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KIMAA Japan Group Tour – March 2-9, 2025

On the night of Sunday March 2nd, the KIMAA Japan Group Tour of 2025 gathered at Sydney International Airport to head to Okinawa, Japan, for training with Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama (10th Dan). Training with Sensei Hokama in Kobudo and Karate bunkai has been a regular KIMAA activity since 2008 under the late Hanshi Howard Lipman, who was Sensei Hokama’s Australian Branch Chief until his passing.

KIMAA was privileged to also have Shihan Ken Ogura, Sensei Hokama’s Nagoya Branch Chief, travel from the mainland to Okinawa to assist with the group’s training. Shihan Ken has been in Okinawa for KIMAA trips many times previously. KIMAA has also hosted both Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken in Australia for seminars multiple times over the years.

The KIMAA group this trip comprised:

Shihan James led the main group to Okinawa, where they met Masumi on Monday morning as she had already been in Japan to visit family.

On the morning of Tuesday March 4th, the Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia contingent had its first of many training sessions with Hokama Sensei in his dojo in Okinawa. The training began with a Bo staff warm-up, followed by revising the Tonfa Kata, Sensei’s Nunchaku Kata and two Sai Kata. This was followed by question time and lunch. Sensei Hokama took the group to the nearby Mos Burger and insisted on treating everyone to lunch.

As a break between training sessions, on Tuesday afternoon Shihan Mark, Shihan James and Sensei Alex returned to the races via Street Kart Okinawa, bringing Shihan Ken and Sempai Narmie along for their first rides. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

That night, the group returned to Sensei’s dojo to attend his General Class. This included Sanchin training, knuckle work, Sanchin and Tensho application, the second Nunchaku Kata, Sai and the Eku.

The next morning, the group were back at the dojo for more training. The Wednesday morning class reinforced to the group that, as seen during the 2023 trip, there is always so much more to learn. The session transformed a couple of our long-standing senior Kobudo Kata, with new finesse and understanding gained, as well as a refinement of the pattern and alternate bunkai. They will now be practiced at a more advanced level than previously.

In this session, the group revised the Bo Kata Sushi No Kon Dai and Ufugusuku, including the 5-person bunkai, and the Kama Kata. Thanks go to Sensei Hokama and Shihan Ken for the excellent training. Sensei was pleased with the technical standard displayed.

On the Wednesday night the group trained in Kyokushin Karate with the legendary Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe (8th Dan). Shihan’s friendship with Hanshi Howard goes back decades.

The class, comprising the KIMAA contingent and some of Shihan’s students, enjoyed a practical session. After a warm up and some basics, the session focused extensively on fighting combinations and application. The class ended with a Kata demonstration from some of Shihan’s younger students and Sensei Alex performed Kanku Dai. The night ended with some quick sparring and then cleaned the dojo, with Masumi helping to demonstrate correct technique!

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The group then enjoyed dinner and a few bottles of awamori with Shihan Shichinohe and his wife Vera.

On Thursday afternoon, the group had further training with Sensei Hokama, Shihan Ken and Sensei Kondo, who joined us fresh from a flight from the US after teaching at a seminar there.

After a Bo warm-up, the class covered a range of weapons. First, the group revised the advanced version of Sushi No Kon Dai, Tokuyama No Tonfa and its bunkai, and the recent enhancements to Hokama no Kama. The group then practised Sakugawa no Kon.

The class then moved from Kobudo to do Karate bunkai, revising some old and learned some new secret applications from Gekusai Dai and Gekusai Sho. Everyone learned lots, and Sensei Hokama acknowledged how much Sempai Narmie progressed in a short space of time.

This trip the group had the privilege of witnessing Sensei Hokama honour two great masters. Hanshi Howard Lipman and Shihan Ken Ogura were both added to Sensei’s ‘Hall of Fame’ of the world’s greatest karateka. Osu!

The final full day in Okinawa, Friday March 7th, was a full day of training with Sensei Hokama, Shihan Ken and Sensei Kondo.

Sensei Hokama graded Sempai Narmie Thambipillay to 8th Kyu in Kobudo. He also presented a certificate for Sempai Maia Brown’s Kobudo grading last year, also 8th Kyu, which was received by Masumi Lipman on her behalf. Sensei Hokama instructed that both certificates are to also be co-signed by KIMAA’s Renshi Mark Shelmerdine.

After the presentation, training resumed. In the morning the group revised again the first Eku Kata, Sushi No Kon Dai, Maezoto No Nunchaku, and Chibana No Sai. Sensei Hokama then demonstrated the Sansetsukon for the students. He also did some calligraphy for Narmie.

Sensei Hokama treated the class to another lunch at Mos Burger, followed by another busy afternoon class. The group went through Okinawan Seipai Kata and Bunkai, at great length, to further refine the pattern. The session finished with some final Bo demonstrations then question time with Sensei.

After dashing back to Naha to do a final load of washing and round of shopping, the group returned to Sensei’s dojo on Friday night to mark the end of the Okinawa trip by having dinner with Sensei Hokama, Shihan Ken and other senior students from the dojo.

The group crammed a lot in – 7 training sessions in 4 days! – and are leaving with more knowledge (and bruises). The KIMAA contingent are immensely grateful to our instructors for their wisdom and guidance. Osu.

We believe Hanshi Howard would have been proud of our efforts this trip, too.

KIMAA looks forward to its return to Okinawa.

Post-script: After the group returned home, Hanshi Howard was also honoured on the Branch Chiefs wall of plaques in Sensei’s dojo.

Turramurra Gradings – December 4-15, 2024

Over a two-week period, four gradings were held at KIMAA Turramurra Dojo.

On Wednesday December 4, Turramurra Dojo held Kyokushin Karate gradings for Kids and Junior Kyu teens and adults.

The Kids Grading overseen by Shihan James Sidwell and Sempai Maia Brown.

The Junior Kyu Grading was run by Shihan Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan James and Sempai Maia. Thanks go to all who came to support including black belts Sensei Ben Ng and Sempai Adam.

On Saturday December 7, the KIMAA Senior Grading was held with four students of Turramurra Dojo participating.

The students were assessed by Shihan Idir Bahamid and Shihan James. The grading was run by Sensei Ben, Sensei Don Cheong and Sensei Alex Lloyd, with further support provided by Sempai Maia and Sempai Narmie Thambipillay.

The students pushing through and showing great Kyokushin spirit despite the humidity. Congratulations to all on their efforts, displaying exemplary kihon, kata and kumite.

On Sunday December 15, Sempai Maia Brown undertook her first Kobudo grading. Sempai Maia graded to Shodan (1st Dan) in Kyokushin Karate in June, after which she immediately began her study of International Hokama Kobudo.

Sempai Maia was assessed by Kobudo instructors Renshi Mark Shelmerdine, Shihan James Sidwell, Shihan Alex Lloyd and Sensei Ben Ng.

Results from all the gradings will be announced at the dojo in the coming weeks. Well done to all.

KIKO Full-Contact Tournament – November 10, 2024

Written by Shihan James Sidwell

On Sunday November 10th, KIMAA attended the KIKO tournament held in Tempe, Sydney.

23 competitors competed with spirit and humility. Results are detailed at the end of this article. However I’d like to thank each and every competitor for the training and effort you have put in. You all fought very well and represented yourselves and KIMAA admirably. Of the KIMAA contingent, 19 competitors were kids of various ages and grades (many competing in their first kumite tournament), and 4 adults: Sensei Alireza Miri, Sensei Mark Long, Sempai Matt Wolnizer and Trent Lim.

Thank you also to the parents who have supported and encouraged their children to compete.

Thank you to Sensei Ben Ng, Sensei Alex Lloyd and Sensei Mark Long for coaching and running the mats, supporting the team, and helping organise the competitors. Further thanks to Sempai Matt Wolnizer and Trent Lim for backing up the coaches. And of course Laura Elia who interfaced with the mat coaches and supported the entire team.

Thank you to the senior instructors who worked to provide coaching and support for the team and supporting during training sessions as well as on the day. This includes Sensei Don Cheong, who has been a regular teacher at the kids classes but was unfortunately unable to attend on the day. (During the course of the tournament, Shihan Idir Bahamid, Shihan Mark Shelmerdine and Shihan James were on the Officials table.)

Additionally thank you to Kancho Doug Turnbull and the KIKO team for hosting the event and all the planning and organising on the day and behind the scenes.

Results from the 23 entrants include:

  • 9 competed in Third Place showdowns, winning Third Place in 6 divisions
  • 8 competed in Finals with 2 First Places and 6 Second Places
  • 2 division clean sweeps winning First, Second and Third places

This included a clean sweep in the Veterans (40+) division, with Sensei Alireza taking 1st place, Sensei Mark Long taking 2nd place and Sempai Matt taking 3rd, after some battering rounds facing off each other!

Congratulations to all participants we support and share in each others success. Osu.

Hanshi Howard Lipman Memorial Beach Training – August 10, 2024

On the 10th of August, KIMAA Turramurra Dojo held a Hanshi Howard Lipman Memorial Beach Training session the day after what would’ve been Hanshi’s 82nd birthday. Karateka from Turramurra Dojo, and Sensei Mark Long of Taree Dojo, participated on the Saturday morning training session organised by Shihan James Sidwell.

The training involved kihon, fitness, kumite and kata, all immersed in the waves of Freshwater Beach. The session was captured photographically by GM Photographics.

You can read more about the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman here and about recent changes to the KIMAA leadership here.

KIMAA Leadership – July 2024

~ANNOUNCEMENT~
Following the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman, KIMAA Founder & Chairman, Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia (KIMAA) was transferred to Shihan James Sidwell by Hanshi’s widow Masumi Lipman, as per the wishes of her late husband.

Shihan James, the new KIMAA Chairman, immediately created an Executive Leadership Board, and appointed Shihan Idir Bahamid and Shihan Mark Shelmerdine as Executive Board Members.

The Executive Board will be supported by Sensei Mark Long (Regional Lead) and Sensei Alex Lloyd (Secretary).

KIMAA will continue onwards and upwards, as per the guiding principles taught to us by Hanshi Howard Lipman, as Sosai Mas Oyama taught him.

OSU.

RIP Hanshi Howard Lipman – July 9, 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Hanshi Howard Lipman.

Hanshi Howard’s contribution to the Australian martial arts community was dedicated and extensive, lasting 55 years. He meticulously instructed thousands of men, women and children Kyokushin Karate and Kobudo over the decades.

Hanshi Howard began his karate training in 1969, under Shihan Bob Boulton. Sosai Mas Oyama appointed Hanshi Howard as a Branch Chief in 1989 and graded him to 5th Dan in 1992. In the years following Sosai’s death, Hanshi Howard formed the martial arts organisation, KIMAA. Hanshi’s guiding principle was to continue studying Kyokushin, following the teachings and philosophies of Sosai Oyama as had been taught to him. Hanshi also brought Kobudo (weapons) to KIMAA, becoming the International Hokama Kobudo Australian Branch Chief in 2008. He was promoted to 9th Dan in Kyokushin by the KIMAA grading committee in 2017 and to 10th Dan in Kobudo by Sensei Tetsuhiro Hokama in 2023.

Hanshi Howard was a mentor and inspiration to all of us. He will be deeply missed. We will treasure our memories with him and honour the lessons he taught us all. His legacy will last for many years to come. 

The instructors, students and families of Kyokushin International Martial Arts Australia pass on their sympathies to his wife Masumi and all of his family.

RIP Hanshi Howard Lipman. Osu.