We've all seen martial arts practitioners performing precise, dance-like movements at the park, dojang, and/or beach. For novices, these moves might seem mysterious, but experienced Tang Soo Do practitioners know their purpose well. In this Korean martial arts style these forms or hyeongs are designed to be both calming and deadly. You see, they're supposed to help practitioners perfect various moves against would be attackers. So if you're interested in learning the forms leading up to 1st degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, Tang Soo Do Forms Volume 1: Color Belt starring Young Kil Song may just be for you.
The Particulars
- Title: Tang Soo Do Forms Volume 1: Color Belt
- Director: Sang H. Kim
- Starring: Master Tang Soo Do practitioner Young Kil Song
- Format: DVD, in color, in English
- Studio: Turtle Press
- List Price: $29.95 ($14.95 at Turtle Press)
The Best Parts
Young Kil Song goes through each Tang Soo Do form very clearly on the DVD. Further, the video offers several different angles of each form being practiced, so viewers can specifically look at each piece of the hyeongs from every needed vantage. Beyond that, the color quality is solid and a directional schematic is posted for each form, showing the directions that the form follows.
In other words, from a visual and instructional standpoint, Tang Soo Do Forms Volume 1: Color Belt is solid.
Could Be Confusing
One has to realize that Tang Soo Do, no matter how uniform those that practice it try to make things, is subject to the same variations as every other martial arts style. Along with this, some may find that the way Young Kil Son practices hyeongs is not the same as he or she sees it done in their dojang everyday. Some variations depending on school/teacher may include hip movement differences (some schools require more twisting of the hips when striking) and the utilization of high or upper blocks, rather than low blocks, at the start of some of the I pattern forms performed by Song.
The Tang Soo Do Forms Highlighted
- Kicho Hyung Il Bu
- Kicho Hyung Ee Bu
- Kicho Hyung Sam Bu
- Pyung Ahn Cho Dan
- Pyung Ahn Ee Dan
- Pyung Ahn Sam Dan
- Pyung Ahn Sa Dan
- Pyung Ahn Oh Dan
- Bassai
The Final Word
Maybe you're already a Tang Soo Do black belt and just want to brush up on some forms that you haven't practiced in a while before your next test. Perhaps you're just starting out at a dojang and want to practice what you're learning at home. If either is the case, then Tang Soo Do Forms Volume 1: Color Belt will make a solid addition to your DVD training library.
Reference: Turtle Press
