. He trained regularly until 1986.

After his long sabbatical, Sempai Scott returned to training with Sensei Mark McFadden at KIMAA’s Lismore Dojo in 2022. He refereed at the 2023 Budo Challenge, and has participated in KIMAA Lismore Dojo Seminars.