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March 27, 2008
Turtle Press Tang Soo Do DVDs
As any keen Tang Soo Do student will tell you, there is very little available in the way of study material available compared to the likes of arts such as Shotokan karate or Tae Kwon Do. I should know – I’m just such a student. There’s not very much available in book or DVD format that isn’t associated or affiliated with one school or another, and most long-term students will have an almost identical set of learning material they’ve picked up over the years. As you can probably imagine, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Turtle Press have a couple of DVDs aimed squarely at the Tang Soo Do student, and neither of them endorsing, representing or even showing the logo of a big school or organisation.
The two volumes are based entirely around the standard Tang Soo Do forms, or ‘hyung’, and are separated into Gup and Dan level forms. Gup grades are the beginner grades, in the same way that Kyu and Kup are in similar arts, and the first DVD takes the viewer through the most important forms for these first few years of training;
- Kicho Hyung (1-3)
- Pyung Ahn (1-5)
- Bassai
It’s great to have video references for these forms as they are very important and form the building blocks of so much of the art. Each video is very clear and obviously professionally produced, and has the advantage of being shot from multiple angles, which is great for new students who aren’t sure where their weight should be, or how the transitions between moves should look from behind or from the side for example. The Instructor, Master Song Young Kil, does a nice breakdown after the first run through a form, taking it step by step and explaining each technique as it’s performed, and where the kihap (spirit shout – think kiai karate fans) points are.
The Second DVD moves on to the Dan grade or Black Belt forms. These are the more complex hyung, and while some schools may teach slightly different ones, most will probably teach the majority of the following;
- Naihanchi Cho Dan
- Naihanchi Ee Dan
- Naihanchi Sam Dan
- Sip Soo
- Jin Do
- Kong San Goon
- Yon Bee
- Ji On
The DVD follows the same format, each form being shown multiple times and from different angles, and it’s a great reference for those advanced enough to draw some learning from them. This goes for students of non-Korean karate arts too, as the forms above are also famously Okinawan/Japanese in origin, just with different names (e.g. Naihanchi = Tekki, Kong San Goon = Kusanku, Sip Soo = Jitte). Obviously the performances and in some cases the moves may vary between some styles, but this leads me on nicely to the main problem I have with the DVDs.
The first thing that struck me when I sat down to watch these DVDs was "That’s not how we do it", and I dare say the vast majority of people who watch this will think the same thing. This is simply because different schools teach things in different ways, and the forms themselves change as the years go by, according to who is teaching and what subtle changes they might make. As early in as Kicho Hyung Ee Bu – the second most very basic form – I started noticing completely different moves. This isn’t so much a critical word against the demonstrator as a warning to new students or to those about to take up Tang Soo Do who might think that there’s only one way to perform a form, and that Master Song Young Kil is showing you it. The back of the DVD box mentions that he’s a master of Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido also, and I think it shows in some of the techniques.
On the whole these DVDs are excellent study aids, the forms are broken down nicely and the multiple views are very handy. Even the ‘pattern’ the form makes is shown on the screen. Just be aware that your school will almost certainly teach some of them differently, and that some of the more subtle touches such as proper stance, ideal weight distribution and the transitions between moves are only briefly touched upon. Given the fact that they’re so well produced, and taking into account the negative points raised above, I’m going to award the Turtle Press Tang Soo Do DVDs a BBM Review rating of….
Tang Soo Do Forms Vol. 1 – Gup Grades
Tang Soo Do Forms Vol. 2 – Dan Grades
As per BBM’s review below, there’s still a chance to win some Turtle Press Goodies. Just leave a comment on this review, no matter how big or small for your chance to win. What are you waiting for? Get replying!
March 23, 2008
Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts
I used to train with this great guy. He was a couple ranks ahead of me and he was always so focused on improving himself and his technique inside and outside of the dojo. Knowing that he needed to work on flexibility, he spent an entire summer working on it by stretching with a ladder. I remember him telling me that by the end of the summer, he had achieved only one rung in flexibility and he was disappointed with that. I thought it was a fabulous accomplishment. There’s a fairly big gap between rungs! I need to shoot him an email or something and recommend Ultimate Flexibility: A Complete Guide to Stretching for Martial Arts by Sang H. Kim Ph.D.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about flexibility and proper stretching for training in the martial arts, this is your book. Divided into seven easy to maneuver sections, this book has it all. It starts with the "big picture" and explains stretching so that my two-year old could understand it. Next, it’s on to flexibility where issues such as age, gender, activity level and overall conditioning are addressed. Chapter three is all about stretching. There’s also lots of information in this section on stretching properly so as not to injure or weaken joints (I should have had this book months ago). Other chapter titles include: Understanding Your Body, Your Workout Plan, The Exercises, and The Workouts.
Whether you participate at a traditional dojo that teaches striking techniques and kobudo or a training school focused entirely on grappling, this book provides pictures and detailed instructions that map out a perfect warm-up, workout plan, and cool down program that will help improve your flexibility and maintain a healthy (hopefully) injury free body.
Exercises are broken down into body parts that include: the neck, arms, wrist and hand, hip, back, and even foot and ankle exercises. It’s easy to follow too, so that you can see a photograph of how it’s done and just get to it. There’s no Twister-style wondering if you’re doing something right or not.
The Workouts section includes customized workouts for light and full contact, grappling, MMA, boxing, weapons, and high kick flexibility. There are also tips in this section on how to obtain a full split (could have used that during cheerleading try-outs in junior high school) and 20 tips on high kicks.
The great things about this book are that the main points are reiterated plenty. Rereading a section is entirely unnecessary as each section ends with a review of sorts that provides Q & A of the main points for each section. With easy to understand descriptions and such great insight into flexibility and how to safely go about getting it, this book is an absolute must for any serious martial artist.
The only very small drawback to this book is that there are some typo/grammatical issues here and there throughout the book. It’s nothing that prevents one from understanding the content, but it’s just distracting enough for a former English teacher that I had to mention it.
For the overall great content and helpful nature of the book, BBM gives Ultimate Flexibility:
If you’d like to obtain your own copy of "Ultimate Flexibility" simply leave a comment below. Three copies of the book and three Ultimate Flexibility DVD’s are being given away through The BBM Review thanks to the very generous Turtle Press. You don’t even have to be brilliant. Just type in your contact info below and say "Enter Me." Drawings will be held at the end of Admired Martial Artists Month. Don’t miss your chance to win! Enter now!
March 17, 2008
Flipsides
A pretzel. . . no, a cracker. . . no, a pretzel. . . a cracker. Guess what? Now my little one doesn’t have to decide and neither do you. Keebler’s Flipsides Pretzel Crackers are here and they are pretty fabulous. They look like an elongated Ritz cracker. One side is pretzel; the other side is a cheddar cracker. We’ve only had a day or two to review the product but they’re already a hit in this family.
Of course, my one daughter prefers that none of her food touches anything else, so pretzel crackers happen to be an issue for her. My little one and the adults in the house absolutely adore them though. On the side of the box, they recommend three additional ways to eat the pretzel crackers other than just plain munching out of the box: dunk it, drizzle it, top it. I have to say that I am really looking forward to trying some of their oh so yummy looking suggestions.
For those who are diet conscious, a Flipsides serving is five crackers. In those five crackers there are 70 calories and 30 of those calories are from fat. The thing I’m happy about? 0g Trans fat. There are approximately 9g of carbs in one serving which would have made my day back when I was a gestational diabetic and trying to find something under 15 grams of carb for a snack.
For more information about Keebler’s Flipsides, you can go to their website. For being two really good snacks in one, BBM gives Flipsides:
March 13, 2008
More Baby Jamz
Happiness is getting free toys and CD’s in the mail. My daughter is getting quite accustomed to it. The UPS and FedEx drivers are taking on a Santa-esque appearance to her lately with good reason. Lately they brought some new Baby Jamz products, created by Solange and Mathew Knowles.
The first new product is the Baby Jamz Jammin’ Microphone. As someone who had closet dreams of being a superstar, my daughter had to wrestle it away from me. It looks real; it allows you to record your own voice with or without a musical accompaniment and is just pure fun. The microphone retails for $9.97 and is a fabulous buy for that money. Your child can push the buttons to play different songs, choose to sing and record along with a song and even speed up or slow down the songs that play. With hot tracks such as "Bingo," "Old MacDonald," "Skip to My Lou," "This Old Man," and "Mary had a Little Lamb," your little one won’t get bored. Mine certainly hasn’t.
My only complaint about the microphone is that while it has an on/off switch, it doesn’t have any volume control. While the other Baby Jamz toys had an appropriate volume, this one seems to be a little loud. It’s nothing a little cotton and tape can’t handle though, and if your child is like mine, they’ll probably cover up the speaker with their hands anyway when they’re belting out their diva tunes.
The other product we were lucky enough to try is the Nursery Rhymes Volume 1 CD. This CD includes favorites such as "This Old Man," "Old MacDonald," and "Skip to My Lou." Keep in mind though, that these aren’t your ordinary nursery rhymes. These tunes make you want to get up off the couch and jam with your toddler. With reggae beats, and hip-hop infused sounds, it’s easy to see why this line is an absolute hit. There is not a single annoying song on the CD. The CD retails for $10.47 and is a great value for a children’s CD that won’t drive Mommy nuts like all the other ones do.
If you are interested in getting your own Baby Jamz toys, you can find them in Walmart stores or online at walmart.com. If you’d like more information about joining Team Mom, where you too can review these types of products, go here.
For the sheer fun and excitement that these products bring to both Mom and daughter, BBM gives these Baby Jamz products. . .
March 9, 2008
Whole Grain Pop-Tarts
I’m the Mom who asks for whole wheat bread for grilled cheese sandwiches at restaurants. I don’t do it to torture my kids. I ask because if I don’t, they will both complain that their sandwiches don’t taste right. Both of my girls have been whole wheat girls from the time they started eating food. It’s just how we do things around here.
However, my girls have always been willing to forgo the whole wheat goodness for some starchy white Pop-Tarts. They don’t have to anymore!
I am so excited to tell you about Whole Grain Pop-Tarts! We were given two flavors to try, Strawberry and Cinnamon, and the girls are devouring them morning, noon, and night (I’m a Mom who chooses my battles wisely and I’m not choosing the Pop-Tart battle).
The Whole Grain Pop-Tarts are super tasty! I couldn’t help but try one myself and they are divine. In the toaster, they get super crunchy on the ends and the overall flavor is so much better. It doesn’t seem like just sugar dissolving in your mouth. The best part is that one Pop-Tart counts as a whole serving of whole grains.
In addition to the improved flavor, the Pop-Tarts are only drizzled with a little icing, not a big slab of it like on the traditional kind. It’s just enough sweet to keep you interested without sending your body into sugar overload or as we like to call it around here, "spaz-mode."
For taking a guilty pleasure and turning it into something that’s actually nutritious, BBM gives Whole Grain Pop-Tarts. . .
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