Demonstrations
22nd June 2013
On Saturday 22nd June 2013 Sensei Cyril Cummins 8th dan and some of his students put on a demonstration of Shotokan Karate at Windsor High School. Photos from the demonstartion can be found on our Flickr Photostream and video footage on our YouTube channel.
Gradings
Birmingham & Halesowen Shotokan Karate Clubs are pleased to announce that Sensei Cyril Cummins has been awarded the rank of 8th Dan (hachidan) by NAKMAS.
Sensei Cummins has been studying Shotokan karate for nearly fifty years and in that time has built up a vast wealth of experience and knowledge which he has used to train thousands of students during this time producing a number of champions and students who have gone on to be instructors in their own right. Today at the age of 75 years old he still teaches at BHSKC and is imparting his knowledge to the next generation of karateka. Sensei Cummins has shown amazing dedication to Shotokan Karate over the years and exemplifies what it means to be a true master of Shotokan Karate.
On behalf of everyone at BHSKC we would like to congratulate Sensei Cummins on achieving 8th Dan.
Articles
From the 3rd to the 5th of May 2013, a number of karate students from BHSKC went to Blackpool for a special weekend training course organised by Sensei Cyril Cummins, now 8th Dan. For the duration of the weekend, we stayed in a lovely, homely hotel owned by Sensei Cummins’ son. We were all made to feel welcome by the staff and received delicious, home cooked meals. The rooms were comfortable and clean and we all thoroughly enjoyed the time we stayed there.
The dojo, which is part of a newly built leisure centre, was exceptional. The hall was very spacious and the walls were mirrored so that we could observe ourselves and not miss anything and the floor was completely covered in mats.
During the weekend, we focussed on kata, kumite, bunkai and physical strength. The advanced katas Sensei Cummins taught us were Kanku Dai and Meikyo. Kanku Dai, for me is an enjoyable kata to learn. Despite it being an advanced kata, it is quite basic because it contains essential elements of all the other katas. Although I found this kata quite long and challenging, I managed to complete it eventually.
Sensei Cummins also taught us the bunkai to Kanku Dai, with him demonstrating on Sensei Austin Birks, 4th Dan and Matt Russell 3rd Dan. It was interesting to be shown how to use certain moves from the kata with attacking and defending.
The kata I personally enjoyed the most was Meikyo. To me, the kata was quite simple to pick up because most of the sequences are mirrored. I especially liked how the kata started off in a slow movement and then quick and repeated. I also enjoyed the spinning jump towards the end of the kata.
Sensei also took us through Bassai Dai, which was extremely helpful for me, as this is my grading kata. We went through the kata step by step and then completed it in our own time.
Articles
Friday 3rd May till Sunday 5th May 2013
On the 4th and 5th of May 2013, Sensei Cyril Cummins held an advanced training course in the Palatine Leisure Centre in Blackpool. Both of the 3-hour training sessions were extremely intense and physically challenging. The course covered kihon, kata and bunkai, as well as kumite in great detail.
The basic techniques were geared towards the individual grades, so that each person was given a challenge and pushed to the limit. Kata and bunkai were studied in depth; Sensei Cummins’ extraordinary knowledge and ability to find numerous interpretations for every single kata made this an invaluable experience for any karateka.
The kumite sessions allowed everybody to try new techniques and to enhance their overall ability. Not only did this course focus on practical issues, but Sensei Cummins also provided background knowledge on a large number of theoretical and historical aspects of Shotokan karate. Sensei Cummins will soon be celebrating 50 years of training.
Few people have done what he has done and during this training weekend, he generously gave participants a unique insight into his training journey. The ethos of the course was to push oneself to the limit, which is what we did. This course was a priceless experience for everybody who took part. Make sure you don’t miss the next one!
A selection of photos from the course can be found on our Flickr album here.
Articles
Friday 19th April 2013
Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Centre
Sensei Cyril Cummin’s continued his kobudo (weapons training) sessions with a course featuring the Bo, Sai and Nunchaku. What follows is a brief summary of that course.
The course started with the bo, as this has featured in a number of courses I felt that I was now coming to grips with the use of the bo and when we revisited the bo kata shushi no kon I now felt reasonably comfortable doing it. This was reflected with the rest of the class who had all participated in some of the previous sessions and it felt more like revision and polishing the techniques rather than trying to remember what came next for the most part.
After the Bo we moved onto the Sai, Sensei Cummins explained the history of the weapon before demonstrating its use. We all then attempted to perform basic techniques with the sai. Personally I found the sai extremely difficult to handle especially when swivelling them and as a result found even performing kihon kata with the sai a challenge. This seemed to be reflected with most of the class and Sensei Cummins with he help of Sensei Susan Hession slowed down and helped everyone understand how to swivel and manipulate the sai.
After the sai came the nunchaku, again Sensei Cummins explained the history of the weapon and demonstrated a number of ways in which they could be used. Then we all had a go. I found the nunchaku easier to handle than the sai and fear of hitting myself in the face with the wooden nunchaku I was using soon evaporated. Whilst I wont claim to have replicated that famous scene from Enter the Dragon, I was able to swing the nunchaku around myself and swap hands and arms with relative ease.
Finally we partnered up and participated in some basic sparring defending attacks from a bo with the sai and counter attacking. This was interesting and felt far more difficult than using the tonfa in a similar situation to me.
Alas time was up and another very informative kobudo session concluded. I look forward to the next one as everyone else who attended also indicated and hope to practice more with the weapons covered so far.
A selection of photos from the course can be found on our Flickr album here.
Richard Amuzu, 3rd Dan BHSKC.
Competitions
SUNDAY 14TH APRIL 2013
The Spring Championship 2013 was a roaring success with competitors from many different styles, clubs and associations.We thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you all did to. Thanks to all those who attended for creating a great atmosphere. Congratulations to all those who competed and to those who won medals. It was great to see so many different clubs and styles. I’d also like to thank Sensei Cummins and all the officials and helpers for their efforts on the day.
The final results were as follows :-
Kata Events :-
| Category | Medal | Winner(s) | Club |
| Junior Individual Kata Beginner to 1st Kyu | Gold | Tylan Johnson | Adaptive Karate Club |
| Silver | Arvin Corotana | Adaptive Karate Club | |
| Bronze | Millie Thompson | Ippon Ken | |
| Senior Individual Kata Beginner to 1st Kyu | Gold | Lyndsay Smylie | BHSKC |
| Silver | Sophie Stoll | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Melissa Smylie | BHSKC | |
| Junior Individual Kata Dan Grades | Gold | Conner Stowe | Ippon Ken |
| Silver | Calib Stowe | Ippon Ken | |
| Bronze | Lucy O’Neil | Shidoshinkai | |
| Senior Individual Kata Dan Grades | Gold | Matt Russell | BHSKC |
| Silver | Bryn Pickett | Shidoshinkai | |
| Bronze | Terry Povey | Ippon Ken | |
| Veterans Kata | Gold | Sue Hession | BHSKC |
| Silver | Austin Birks | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Barry Gregory | BHSKC | |
| Junior Team Kata | Gold | Calib Stowe, Conner Stowe, Millie Thompson | Ippon Ken |
| Silver | Bethany Dean, Lucy O’Neil, Bethany Wood | Shidoshinkai | |
| Bronze | Jack Todd, Katelyn Todd, James Grant | BHSKC | |
| Senior Team Kata | Gold | Matt Russell, Sue Hession, Austin Birks | BHSKC |
| Silver | Christie Price, Holly Wells, Lyndsay Smylie | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Sophie Stoll, Melissa Smylie, Yvonne Skalban | BHSKC | |
| Pairs Kata | Gold | Matt Russell, Austin Birks | BHSKC |
| Silver | Lyndsay Smylie, Melissa Smylie | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Christie Price, Holly Wells | BHSKC | |
| Special Award for Outstanding Spirit | – | Nathan Meir | BHSKC |
Kumite Events :-
| Category | Medal | Winner(s) | Club |
| Junior Female Individual Kumite | Gold | Bethany Wood | Shidoshinkai |
| Silver | Holly Millinson | BHSKC | |
| Junior Male Individual Kumite 15 years old and under | Gold | Jake Phipps | BHSKC |
| Silver | Lewis Millinson | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Oliver Fachiri | Ippon Ken | |
| Junior Male Individual Kumite 16 years old and over | Gold | Brett Mitchell | Shidoshinkai |
| Silver | Calib Stowe | Ippon Ken | |
| Senior Female Individual Kumite Beginner to 3rd kyu | Gold | Melissa Smylie | BHSKC |
| Silver | Lyndsey Smylie | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Yvonne Skalban | BHSKC | |
| Senior Female individual Kumite Dan Grades | Gold | Christie Price | BHSKC |
| Silver | Tanya Mitchell | Shidoshinkai | |
| Bronze | Lucy O’Neil | Shidoshinkai | |
| Senior Male Individuals Beginner to 1st Kyu | Gold | Osvaldes Pack | Brigg Wado |
| Silver | Nigel Chaney | Ippon Ken | |
| Bronze | Jason Wood | Shidoshinkai | |
| Senior Male Individuals Dan Grades | Gold | Matt Russell | BHSKC |
| Silver | Gary Wright | Brigg Wado | |
| Bronze | Richard Amuzu | BHSKC | |
| Junior Team kumite | Gold | Calib Stowe, Conner Stowe, Oliver Fachiri | Ippon Ken |
| Silver | Lucy O’Neil, Bethany Wood, Ellie Price | Shidoshinkai | |
| Bronze | Otto Galvin, Calum Gratton, Josh Price | Shidoshinkai | |
| Senior Female Team Kumite | Gold | Christie Price, Lyndsay Smylie, Melissa Smylie | BHSKC |
| Silver | Yvonne Skalban, Jodie Wood | BHSKC | |
| Senior Male Team Kumite | Gold | Wayne Ricketts, Jason Elliman, Matt Russell | BHSKC |
| Silver | Dave Rollason, Steve O’Reilly, Richard Amuzu | BHSKC | |
| Bronze | Paddy Howtin, Nigel Chaney, Nick Bailey | Ippon Ken |
Articles
The second of the Choose a Kata Friday nights took place on Friday 29th March with Matt Russell selection Jitte as his chosen kata. This is a preview of the night with a few photos of Matt performing the kata with Matt’s review of the night to follow.
More pictures from this session can be found in our Flickr Album here.
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Articles
Over the years, you have trained thousands of fellow karate ka, visiting many different countries. What do you consider to be your most memorable experience over this time?
“Taking my 5th Dan examination at Crystal Palace under the Japanese Sensei. It was a very very hard grading and I prepared for it all the week by training every day with the Japanese Sensei. So at the end of the week I took the grading and I passed it.”
How do you think karate has changed over the years that you have been training and teaching?
“Traditional Karate goes on and on forever and there are many other types of martial arts coming out now like mixed martial arts etc. but traditional karate goes on and on.”
What is your favourite Kata to perform and why?
” I don’t have any favourite Kata. All Kata are important and so I practise them all.”
As one of your students, I have always been amazed by your vast knowledge of the history and origins of karate. How did you gain all of this knowledge?
“Research and training. Thinking about it and working out the bunkai etc. A lot of research!!
Articles
On the 1st of March Sensei Cummins, 7th dan dedicated the session at Nuffield Health Centre in Rubery to my choice of kata, Nijushiho. The course was open to all grades and karate students from different clubs and Sensei Cummins adapted the session to the kyu grades that attended the lesson. The attendees were of mixed ability and a mixture of grades but Sensei Cummins ensured everybody felt welcome and left feeling like they had learnt something new.
My preparation for this session involved me studying the kata prior to the course at home and at other lessons. I had basic knowledge of the kata and was able to complete it, getting direction, application of strikes and blocks correct although I did not have a vast amount of knowledge about the kata.
The session started by a vigorous warm up where Sensei Cummins had us running around the dojo, changing direction and styles of running. Afterwards Sensei Cummins allowed us time to stretch, where he taught us new ways of improving our flexibility by showing us methods we could use to stretch our leg muscle in preparation for training. Sensei Cummins then talked for a short period of time about the origin of the kata and its previous name. He also translated the name Nijushiho to English to inform us of what it means, kata of the 24 movements/steps. He also explained to us how the kata is like a flowing river, very soft and is able to find a way around any obstacle.
Sensei Cummins then showed us a few of the opening movements and then invited us to join him, he taught slowly and consistently meaning that all of us could focus on each movement and so that the kyu grades were able to follow to. Sensei Cummins also talked through the bunkai whilst demonstrating each technique. After showing and going through the opening movements of the kata with us, Sensei Cummins then continued on to the end of the kata continuing to inform us of the bunkai and what each movement could potentially be used for. After talking through the bunkai Sensei Cummins then demonstrated each block and strike with myself, he told us in-depth how each movement can be used and allowed us a chance to ask questions where he answered thoroughly.
Sensei Cummins then spoke about his personal training and when he learnt the kata, which was very interesting as he was taught in a very different way to us. When the sempai, Austin Birks arrived Sensei Cummins told us all to take a seat as he performed the kata from start to finish. I was so intrigued by the way he demonstrated the kata, so passionate and strong. I could tell when Sensei Cummins was performing the kata that he felt each movement and in his mind he was applying the bunkai.
There was another question and answer session after Sensei Cummins’s performance of Nijushiho, where we were able to question the kata and ask any questions we were unsure of or didn’t ask earlier in the session. Sensei Cummins and sempai then completed the entire kata with bunkai so we were able to see how each move would be applied from different attacks. I found this very interesting as I had much more understanding of the kata and much more understanding of the bunkai.
The course was coming to an end when Sensei Cummins gave us all a chance to perform Nijushiho. I feel that when I was doing the kata I was able to apply the bunkai to the moves in my head which meant I could feel the flow of the kata as I completed it. Sensei Cummins then called us all together and told us how we could each improve our kata and again a chance to answer any questions.
After attending this session I feel that I now know Nijushiho and if asked about the bunkai I would be able to give my opinion. The session was informative and interesting. As well as learning a lot of in-depth information about the kata, I enjoyed the course and felt it was very educational and I have again furthered my knowledge of a new kata and I will continue to perform Nijushiho and practise the bunkai. I look forward to the next ‘choice of kata course’.
Christie Price (1st Dan – 02/03/13)
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More pictures from this session can be found in our Flickr album here
Articles
How did you first get into karate?
I killed someone! (laughs) No, I saw a film called “Mondo Cane”. It’s a film about different rituals in different countries, for example, the Ghurkas cutting the head off an ox with a single blow, and, of course, the Japanese sensei have always inspired me, seeing Kanazawa sensei performing tameshiwari, breaking wood, in early 1964.
Was there ever a point where you thought about quitting karate?
No, not really. Obviously it’s something that goes through your mind sometimes, but you just shrug it off. You know, everybody thinks that at some point about work and everything else, that’s normal. But no, I wouldn’t have quit and if I had, I wouldn’t be here for you now!
One of the things I love about training is that the advice you give us often applies in everyday situations, the best example being “Never give up, never give in”. If I have a bad day, that’s what I remind myself of and then I feel stronger and more optimistic again. Has karate done the same for you?
Oh, definitely. If I am teaching it and saying it, I am going to have to believe it. Enoeda Sensei always told us that. Never give up, never give in.
Is there any other advice you have for us karateka, maybe something that has helped you personally?
Always be focussed on what you are doing. And try your best. Karate can be very hard sometimes, but you must keep going. Hence, never give up, never give in!
What is the best and the worst memory of your karate career?
The best and the worst? That’s hard to say, there have been so many things over the last 50 years! I think one of the highlights was achieving my 5th Dan. It was just after the national championships at Crystal Palace. And the examiners were the top Japanese instructors, including Master Enoeda. I don’t have any bad memories, really! I guess the only thing is the injuries.
Thank you very much for the interesting interview, Sensei! Oss!
