We rolled into Sydney under grey skies and heavy air, but the energy inside the dojo was bright. The NSW Spring Camp was celebrating its 30th anniversary, and it felt like everyone brought their best spirit to mark the occasion. Brighton Karate instructors Senpai Pamelia Tungkasiri and Senpai Ruben Rubio were proud to be there with the wider Kyokushin family from NSW and SA.
The camp runs for three days. Friday is dedicated to advanced kata for all Shodan grades and above. We worked through Seienchin, Seipai, and Sushiho, sharpening details that only reveal themselves after years of training.
Saturday and Sunday are general classes open to all attendees. The day starts at 5:00 am with the call of an annoying rooster, marking the start of the day. By 5:30 am we are all assembled in the hall and ready to give our best. We begin with kihon, combinations, and run through kata. The early start stings, but it sets the tone for a weekend of discipline, sweat, and shared effort.
On Sunday, the training continues, with the group divided into rotations to train with different instructors. The weekend culminates in an intense five-hour (or so) karate grading for green belts and above. The standard was high throughout. Candidates showed consistent skill across every section, finishing with fighting rounds. Well done on your effort and determination.
Two standout fighting sessions came from Sensei Lisa Hodder and Sensei Ysobel Jarjoura. They were intense and technical, demanding full concentration, speed, accuracy, and clean targeting. For Senpai Pamelia and Senpai Ruben, it was also a trip down memory lane, remembering countless rounds with both fighters at Bondi Kyokushin Dojo while preparing for full-contact tournaments.
Sensei Ysobel is a two-time heavyweight world champion (2011 and most recently in 2025 at the Japan Championship).
Sensei Lisa is a highly accomplished international fighter who completed the 50-man kumite in 2018: fifty rounds of full-contact fighting at 1.5 minutes each against black belt opponents. It is a rare achievement, completed by only two women worldwide, both from Hanshi John Taylor’s Bondi Junction Kyokushin Dojo.
Both fighters came through Bondi Kyokushin Dojo, where Senpai Pamelia and Senpai Ruben trained for a decade before founding the Kyokushin Karate dojo in Brighton, Adelaide.
There is a lot of work behind the scenes in running camps like this. It would not be possible without the effort Shihan Jim puts into organising these camps, along with everyone who works behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly.
If you’ve been thinking about starting Kyokushin Karate, this is the kind of spirit you can expect at Brighton. You’ll train hard, build confidence, learn discipline, and become part of a welcoming community that supports your progress every step of the way. Beginners are always welcome, and your first class could be the start of something life-changing.
Osu.
Left, first image on camps t-shirts used only on two camps. On the right, the image used for the following 29 years.
Karate Camp Dojo Challenge
All the sweat ... must dry somehow, right?
South Australia Team
Karate Camp Dojo Challenge
Shihan Jim Sklavos Chairman of Matsushima Kyokushin Australia (MKA)
Sempai Ruben and Pamelia with Hanshi John Taylor
Founders of Kara-tee club :D
Second-time World Champion Sensei Ysabel
