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About Michael Cummings
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I am available to answer questions in regard to history, philosophy, technique and practice of karatejutsu, aikijujutsu, iaijutsu and kenjutsu. I also have knowledge and experience in Okinawan kobujutsu and traditional Japanese weapons including the hanbo (short staff) and yari (spear). I also have a good foundation to answer some of the more general questions concerning various Japanese, Okinawan and Chinese styles, traditions, history and philosophy.

Experience
I have over 29 years of study and practice in Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. I have also studied several Chinese systems as well. I presently hold Okuden/Mokuroku in Shin Shinkage Ryu Sogo Bujutsu, a rank roughly equal to yondan (4th dan), and includes rankings in karatejutsu, iaijutsu, kenjutsu and aikijutsu, respectively, and Okinawan kobujutsu. I also hold a black sash (shodan) in Song Shan Kempo. My primary teacher was Watanabe Tsuyoshi Hanshi, and later Makiyama Gogen Shidoshi. I have also been fortunate to have studied several styles and systems of empty-hand and weapons arts with many diverse, highly qualified and revered instructors and masters. I am also an amateur marital arts historian and student of hoplology.

   

You are here:  Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Martial Arts > Karate

Questions Answered By Expert  Michael Cummings 
In Category  Karate

SubjectDate Asked

Origin of form Shem pa3/15/2008
  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 ...
points2/7/2008
  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 strength1/7/2008
  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 old12/6/2007
  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 ...
Translation11/28/2007
  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 please9/3/2007
  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, ...
karate8/13/2007
  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 belt8/6/2007
  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 person7/17/2007
  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 traditions5/31/2007
  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 stylesh4/21/2007
  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 stance3/7/2007
  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 style2/24/2007
  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 Style1/11/2007
  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 Style1/7/2007
  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 do10/24/2006
  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-ryu9/29/2006
  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-ryu9/28/2006
  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-ryu9/27/2006
  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 styles9/21/2006
  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 styles9/21/2006
  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 symbol9/2/2006
  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 problem7/29/2006
  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 problem7/27/2006
  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 please7/23/2006
  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 ...
contact5/22/2006
  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 belt1/14/2006
  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 organizations11/9/2005
  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 Hanbo10/31/2005
  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 Do9/9/2005
  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 Do9/7/2005
  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 kempo1/16/2005
  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 Symbol1/7/2005
  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 steel7/5/2004
  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 do6/12/2004
  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 you4/13/2004
  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 ...

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