Top value in sword videos
Paul Trogen | Johnson City, TN United States | 08/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ancient Korean Sword and Weapon Arts
Turtle press offers 3 DVDs of Korean sword Martial arts, two modern arts (Kumdo and Haedong Kumdo) and Ancient Korean Sword and Weapon Arts. This DVD demonstrates the ancient sword and weapon arts as recorded in the text Muye Dobo Tongi, which was written in 1790 A.D.
This is the best sword DVD I have found. This DVD includes most of the forms in the text, with the most notable exception of the forms on horseback. There are 4 Japanese sword forms (Toyuryu, Woonkwangryu, Chunyuryu, Ryupiryu) and 5 Korean sword forms (Ssang Soo Do, Ye Do, Je Dok Gum, Bon Kuk Gum, Ssang Gum), and you will see each form 3 times. First, each form is presented independently by two different masters, then a third close up of the form is recorded where the video technician is so close that you can hear the sword cut through the air. The forms are valuable tools in interpreting the unfamiliar terminology of the old Muye Dobo Tongi text, such as "goose posture," "single horned bull combat position," or "leopard head pressing the summit posture."
This DVD also presents other weapons, flag spear, crescent sword, spear sword, shield art, long stick and Shaolin long stick. On these other weapons, we see each form only twice, both as a first demonstration and a replay of the same demonstration.
This 70 minute DVD is long on demonstrations, and short on talk. There is three minutes of introduction, and equally brief concluding comments at the end of the tape. This is a definite "must have."
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