April 22, 1939 - July 1, 2003

He was born April 22, 1939 and in 1955, at the age of 16, James “JC” Cummings, Jr. made the United States Army his home.  A youthful Cummings saw the Army as a way out of a dead end environment in Ohio. 

During the mid 1950's the United States and South Korea sought to strengthen their relationship.  As a good will gesture the Koreans permitted United States servicemen to train in martial arts on a full time basis.  Grandmaster James Cummings was offered the opportunity to study Tang Soo Do while stationed in Korea with the US 8th Army.  Grandmaster Cummings trained primarily under the instruction of Master Chun.   Because he was allow to study full time he was able to receive his Black Belt in 13 months and, In October 1961,  was personally assigned 4493 as his Chodan number by Grandmaster Hwang Kee.

Grandmaster Cummings retired for the US Army and moved to San Angelo, Texas.  In San Angelo, he attended Angelo State University where he studied psychology.  While attending ASU he opened his first martial arts school, holding some of the first classes in the back yard and garage of his home.  He eventually became a probation officer for Tom Green County and opened The Martial Arts Academy. 

His dojang became quite well know throughout Texas and the Southwest.  A number of his students were nationally ranked in fighting, weapons, and Kata competition by Black Belt Magazine and Karate Illustrated.

In the mid- 80's, he relocated to Columbus, OH to be closer to family,   While in Columbus, the Grandmaster counseled at risk children and opened a operated a home health maintenance business for the mentally and physically handicapped.

Through the 90’s GM Cummings returned to San Antonio, Texas each year in December to participate in his the Tang Soo Do Karate Association’s annual conference and black belt test.  In the June of 2002 he permanently relocated to San Antonio, Texas and once again picked up the reins of instructor and mentor to the many students associated with TKA.

Grandmaster Cummings continued to study martial arts throughout his life.  He received black belts in Tang Soo Do, Soo Bahk Do, Tae Kwon Do, and, at the time of his death, he was studying Kenpo.  In December 2001 Grandmaster was promoted to the rank of 8^th Dan.

On July 1, 2003, Grandmaster James “JC” Cummings, Jr. passed away at the Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

A Real Hero
Dan Walthers

Other than the occasional funny war story, Grand Master Cummings never spoke of his military service to others.  Following Grand Masters death, I was one of those honored to put his household and belongings together for shipment back to his mother in Ohio.  While going through his personal items, I discovered that James Cummings was a true hero.

James Cummings was a Combat Medic, While serving in Viet Nam as a combat medic, James received the following awards, (not necessarily in order of preference):

• Bronze Star
• Army Commendation Medal w/ bronze oak leaf and bronze "V"
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Army Good Conduct Medal
• National Defense Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal w/four bronze stars
• Republic of Vietnam Service Medal
• Army Presidential Unit Citation

James never spoke of his service and would probably be embarrassed to know his service has been presented here.  It took his death for all of us to realize that not only was he a hero to us, he was a hero to many of our servicemen and women. 

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