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On Friday April 12th, 2024, the first Kyokushin Karate grading was conducted for students of Taree Dojo.
Dojo Operator Sensei Mark Long was most pleased with the students’ efforts. The grading participants were all from the Kids class, and demonstrated various skills including:
The stuedents were 9 and 10 years old. Sensei Mark was delighted with their efforts and attitude throughout the grading. Their focus and energy levels remained high throughout the 2-hour grading. Well done to all.
KIMAA’s Turramurra Dojo had two participants compete in the Kempo Ryu Karate Championships on Sunday March 17th.
Sempai Josh Darley and Trent Lim both competed in the Full Contact Open Adult Lightweight Division. Shihan James Sidwell led the KIMAA delegation, with Sensei Ben Ng and Sempai Angus Sweeney also acting as coaches and support.
Trent fought two fights, giving great gusto in each bout despite losing both fights.
Sempai Josh dominated his division, winning First place.
Hanshi Howard Lipman commended both fighters for their efforts on the day, and offered congratulations to Sempai Josh for his win.
KIMAA held our March Kyokushin senior grading at Turramurra Honbu Dojo. Attendees from Lismore Dojo and Taree Dojo as well as Turramurra participated.
Sensei Ben Ng conducted the grading while Hanshi Howard Lipman assessed the students, assisted by Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James Sidwell.
The grading covered all the usual key points – kihon, kata, fitness and kumite. Basics were covered extensively, as well as partner work, combinations, ido geiko and senior techniques. Kata of all level were performed by those attempting new grades.
The karateka from Lismore – Evelyn, Annabelle, Letitia and James – showed great spirit in their fights, including up to 15 bouts for Evelyn and Annabelle, who were grading for 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt).
Congratulations to all those who graded. In addition to several Kyu grades, three new Black Belt grades were awarded:
At the end of the grading, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine presented Hanshi Howard Lipman and his wife Masumi a photobook of the 2023 Japan trip, as a group thank-you gift for the tour. Afterwards, Hanshi presented Shihan Idir, Shihan Mark McFadden and Sensei Alex their new grades.
Sensei Mark McFadden hosted a KIMAA seminar at Lismore Dojo over the weekend of February 24-25th.
Hanshi Howard Lipman, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sempai Maia Brown of Turramurra Dojo and Sensei Mark Long of Taree Dojo made the trip to Lismore to teach at the seminar.
Proceedings began on the Saturday morning, with Sempai Maia taking the class through basic techniques and stances, with Hanshi Howard providing technical feedback to the class throughout. The morning session moved on to fitness, kicks and kata, with the guest instructors all rotating through taking the class.
After a quick lunch, provided by Lismore Dojo and cooked up by Ken and Masumi, Sensei Alex took the class through a session on kata and bunkai. Pinan Sono Ni was focused on in depth.
From here, Sempai Maia continued taking the students through more kata while Sensei Alex worked with seniors on black belt kata. Sensei Mark Long wrapped up the day with some fighting techniques and combinations, followed by everyone participating in kumite.
The senior grades met at the Cherry Street Sports Club in Ballina for dinner on Saturday night.
Sunday morning began with Sempai Maia taking a ‘Little Lions’ Kids class.
After this, Shihan Alex led a Kobudo class – during which Sensei Wally Gray was being graded. The whole group went through some basics with the Bo, before Shihan Mark McFadden took the juniors outside to keep to the basics of the Bo while Shihan Alex went through more senior techniques and kata with the other students.
The senior Kobudo students revised the Bo, Sai and Eku, including bunkai and partner work.
At the end of the day, Hanshi Howard Lipman (10th Dan Kobudo, Australian Branch Chief) graded Sensei Wally Gray (3rd Dan Kyokushin) to 1st Dan in Kobudo.
It was an enjoyable weekend for all. As Sensei Mark McFadden remarked, getting together to train on occasions like this reminds us all that we’re part of something bigger rather than an individual club.
Special thanks go to Sensei Mark for hosting; Sempai Trish Tan, Masumi, Ken and Laura for their assistance; and to the guest instructors.
Sensei Mark Long is opening a Kyokushin Karate dojo under Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia.
The first class is on Monday February 5th. Find out more below, and follow Taree Dojo on Facebook.
Address: 1/214-216 Victoria Street, Taree 2430 NSW.
Email: manningmartialartsacademy@outlook.com
The calendar will be updated live here. The following are key dates for 2024 KIMAA events as they currently stand. Lismore Dojo grading dates will be announced by Sensei Mark at the dojo in due course. All senior gradings will be held at Turramurra Dojo.
Additional tournaments – such as with KIKO and AKKA – will be added to the calendar when the information is confirmed with those organisations.
2024 KIMAA Calendar
February
Sat 24 – Sun 25th North Coast Seminar Lismore Dojo
March
Wed 13th Kids Grading 5.00-6.30pm Turramurra Dojo
Wed 13th Junior Adults Grading 6.30-8.30pm Turramurra Dojo
Sat 16th Senior Grading 8am-2pm Turramurra Dojo
Sun 17th Kempo Ryu Tournament King George V Recreation Centre
Fri 22nd Turramurra Dojo New Year Dinner Kangnam BBQ Hornsby
May
TBC North Coast Seminar Lismore Dojo
June
Sat 1st Knox Gradings 8am-12pm Turramurra Dojo
Wed 5th Kids Grading 5.00-6.30pm Turramurra Dojo
Wed 5th Junior Adults Grading 6.30-8.30pm Turramurra Dojo
Sat 8th Senior Grading 8am-2pm Turramurra Dojo
August
TBC North Coast Seminar Lismore Dojo
September
Wed 4th Kids Grading 5.00-6.30pm Turramurra Dojo
Wed 4th Junior Adults Grading 6.30-8.30pm Turramurra Dojo
November
Sat 2nd Knox Gradings 8am-12pm Turramurra Dojo
Sat 23rd (TBC) Senior Grading 8am-2pm Turramurra Dojo
December
Wed 4th – Sat 14th Japan Group Tour Okinawa, Japan
Wed 18th Final Training Day 2024 Turramurra Dojo
The students of Lismore Dojo came together for an end-of-year beach training session. Basics, fitness, partner work and kumite was undertaken in the surf.
After the training session, a Christmas BBQ was held. Sensei Mark McFadden presented the Student of the Year awards to Little Lions Zarni McGregor and Jackson Wirasa. He also presented his thanks to all those who have helped with classes this year: Sensei Wally Gray, Sempai Trish Tan, Sempai Scott Bettridge, Letitia, Annabel, Evelyn and Zac.
Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia 