From: doug@eng.umd.edu (Douglas N. Cohen)
Subject: Re: EXODUS, et al.
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 92 02:47:06 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park, College of Engineering
Summary: opinion
Followup-To: doug:  < doug@eng.umd.edu > : < doug@lpf.umd.edu >
Keywords: forms, music, opinion....

In article <1339@hydra.bucknell.edu> cammarta@bucknell.edu (aaron cammarata `93) writes:
>
>	I am a middle-belt student of TKD, and during my last class, I was
>introduced to the form called Exodus.  It's done to music, and I beleive it's
>supposed to be a black belt form.  My questions are these:
>	1) What do you think of forms done to music?

	i personally feel that practicing forms with music can be a good way
to gain the rythem and flow of a form, and can help improve the coordination
of the student.  i personally don't like to practice to music.
	but.  in a tournament, there is no place for it.  to my mind, the
tournament is a place for the finished product.  with the music added, it
becomes less of a martial arts, and more of a dance routine.  then, if you
are at a typical tkd/karate tournament, you find 15 people doing the same form
to the same music (usually on a lousy or makeshift pa system,) and it wears 
pretty thin about the third time through.  i don't care how attentive you are,
exodus 15 times in 3 divisions, over 2 hours, and you're ready for the looney
bin, and you begin to dread the next occasion, and start to hate anyone who
would think of performing it.....
	then, if you allow one type of music, the you open it up to all types
of music and artistic interpretation(s).  i am rather proud of the wide range
of music i like and can appreciate, but one form i don't particularly like,
because i don't believe it *is* music, is rap.  i have found more and more 
kids doing their artistic interpretations to rap.  it is usually loud, annoying,
and i don't like it.  automatically, i'm biased.  and i like to think of myself
as open-minded.  can you imagine what is going through the minds of a more
traditional and older individual, say from korea, japan, okinowa, or china?

>	2) Does anyone know for sure what level it's supposed to be, or if it's
>just a form that anyone can learn?  (i.e., I think that brown belts must
>perform it to music in order to pass to black, making it a black belt form.)

        i don't know if it is supposed to be a tkd bb form, however, in the
past i have judged many times at tournaments, and this is one of the most
frequent forms i have seen in non-kung fu tournaments, and it is almost 
always done by underbelts, usually no higher than green.  i have only seen 
one black belt (jhoon rhee's style) do it, and he was not very good....

>       3) What other forms are you aware of that are done to music?
>

	except for some t'ai chi forms (done to traditional chinese music,
simply to qualify as a musical form - at the last minute) i have only seen
forms that were put to music but not standardized the way exodus is.
	this does not count the choreographed numbers of the demonstration
teams that open certain ceremonies and tournaments, or lion dancing stuff.
in our style (Hung Fut) when we add music, it means a traditional demonstration
music with the drum, cymbals, and gong, but it is not normal.  it is generally
for say a finals competition or a demonstration of a high ranked student or
master.  generally it is very formalized and stylized.  it has no place in
actual competition as a rule.

>	In all fairness, I'll start the thread by answering...
>	1) I loved learning it.  The music to Exodus is from a 50's movie, I think
>about the liberation of Israel, but I'm not sure.  The music itself is very
>powerful, and when you're out there performing the hyung, you can feel it
>coursing through your veins.  It's a really neat experience.

	it starred paul newman, who played a role that represented several
real life people (some who are still alive - i met one...) and went into the
exodus of refugees from nazi germany, in 1946/7, to (then) palistine, a 
british possesion, and the subsequent struggle to form a homeland for these
dispossed refugees, as the state of israel.  the book was written by leon uris,
and is considered required reading in many highschools.... (for whatever that 
is worth....)
	the music *IS* powerful... it does grip you, and when you see it for
the first time (the movie) and hear the music with you, it has a tendency to
sweep you along with it.  it is probably why it was chosen to be put to the
form.  i can see why you would feel that way.....

>	Also, doing forms to music is GREAT practice for your other forms, as
>well.  If you miss a move in, say, DoSan, no problem.  Just hesitate for a sec,
>think what's next, and move on.  If you hesitate in Exodus, "forget it.  The
>train's already left town, and you have to catch it at the next station."  (In
>the words of my instructor.)
>	2) Like I said, I think it's black belt, but I'm not so sure...
>	3) I've also heard of a form called Beethoven's 5th.  I'd really like to
>learn that one, being a fan and all.
>

	i happen to love beethoven, and his 5th is excellent, but i'm far more
partial to his 9th.... especially the 4th movement...
	however, now that i think about it, i believe i *have* seen this form
done to the 5th.....  

>
>					Aaron
>
>
>==================================================================================
>cammarta@bucknell.edu|     "Life is pain, Highness.
>                     |         Anyone who says differently is selling something."
>        DT2B         |                     "The Princess Bride"
>==================================================================================

	gooood quote!
	======
	great movie..... '...my name is ....'  {touch bin/smiles/#4}

	another opinion, worth about what you paid for it .....
        and, as always, i am/at:

             doug:  < doug@eng.umd.edu > : < doug@lpf.umd.edu >

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