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Karate/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Pain in the upper leg as i do side kick to the middle | 11/14/2011 | Master Sam Frazier 5th DAN |
| Q: my name is Adina and i started karate 8 months ago. I am getting ready to grade for my yellow belt ... A: This is not common although we often have aches and pains and no more than minor injuries. Before ... | ||
| Blocking | 11/10/2011 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: Is there a certain way to practice blocking that makes it almost automatic when the strike comes in? ... A: There are indeed several things that will help with this. Initially simply drilling the blocking ... | ||
| Kobudo | 10/25/2011 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: What does Nibiryu Ryu No Jo mean? Thanks A: Usman~ Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I don't have a solid answer for you. I'm not ... | ||
| Help | 9/29/2011 | Master Sam Frazier 5th DAN |
| Q: I know your not a Taekwondo Instructor but you might know what these training drills explain why we ... A: Great Question Michael, I cannot answer the specifics of why an instrutor requires certain drills ... | ||
| claim of 9th dan at 21 years old | 9/4/2011 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: someone I was talking to said they knew someone who was a 9th dan black belt in a martial art form I ... A: Peter~ Thank you for your question. I could write pages to answer this, but I shall try to ... | ||
| claim of 9th dan at 21 years old | 9/4/2011 | M. Ganci |
| Q: someone I was talking to said they knew someone who was a 9th dan black belt in a martial art form I ... A: You are correct. In any legitimate system this would not be possible. The kyu-dan system generally ... | ||
| claim of 9th dan at 21 years old | 9/4/2011 | Master Sam Frazier 5th DAN |
| Q: someone I was talking to said they knew someone who was a 9th dan black belt in a martial art form I ... A: Peter, This is a super question! It is also difficult to answer because the subject of leadership ... | ||
| dit jow | 3/18/2011 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: How necessary is "dit da jow"? Could one condition one's hands and just soak in hot water, if there ... A: Let me first say that I am not a Jow user myself and there are certainly others with a great deal ... | ||
| Kata names | 2/10/2011 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: There are variations of kata that that have the same name or a similar name. Some times the kata ... A: Donald~ Thank you for your question. You have touched upon a ‘problem’ that just about every ... | ||
| Is GoJuRyu Ok for Tall Slim people ? | 1/20/2011 | Laurence Lance |
| Q: 5 170 lbs very slim i would like to know if Goju Ryu is good for us skinny slim very tall guys , and ... A: Good Morning, Luca, I'm 6 ft and when I began study I was 155 lbs so while I'm not as tall as you, ... | ||
| Karate | 1/18/2011 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: I'm 15 and just started karate. I only have a white belt. I'm 5ft 3in and weigh 108lbs. Will karate ... A: Alexa~ Thanks for your question. Your body builds muscle naturally in response to strenuous ... | ||
| instructor certification question | 1/3/2011 | Master Guy |
| Q: Sir, (I say that with utmost respect, as I am a student of TKD, having a green belt): My question ... A: Osu! Konnichiwa (This is Hello in Japanese) Thank you for honoring me with your question. For I ... | ||
| instructor certification question | 1/3/2011 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: Sir, (I say that with utmost respect, as I am a student of TKD, having a green belt): My question ... A: Patricia~ Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, there is no universal set of requirements to ... | ||
| instructor certification question | 1/3/2011 | Master Sam Frazier 5th DAN |
| Q: Master Frazier, (I say that with utmost respect, as I am a student of TKD, having a green belt): My ... A: Great question for sure and one that often comes up. It is complicated and I will try to give you a ... | ||
| backstance | 12/28/2010 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: I'm studying the relationship to Tang soo do backstance (with heel off ground) to shotokan ... A: John~ If you refer to Funakoshi's 1925 Karate Jutsu, I believe he illustrates both the back stance ... | ||
| skin | 12/27/2010 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: Is it true that using a mix of salt water can toughen up the skin...so, much so that it becomes ... A: This is a commonly assumed bit of rumor, probably based on the fact that the presence of salt ... | ||
| backstance | 12/27/2010 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: I'm studying the relationship to Tang soo do backstance (with heel off ground) to shotokan ... A: John~ Thank you for your question. You are correct in your assumption concerning the connection ... | ||
| Japanese Kenpo in Japan | 12/22/2010 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: I recently learned that I will be spending a year in Japan in 2012 and would really like to study ... A: Laura~ Thanks for your question. First off, let me say that kenpo in Japan is not quite the same ... | ||
| karate percepts | 12/17/2010 | M. Ganci |
| Q: I read karate percepts.I am unable to understand one thing in that ! What is meant by the statement ... A: If you are referring to the Karate "precepts" written by Master Gichin Funakoshi, the original ... | ||
| Different Styles | 11/17/2010 | ANTHONY DIFILIPPO |
| Q: I am very confused about different styles of karate, and which one is best for me. After hours of ... A: I do not know the individuals you have mentioned but have heard of some of them. Mr. Heilman and his ... | ||
| Different Styles | 11/17/2010 | ANTHONY DIFILIPPO |
| Q: I am very confused about different styles of karate, and which one is best for me. After hours of ... A: After approximately 40 years in the martial arts (karate) I am of the firm belief that there are no ... | ||
| Belts | 10/18/2010 | Master Sam Frazier 5th DAN |
| Q: Just curious, but when you tie your belt do the two part of the belt that rest on your back/kidney ... A: Great question. Many martial artists are really intrigued by the belt and how it is tied. I've ... | ||
| meaning of kyu | 9/21/2010 | M. Ganci |
| Q: Apart from being a ranking system, is there an actual meaning for the word, 'kyu'? Also the same ... A: Mas Oyama "borrowed" the traditional Japanese kyu-dan system from Judo, where it had been formalized ... | ||
| bunkai/grappling in karate | 6/30/2010 | Alan Platt |
| Q: I am a 7th kyu in shotokan. I have been doing a lot of research, and theres so much out there, ... A: http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/ My friend and one of my teachers, Patrick McCarthy, he is an ... | ||
| bunkai/grappling in karate | 6/30/2010 | Alan Platt |
| Q: I am a 7th kyu in shotokan. I have been doing a lot of research, and theres so much out there, ... A: Research is the key!!!!! Do more research, Funakoshi was doing Okinawan-te when he went to Japan. ... | ||
| karate | 6/22/2010 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: Is karate a sport? A: This is not as simple as it might look at the surface. There are many people practicing many ... | ||
| Time | 6/6/2010 | M. Ganci |
| Q: When in life does a karateka begin to slow down and lose strenght? Thank you. Sincerely, Jean ... A: Zen - Ken - Ichi Mind and fist become one. There is no magic age that we diminish in either, If we ... | ||
| karate | 4/22/2010 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: i have recently been invited by two schools of karate to train with them. one is shorin ryu,and the ... A: Peter~ Both ‘types’ of karate that you are looking at have their merits, and it’s really hard to ... | ||
| karate | 4/22/2010 | Alan Platt |
| Q: i have recently been invited by two schools of karate to train with them. one is shorin ryu,and the ... A: My advise is based on my experience only. I studied Shotokan for 25 years to 4th Dan JKA. It's a ... | ||
| Kempo | 4/22/2010 | Laurence Lance |
| Q: i have recently been invited by two schools of karate to train with them. one is shorin ryu,and the ... A: I've only a short time at the moment to answer your question but I did not want the day to pass ... | ||
| Styles | 4/19/2010 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: I came across your profile and noticed that you study Ryu Te when possible. I studied Ryu Te for ... A: I have had to make some adjustments in more recent years as far as the actual affiliations I keep. ... | ||
| gkr karate | 4/12/2010 | Alan Platt |
| Q: why are everyone on about gkr is a scam i have been with gkr for nearly 4 years and i have had good ... A: An interesting question but it is a little subjective.................. There are many facts and ... | ||
| Hip rotation | 2/7/2010 | James Copple |
| Q: I believe that most power in karate comes from hip rotation. I don't know how to do that or start it ... A: Tareq, In many Karate techniques the power does come from the rotation of the hips. To understand ... | ||
| Shotokan vs. Kenpo | 2/6/2010 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: Having studied with you and Sensei Thompson in I believe 1994, I wanted to know if you are still ... A: Good to hear from you. If you are studying under Paul Snider I can only assume that you are living ... | ||
| Okinawan | 1/27/2010 | Michael Cummings |
| Q: my ques is isokinawan is kyokushin and what is okinawan. A: Abdul~ Thank you for your question. If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if ... | ||
| names for the colours | 1/6/2010 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: Please can someone answer the following: What do the different colours represent? for example.. ... A: Sorry, I thought I had answered you back already, it must have been my mistake. I have heard a ... | ||
| shorin ryu | 12/29/2009 | Laurence Lance |
| Q: Laurence, Just wanted to let you know how much learning about the history of the arts and your ... A: Niel, If my memory is correct, there were historically three major villages on the main island that ... | ||
| shorin ryu | 12/29/2009 | Laurence Lance |
| Q: Laurence, Just wanted to let you know how much learning about the history of the arts and your ... A: Niel, thank you ever so much for your kind words. I sometimes get a bit depressed that all I've ... | ||
| Okinawa | 12/29/2009 | Laurence Lance |
| Q: I am a beginner in shotokan. I really like it. I've read lots of bad press about skotokan that it ... A: Merry Christmas, Niel, and Happy New Year Now to your questions; Yes as to the accounts of battle ... | ||
| DVT in calf muscle due to trauma caused by hard impact round house kick | 11/20/2009 | Chris A. Johnston |
| Q: I would like you opinion on the following incident. About a month ago I was diagnose with DVT (deep ... A: DVT is a serious condition. From what I can glean there is generally a 3% probability that such a ... | ||
Karate
Answers by Expert:
Michael Cummings
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am available to answer your questions in regard to history, philosophy, technique and practice of karate, jujutsu, kenjutsu and iaijutsu. I also have knowledge and experience in Okinawan kobujutsu and traditional Japanese weapons including the jo (short staff) and yari (spear). I also have a good foundation to answer general questions concerning various other Japanese, Okinawan, Korean and Chinese styles, including their traditions, history and philosophy.
Experience
I have a diverse background with over 30 years of study and practice in Japanese and Okinawan bujutsu (martial arts). I presently hold licenses/rankings in karatejutsu, iaijutsu, kenjutsu and jujutsu, respectively, as well as Okinawan kobujutsu. My first sensei was Watanabe Tsuyoshi Soke, and later Makiyama Gogen Hanshi.
I have also studied several Chinese systems, including Hung Gar tiger/crane and wing chun, and hold a black sash (shodan) in Song Shan Kempo.
I have been fortunate to have studied and trained with a number of highly qualified and revered practitioners, sensei and sifu from several different martial traditions.
I am also an amateur marital arts historian and student of hoplology.
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Black Sash Song Shan Kempo
Chuden/Mokuroku (Karatejutsu/Jujutsu/Kobujutsu)
Tengu-Sho-Oku (Kenjutsu/iaijutsu)
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