Product Details

• Actors: Sang H. Kim
• Directors: Korean Ssireum Federation, Sang H. Kim
• Format: Color, Subtitled, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: September 15, 1997
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 1880336200
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,908 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Martial Arts Video Reviews, July 1998

When one thinks of Korean martial arts more than likely the first thing to come to mind is Taekwondo or Tang Soo Do. However Korean traditional wrestling, called Ssireum, which dates back to the 4th century, is to many Koreans considered a martial art too. Certain "experts" in the video stated that they believed the Japanese art/sport of Sumo came from Ssireum. This sport/art is based on strength, skill, strategy, and will. The goal is to score by taking your opponent to the ground. Competition takes place in a sand pit and you have (3) 3 minute rounds in which whoever gets 2 out of 3 falls wins, in championships it's 3 out of 5 falls.

This video was very well done. In 60 minutes one gets to see and learn about Ssireum's history, rules, techniques, conditioning, interviews, demo's, and some competition footage. The 16 or so techniques shown were my favorite part. Being a judo/jujitsu man myself, I saw some very interesting techniques I can't wait to try on the mat.

I would recommend this video to those interested in learning more about the Korean arts, or those interested in grappling/wrestling.

Product Description

While the popular Korean martial arts like taekwondo and tang soo do have spread around the world, generations of warriors have quietly practiced more traditional Korean Combat arts, preserving centuries old techniques in virtual secrecy. Now, you can discover what few people outside of Korea know-the rich tradition of Korean warrior arts like ssireum, kumdo and archery. Each tape in this continuing series gives you a rare glimpse of the techniques, history and philosophy of an art through the words and actions of its masters.

In ssireum competition, two competitors square off in a circular sand pit. At the referee's signal, each attempts to throw or force the other to the ground in a traditional style of wrestling that originated over 5000 years ago. Like other methods of grappling, ssireum is a test of strength, skill, strategy and sheer will in which one miscalculation results in certain defeat. This tape gives you an inside look at ssireum including history, techniques and conditioning exercises through practice sessions, interviews, instructional demonstrations (including slow motion) and competition footage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Korean wrestling, July 22, 2011

By 

Timothy J. Stanley - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ssrieum: Traditional Korean Wrestling (Korean Combat Arts Video Series) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Cool tape. Needs to be DVD. If you like grappling; you wil like this mix of history and technique that is a mix of Folk, Greco, and Sumo.