Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia

Yudansha Training Weekend – August 22-23, 2015

On the weekend of August 22-23, KIMAA Yudansha (black belt grades) came together to do senior Kobudo and Kyokushin training.

Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo), head instructor from Lismore Dojo, came down to participate in the regular Friday night class and special weekend seminar.

Following the normal Friday night training, the seminar began on the Saturday afternoon.

Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo) hosted and led the seminar at Annangrove Dojo.

The Saturday afternoon session was Kobudo training. The group revised multiple Bo katas, the Sai katas, the Eeku, the Jō and the Arnis (screamer sticks) in exhaustive detail.

The full Yudansha group came back together on the Sunday morning, including Sempai Rob James (2nd Dan Kyokushin) from Brisbane’s Aspley Dojo.

Shodan, Nidan and Sandan Kyokushin katas were all reviewed at great length.

Particular focus was given to the count and timing of techniques, how to break down the katas when teaching, and the overall kimae (focus) a martial artist must apply when executing these movements.

The purpose of each movement and possible bunkai were looked as well.

Yudansha Training Weekend

Most senior katas were revised, from the relatively junior Gekisai Sho and Taikyoku Ura katas to Seienchin and Kyokushin Seipai. The Bo kata Chion (a requirement for Kyokushin Nidan) was practised as well.

The group enjoyed a meal together after training.

The weekend was seen as very successful and productive, with the senior grades able to tackle a lot of high-end content quickly yet in detail. More black belt training weekends will be held in the future.

Thanks go to Shihan Cunningham for taking the seminar and to Sensei Mark and Sempai Rob for making the journey to Sydney.

KIMAA Yudansha: Sempai Jason Lambe, Sempai Jessica Den, Sempai James Campbell, Sensei James Sidwell, Sempai Rob James, Sempai Don Cheong, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Mark McFadden, Sensei Mark Shelmerdine, Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sensei Peter Olive, Sensei Paul Finnerty and Sempai Alex Lloyd

Aspley Dojo: New Timetable

A new timetable is available for Aspley Dojo.

Head instructor Sempai Rob James is now offering more Little Lions classes geared towards specific age groups, for the benefit of all students.

Keep up with the latest from Aspley Dojo by liking their page on Facebook.

Train With KIMAA

This is training with KIMAA:

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To newcomers, we look forward to seeing you at training.

North Coast Karate & Kobudo Seminar – July 4-5, 2015

A Karate and Kobudo seminar was held on the weekend of July 4-5 at Lismore Dojo on the NSW Far North Coast. Instructors and students attended from Lismore, Ballina and Aspley dojos.

The seminar was taught by Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo).

Also instructing were Sensei Mark McFadden (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 3rd Dan Kobudo), Sensei Jon Ellis (3rd Dan Kyokushin, 2nd Dan Kobudo), Sempai Rob James (2nd Dan Kyokushin) and Sempai Wally Gray (1st Dan Kyokushin).

Saturday’s class focused on Kyokushin, with a particular emphasis on bunkai.

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Sunday’s training included a Kobudo grading.

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Congratulations to everyone who graded.

Thanks go to Shihan Cunningham for travelling from Sydney to teach the seminar, to Sensei Mark for hosting, Patricia for her organisational skills (including feeding a small Kyokushin army), and to Genevieve, Amanda and Julie for other lunch duty assistance.

Student Profile: Jermaine Downs

Written by Sempai Rob James

Jermaine at the April 2015 KIMAA seminar.

(Update: Jermaine is now a 1st Kyu in Kyokushin Karate and assistant instructor for Sempai Rob James at North Brisbane Dojo.)

Jermaine Downs began his Kyokushin journey in early 2012. When I opened the Aspley Dojo in September 2012, Jermaine was first through the doors.

Jermaine performing a self-defence technique.

Jermaine progressed in time to the rank of 3rd Kyu and has been a solid member of Aspley Dojo since the beginning. He is patient, easy to get along with and is a very well liked and respected karateka by other members of the dojo.

His strength is definitely his kumite. Jermaine regularly leaves his training partners with heavy bruising – not from striking, but simply by blocking their attacks. A very hard body indeed.

Jermaine is a great support. I’m lucky enough to call him both a friend as well as a student and I wish him all the best in his endeavours.

Jermaine performing kumite. — Jermaine doing kumite.

NSW State Kyokushin Championship – May 31, 2015

Eight students of Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia competed in the NSW State Kyokushin Championship.

The competitors came from Turramurra and Annangrove dojos. They were:

Male 16 & 17 Years Division

Sempai Jason Lambe

Angus Sweeney

Male 13-15 Years Division

Victor Sweeney

Ethan Franke

Male 10-12 Years Division

Joshua Darley

James Parasyn

Bernard Wilson

Male 8 & 9 Years Division

James Kosimar

The support/coaching team on the day was made up of Shihan Howard Lipman, Shihan Rick Cunningham, Sensei Peter Olive, Sensei James Sidwell, Sempai Don Cheong and Sempai Alex Lloyd.

Everyone fought well against their opponents. Notable mentions go to James Parasyn and James Kosimar for their wins, including James Parasyn’s two jodan mawashi geri techniques that led him to victory in his first round.

Victor Sweeney came equal third in his division and powered through many rounds to win his trophy.

Congratulations to Victor, and all involved.

Shihan Howard Lipman, Victor Sweeney and Sensei James Sidwell.

Kobudo Grades Awarded – May, 2015

Sensei Hokama (10th Dan) awarded new Dan (black belt) grades in Kobudo during the recent Okinawa tour. Sensei Hokama awarded these grades based on what he saw during training, as well as on the recommendation of Australian Kobudo Branch Chief, Shihan Howard Lipman (8th Dan Kyokushin, 7th Dan Kobudo).

KIMAA tour group with Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ogura — The 2015 KIMAA Japan Tour Group after being graded by Sensei Hokama.

These grades included:

7th Dan: Shihan Howard Lipman

6th Dan: Shihan Rick Cunningham

4th Dan: Sensei Mark Shelmerdine

3rd Dan: Sensei Paul Finnerty, Sensei Mark McFadden

2nd Dan: Sensei Jon Ellis, Sempai James Campbell

1st Dan: Sensei Ian Holdaway, Sempai Jessica Den, Sempai Todd Murphy, Sempai Alex Lloyd

KIMAA students in the tour group were presented with their certificates by Sensei Hokama and Shihan Lipman.

The remainder of the grades – certificates and belts – were presented in Sydney by Shihan Rick Cunningham (6th Dan Kyokushin, 6th Dan Kobudo).

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Congratulations again to all who graded.