Lisa Millman, 4th Dan Black Belt.
About Me and My Family
Lisa Millman is a qualified female instructor in the Shoshinkai Karate-Do system. Commencing training in the Goju-Kai style, she remained there for two years, until she transferred to the Shoshinkai school on the advice of a friend. Currently, she is one of the most senior ranked female members of the style, having had 15 years experience as part of that style. Lisa Millman ranked amongst the top 5 female karate-Do practitioners in Australia, and in the top 20 in the world as recently as 2003, when she won the World Invitational Taikai, hosted by the Japanese Karate-Do Association. Currently she teaches self-defense to women and children and has liaised with law enforcement agencies on the same subject matter.
Aged 8, Lisa and her family arrived in Brisbane in the early Nineteen-eighties after moving interstate from Armidale, New South Wales. The family returned to Armidale in 1994. But, with a love of the warm weather and accessible lifestyle of Brisbane, Lisa returned home in 1998, where she took up residence in the green suburb of Victoria Point.
Recently divorced, Lisa resides there today. She enjoys working in a lead role in the advertising agency where she has been employed the last 8 years. Her hobbies include swimming, cycling, working out, photography and she remains a steadfast member of the Shoshinkai.
Lisa is considering acceptance of a role in the Defense Force, where she would act as a Martial Arts instructor, designing and delivering programs to deliver techniques in a range of self-defense scenarios.
Yamashita Shihan, 12th Dan.
Having trained the majority of my karate years under this man, it is only right that I mention my Shihan at this point. I owe a large debt of gratitude to Yamashita Shihan. He took me into his prestigious style and taught me not just how to do karate, but how to live it. If nt for him, my karate would be dead karate. His ideals to build physical stamina and mental determination built me into a much stronger and wiser person than I ever knew I could be. Unfortunately our decorated sensei passed away in 2003. His place as kancho of the style was succeeded by Okinawan Shihan Uehara Kana, 10th dan. This did not happen until a year of mourning was observed for our beloved Kancho Yamashita.
Yamashita... The tales anyone that knew him could tell would fill a large volume of work. He was so undaunted. He was so inspirational. He was so incredibly funny. He embodied calm strength, while being the living personage of mischievous mayhem. He was Karate that lived. He made each of we, his students, alive in karate. For a while, karate lost its shine. Our kata died and meant nothing to us, when he passed. But we are so fortunate to keep Yamashita close to us eternally, through the assiduous practise of the Art he left in our dutiful care.
Yamashita-Shihan, Gambaru da! Go kuro-sama deshita ne!
You are dearly missed. But the yellow moon continues to shine its face into the waters of Hirosawa.
And will do so for all time.
The rampant crane emblem of Shoshinkai Karate Do.
Top 5 Karate-related movies:
Karate Kid I
Karate Kid II
Karate Kid III (kidding - this actually sux, along with KK4).
Ditto the first one
Ditto the second one.
The "How to" of Doing Kata, by Jim Simpson. (:-|)
I know, I know. What's Hollywood doing? The truth is, lately- nothing, when it comes to this very important genre. They much prefer break-dancing robots. Or worse than that.
The Roots and Bed-rock of Our Style
It is quite simple, really, to explain what Shoshinkai is. It is pure Karate. No modernized nonsense, no gimmicks; no promises. Just true karate-ka emphasizing the true heart of karate. Our style emphasizes the importance of balancing the internal with the external. A calm, fully aware heart is demonstrated through the clarity and determined stance and iron-clad efficiency of physical technique. While acceptable technique is a reflection of one's heart being clear and uncluttered and free to perceive the moment of truth.
Simple. No?
Our style emphasizes learning and development across 4 broad categories in order for a student to pass from one level to another. These categories are: Philosohy, Technique, Kumite and Kata. The present-day coloured belt system is very close to the original system. The belt colours are these: 4 x White; 2 x purple; 2 x green; and 2 x brown, with a white stripe on the colours to denote the higher grade of colour. Extensive scrutiny and testing, including a psychological fitness profile are necessary for one to ever pass from the junior grades and enter the league of the black belt.
Once one achieves black belt, then the real training begins!
The secret to success in the style is this...... :-| (I am telling you the truth!)
When you can treat failure and success with this characteristically SKR face-- :-| -- you will have done exceedingly well.
Lessons by Appointment
I was formerly coaching the women's Queensland karate team and conducting lessons, etc. Currently, I have taken a sebatical leave from the style. But I can assure you, if you are interested in learning the Art, for the right reasons, I will be only too glad to offer my services to you. It will cost you, though. (Now you think it's all about money for me, don't you. Tish-tosh! It is rather about sweat and the words "Mo Ichi Do," thank you very much).
;-)
Please direct enquiries concerning lesson times and private lessons to my email. (I may even check it!)
Questions about this site, Shoshinkai Karate-Do, or myself can be directed to the above email address. But sending correspondence to the following email will result in a faster reply:
administrator@lisamilman.8m.net 
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