You are here:
Karate/Questions Answered by Expert Michael Cummings
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Kobudo | 10/25/2011 |
| 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 ... | |
| claim of 9th dan at 21 years old | 9/4/2011 |
| 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 ... | |
| Kata names | 2/10/2011 |
| 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 ... | |
| Karate | 1/18/2011 |
| 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 |
| 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 ... | |
| backstance | 12/28/2010 |
| 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 ... | |
| backstance | 12/27/2010 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 4/22/2010 |
| 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 ... | |
| Shotokan vs. Kenpo | 2/6/2010 |
| 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 |
| 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 ... | |
| translation of kata name | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: what is the meaning (translation in english) of the name of kata "pachu" and "heiku" A: Paola~ Thank you for your question. The two kata that you are asking about belong to Okinawa ... | |
| Shin Kage Ryu | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Cummings, I've greatly enjoyed your posts related to Shin Shin Kage Ryu. Do you actively teach ... A: Rob~ Thanks for taking the time to read my replies and your interest in Shinkage Ryu. Sorry for ... | |
| Help please | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: I want to ask about "Hojo Undo". Could I get the same conditioning of Hojo Undo if I train lifting ... A: Mohd~ Thanks for your question! The simple answer is yes…and no. As you undoubtedly know, hojo ... | |
| Origin of form Shem pa | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I have studied Tang Soo Do, and learned a form called Shempa (Shem-pa?, spelling?) My teacher at the ... A: David~ Thank you for your question. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I don't have a lot of ... | |
| points | 2/7/2008 |
| Q: Dear sir im joining the US army soon and sometimes i get sad and panic comes on i was wondering if ... A: Brad~ Congratulations on entering military service. It is an honorable calling that few can ... | |
| leg strength | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I am really trying to improve the strength in my legs. I really don't have the control I would like. ... A: Robert~ Thank you for your question. I noticed that you began your question with a reference to ... | |
| Sais for a 12 year old | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: ! I am writing to you because I would like to purchase a set of sais for my 12yr. old son. My son ... A: Jennifer~ Thank you for your question. The sai is one of my favorite weapons, although I must ... | |
| Translation | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: We have a bo kata that is called Susho no kunsho. Do you know what that means? A: Libby~ Thanks for your question. I don't have any knowledge of a bo kata called susho no kunsho. ... | |
| Help me please | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: I have been taking Kenpo Karate in Colorado, I am not in any advanced ranks or anything, but when I ... A: Danny~ The situation you are describing is all too common in today's martial arts. Most systems, ... | |
| karate | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: what happens if i work out and then go to my classes of karate. will it effect my body, will i get ... A: David~ Thank you for your question. The short answer is it depends. Working out prior to a karate ... | |
| red belt | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: I thought that after 10 degree black a "master" was recognized by a solid red belt. my friends say ... A: Terry~ Thank you for your question. The topic of belts and colors (and titles, for that matter) is ... | |
| Martial Arts best suited for a taller person | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: I've studied very little martial arts, but enough to defend myself from most people, but I would ... A: Joe~ Thanks for your question. I've never approached the martial arts from this point of view (I'm ... | |
| martial arts traditions | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: my name is Lauren and I am doing a inquiry project for my grade 9 ELA class. Our broad topic is ... A: Lauren~ You've posed an interesting question; one that I don't think has an easier or short answer. ... | |
| Karate stylesh | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: I am pretty tall 6' 2" and athletic. What would be a good style that utilizes a lot of kicks (other ... A: Patrick~ Thanks for your question! Sorry I couldn't get back sooner... Some of the best martial ... | |
| Horse stance | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: I did karate for 6 years and left for about 5 and recently came back after 5 years. My question is, ... A: Sean~ Thanks for your question. I'm not a physical therapist or CPT, but based on my experience I ... | |
| karate style | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: i'm trying to find out what karate style should i enroll my 7 year old to apply for real street ... A: Gilbert~ Thanks for your question. Just about all style of karate have applicable real-world ... | |
| Next Style | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: I started looking for other schools in my area for Okinawan weapons. I decided to go into something ... A: Ryan-- Training with a properly licensed and credentialed sensei is always a positive! However, ... | |
| Next Style | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: I have been practicing Shotokan Karate for eight years now. I have recently got my junior ... A: Ryan-- Thank you for the question. First of all, I am glad to hear that you plan to expand your ... | |
| kensei do | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: How would me and my friend Kenchi go about getting our form of kendo (kensei do) known? Both me and ... A: Zoro-- I am sorry you did not find my answer helpful. I think there may have been a communication ... | |
| Shin Shinkage-ryu | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: Same Here, but I was a street fighter hustling money with my father's version of Taekwon-Do. My ... A: CJ-- Congratulations on being awarded sifu! It is a long hard road that most cannot walk. Just ... | |
| Shin Shinkage-ryu | 9/28/2006 |
| Q: ------------------------- I thought shin was nihhongo for true, or truth(kyokushin has lead me to ... A: Good Morning! Shin can also mean 'truth'. Shinsei or shinko (both using ‘shin’ in part) mean ... | |
| Shin Shinkage-ryu | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: Where can I find good inf on Shin Shinkage-ryu online? Also, what type of art is it (seeing it on ... A: As with most Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, there are actually several branches or styles that ... | |
| karate styles | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: ..I suppose I should clarify a little...first...I do not believe that i have created a "new" karate ... A: Dennis-- Glad I could help! You could try this site to get started on copyright: ... | |
| karate styles | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: ...I've stumbled onto this site and I really hope you can help....my only question is where and how ... A: Dennis-- This is an odd question, and I really don't think that there is licensing board for what ... | |
| osu symbol | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: Is there a symbol for osu? A: I may need a little clarification concernng your question. If by symbol you mean kanji (an ideogram ... | |
| Ok hear my problem | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: Man... you are great thaaaaaaaaanks alooooooot... But I want your opinion about what I was doing... ... A: Glad to hear you won't be doing that anymore! I must admit, punching a cement wall will eventually ... | |
| Ok hear my problem | 7/27/2006 |
| Q: I know you answered my question about preparing my hands feet and head for bricking breaks .. but ... A: Mohd-- Here it is again! It's not too indepth, but it will set you on the right track! As for ... | |
| tell me please | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: I want you to tell me what should I do to ((prepare)) my hands, foots, and head for breaking bricks ... A: Mohd-- First of all, thanks for you question. Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. As for hand ... | |
| contact | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: Hey Mike, it's Matt Poff. How have you been? Long time no see. Are you teaching or working out ... A: Hey Matt! Good to hear from you! This is really wierd, but just last week I was thinking about ... | |
| Translation of this kata... | 3/17/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me with the translation of this particular short stick kata... it ... A: I must admit that I'm not familiar with this kata, but I may be able to offer a little more insight ... | |
| Hi, my boyfriend claims... | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: my boyfriend claims to be a 4th degree black belt, but on his instructers website there is a pic of ... A: Katie, Thanks for your question. As far as the kyu ranks go (colored belts), the order a color is ... | |
| 5th degree black belt | 1/14/2006 |
| Q: Iwas just wondering how long do you usually need to study karate before you can get a 5th degree ... A: Terry, Thanks for your questions. In short, there is no set universally accepted time frame to ... | |
| shinkage organizations | 11/9/2005 |
| Q: Mr. Cummings I began my martial arts training about 20 years ago. My initial training was in ... A: Mr. Kester, First let me wish you a happy birthday (Nov. 10, 1775). I too, was stationed at Camp ... | |
| Bo and Hanbo | 10/31/2005 |
| Q: I am a Tae Kwon-Do instructor in Texas. I have studied Aikido as well. In both styles (neither of ... A: Pete, Sorry for the delay, my DSL provider is having 'issues'. Anyway, I don't think there is ... | |
| Tao Chi Do | 9/9/2005 |
| Q: My name is Fabiane.I´m brasilian and my husband, Roberto Cardia,is the creator of Tao Chi Do. We saw ... A: Fabiane, A cage match is a no-holds-barred (NHB) fight that takes place in a boxing ring or ... | |
| Tao Chi Do | 9/7/2005 |
| Q: My name is Fabiane.I´m brasilian and my husband, Roberto Cardia,is the creator of Tao Chi Do. We ... A: Fabiane, I would love to know more about tao chi do and your husband's martial arts history. What ... | |
| "tao chi do" | 4/15/2005 |
| Q: What is "tao chi do"? A: Jeff, I wanted to post a follow-up to my previous answer. I did not want to give you the wrong ... | |
| Songshan kempo | 1/16/2005 |
| Q: Where did you get your training in songshan kempo? I rec'd my rank in 1992 from Sensei Greg Thompson ... A: Scott, I also studied with Greg. I met him thru a mutual friend and began training with him ... | |
| Ki Symbol | 1/7/2005 |
| Q: Osu! Mi na san konnichiwa Sensei My question is what is the symbol for for Japanese Ki, Not ... A: Student, Thank you for your question. However, I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. Are you ... | |
| japanese steel | 7/5/2004 |
| Q: my question is to do with the making of samurai swords, sorry to ask this sort of question as i know ... A: Marcos: This is a little out of my area. However, I have seen a couple of titles on bugei.com. I ... | |
| iai do | 6/12/2004 |
| Q: Sir .could you inform me of a good book on shinkage ryu iai do....thank you richard. A: Richard: I am not aware of any specific books on Shinkage Ryu Iaido (originally identified as ... | |
| Things that your life and art have taught you | 4/13/2004 |
| Q: Cummings As you are an expert in the martial arts, I would be grateful to receive some of your ... A: Brian: Thank you for the compliment, although I do not consider myself an "expert" on any subject. ... | |
| Katas Sun/Son? | 5/9/2003 |
| Q: I am a practitioner of the Shito Ryu Style of Karate. We have a few katas that begin with the hands ... A: Jeff: First of all, I must offer my most sincere apologies for not responding to your question ... | |
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)
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.