Kobudo Instructors

Logo for the International Hokama Kobudo Organisation
Logo for the International Hokama Kobudo Organisation

Read up on KIMAA’s senior Kobudo instructors:

Read up on KIMAA’s other senior instructors and their Kyokushin Karate profiles here.

Hanshi Howard Lipman

Hanshi Howard Lipman is 10th Dan in Kobudo, 10th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and 9th Dan in Kyokushin Karate. In January 2008, Hanshi Howard met Sensei Hokama in Okinawa and knew at once that this Sensei was the man whom he wished to continue his martial arts studies.

Hanshi Howard returned to Okinawa in May of 2008 with a group of black belts. This was the beginning of the three trips per year to Okinawa, returning in August and October that year. The trips have continued each year, with the main purpose being to learn Kobudo (weapons) to pass on to Hanshi Howard’s existing Kyokushin students to broaden their knowledge of the martial arts. At the end of the October trip, Hanshi Howard was appointed the Australian Branch Chief of the International Hokama Kobudo Organization.

Shihan Lipman with Sensei Hokama, 2011
Shihan Howard Lipman is awarded his 5th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama, November 2011.

Hanshi Howard has organised numerous Kobudo seminars. In 2009, Sensei Hokama came to Australia at Hanshi Howard’s invitation to instruct KIMAA students. In 2011, Hanshi Howard was graded to 5th Dan (“Master”) in International Hokama Kobudo. In September 2012 Sensei Hokama returned to Australia and was involved in a weekend seminar with the KIMAA students, organised by Hanshi Howard. At the end of this seminar, Sensei Hokama graded Hanshi Howard to Renshi in Kobudo, awarding him the rank of 6th Dan (Rokudan).

In the 2015 Japan Group Tour, Sensei Hokama promoted Hanshi Howard to 7th Dan in Kobudo. It was during this trip that Hanshi Howard met Shihan Ken Ogura (8th Dan) from Sensei Hokama’s organisation.

Hanshi Howard hosted Shihan Ken for a week in November 2016, when Shihan Ken taught a seminar in Karate and Kobudo for KIMAA students, and again in September 2017 and September 2018. Hanshi Howard returned to Okinawa once again in the KIMAA Japan Group Tour 2017 for further training with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken. Hanshi was granted the rank of 8th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama in 2020.

In 2023, during Hanshi’s 71st trip to Okinawa, 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).

Renshi Mark Shelmerdine

Renshi Mark Shelmerdine is 6th Dan in Kobudo, 6th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kyokushin Karate.

Renshi Mark travelled to Okinawa with Hanshi Howard Lipman in 2008 and was taught by Sensei Hokama.

Renshi Mark has since gone back many times over recent years to train, and was graded by Sensei Hokama to 2nd Dan in 2009. He regularly assists with teaching at the Annangrove Dojo Kobudo classes. In the twice-yearly KIMAA seminars, Renshi Mark is always instrumental in instructing students in the Bo, Sai, Eeku or other weapons.

Sensei Mark Shelmerdine is awarded his 3rd Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama and Shihan Lipman, September 2012
Renshi Mark Shelmerdine is awarded his 3rd Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama, September 2012.

Sensei Hokama graded Renshi Mark to the rank of 3rd Dan in Kobudo in September 2012. Renshi Mark also went on the KIMAA Okinawa Tour in 2013. Renshi Mark was graded to 4th Dan in Kobudo by Hanshi Howard in February 2015. Sensei Hokama certified this grading during the 2015 Japan Group Tour.

Renshi Mark enjoyed the experience of training in Kobudo with Shihan Ken Ogura in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seminars. He returned to Okinawa for his fifth time on the KIMAA Japan Group Tour 2017, where he trained again with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken. Renshi was granted the rank of 5th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama in 2020.

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.

Shihan James Sidwell

Shihan James Sidwell is 5th Dan in Kobudo, 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and 5th Dan in Kyokushin Karate.

Shihan James was on the inaugural KIMAA 2008 trip to Okinawa to study Kobudo under Sensei Hokama.

Shihan James Sidwell at the 2012 Sensei Hokama KIMAA Seminar.

Shihan James continued his study of Kobudo back in Australia, including at the 2009 and 2012 Australian KIMAA seminars. Shihan James was graded to 1st Dan in Kobudo in 2009.

Shihan James returned to Japan in the 2017 KIMAA Group Tour to train with Sensei Hokama. He has also trained with Shihan Ken Ogura in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seminars. He was graded to 2nd Dan in August 2018, which was certified by Sensei Hokama in September. Shihan was granted the rank of 4th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama in 2020.

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.

Shihan Mark McFadden

Shihan Mark McFadden is 5th Dan in Kobudo, 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and 5th Dan (Sensei) in Kyokushin Karate. Shihan Mark travelled to Okinawa with Hanshi Howard Lipman and others in October 2008 to learn Kobudo from Sensei Hokama. He was graded to 1st Dan in 2009 by Hanshi Howard.

Shihan Mark has been leading the North Coast Kobudo classes at Lismore Dojo since 2008. Shihan Mark and his students have continued to benefit from the instruction of Sensei Hokama during his 2009 and 2012 visits, as well as participating in other Kobudo seminars.

Sensei Mark is awarded his 3rd Dan in Kobudo, March 2015.
Shihan Mark is awarded his 3rd Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama, March 2015.

Shihan Mark was promoted to 2nd Dan in Kobudo in March 2013 by Hanshi Howard. He received his certificate from Sensei Hokama on the KIMAA Okinawa 2013 in November 2013. Shihan Mark went on the Japan Group Tour in 2015, at which time Sensei Hokama graded Shihan Mark to 3rd Dan in Kobudo. During this trip, Shihan Mark also trained with Shihan Ken Ogura. Shihan Mark trained with Shihan Ken again in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seminars.

Shihan Mark undertook his fourth visit to Okinawa on the Japan Group Tour 2017, where he trained with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken. Shihan Mark was granted the rank of 4th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama in 2020. During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama graded Mark to 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo and an honorary 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate.

Shihan Alex Lloyd

Shihan Alex Lloyd is 5th Dan in Kobudo, 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu (honorary) and 4th Dan (Sensei) in Kyokushin Karate. He began his study of International Hokama Kobudo in 2011 and participated in Sensei Hokama’s Australian seminar in 2012.

Sempai Alex Lloyd is awarded his 2nd Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama, January 2017.
Shihan Alex Lloyd is awarded his 2nd Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama, January 2017.

Shihan Alex has became an instructor of Kobudo to students at Turramurra Dojo as part of the general classes, as well as teaching weapons during KIMAA seminars.

Shihan Alex travelled to Okinawa to train in Kobudo with Sensei Hokama in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2023. He also trained with Shihan Ken Ogura in the latter two Okinawa trips and the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seminars in Australia.

Shihan Alex was graded by Sensei Hokama to 1st Dan in Kobudo in 2015 and to 2nd Dan in 2017. In 2018, Hanshi Howard Lipman graded Shihan Alex to 3rd Dan in Kobudo, which was certified by Sensei Hokama. Shihan Alex was granted the rank of 4th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Hokama in 2020.

During the 2023 KIMAA Japan Group Tour, Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama graded Alex to 5th Dan (Shihan) in Kobudo and an honorary 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu Karate.