Tkd

[ricksitterly]

I agree with what a lot of people say about the watered down state of tkd in the US. Many traditionalists would say that Korea is the only place to learn real tkd training, and point out Korea's tendency to dominate international competition. There was a fighter a few years ago who won the NY state competition, US national competition, then went to Korea and got a lot of his ribs broken. Seeing how they founded the art, it only makes sense that they have preserved its essence better than we have.

Anyways, many martial arts (in general) that make their way to the US, have a reputation of being commercialized and watered down. Fortunately, unlike some other arts, we tkd people have tournament unions such as the USTU, which are pretty good at sorting out tae kwon do from tae-crap-do. If you have a school that is producing national USTU competitors, you are probably doing something right. I'm sure you all have tournament organizations in your fighting styles - but i'm just talking about tkd right now. There are other tkd tournament organizations, such as the AAU, but USTU has the toughest reputation and you see the difference when you go to the tournaments. Not to say that these fighters are up to Korean standards, but the USTU helps to eliminate the "McDonalds" quality tkd schools ( from even entering). Where is this going? I dont know... I kinda have to pee right now so I'm in a hurry. Basically that tournaments help raise the standard for tkd schools. Overall though, something as widespread as tkd should be in much better shape by now. The bast teachers and practitioners I've seen have been from Korea.

Some tkd schools claim to be more focused on the moral values and family benefits of tkd training, not focused on competing. These people should go start some kind of YMCA family picnic club and leave TKD out of it. It's a money scam, and most of their tkd students would get their a$ses handed to them in a fight.

I've trained at many different schools, and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. That's another thing common in tkd, people switching schools a lot...no loyalty. After all, it's hard to respect a master who, for a certain amount of money, will give you a black belt in under two years and is more aggressive at collecting bills and fees than most insurance companies.

Some people argue that tkd doesnt produce good grapplers... well of coarse it doesnt! Just like bjj is a great grappling art, but will not, by itself, produce a fighter with good punches and kicks. If you want to be a well rounded fighter, you can either try to seek out a "complete style", or simply cross train in different styles. Living in these times, we have the luxury of being able to do that.

[UltimateFighter]

Lets cut to the chase. TKD (and this covers the majority of branches) is not a good base for fighting for the following reasons:

1/. Totally lacks grappling/groundfighting.

2/. As a striking art, focuses 30% punches, 70% kicks. This is the wrong way round (even 30% kicks is too high).

3/. Unable to strike from close range. Very basic with the hands and ineffective jumping/spinning attacks used.

Without trying to put the art down, it can be good for fitness, flexibility, and it has a few effective kicking techniques but for self defence it is a poor choice. If you want to be an effective striker you are best off choosing Muay Thai/boxing/wing chun and learning some takedown defences/ground fighting.

[Surferdude]

I study a TKD and karate mix so it I dont have a name for it all I can say is that it's cool and I love it!!!!!!!!

[TKD]

First of all UltimateFighter, have you ever done Tae Kwon Do?

Sure there are a few useless kicks such as the reverse turning kick(post on the kung fu forum). But 90% of the kicks are extremely useful and powerful.

As to your saying "ineffective jumping and spinning attacks" I don't know where you get this, have you ever hit anyone with a jumping back kick or 360 hook kick?

As to " totally lacks grappling/groundfighting", this is mostly untrue nowadays, as most instructors are well versed in other arts that have good grappling techniques.

Also, what is your reasoning for stating that more kicks and less hand techniques is the "wrong way round"? Who's to say that more hand techniques and less kicking isn't the "wrong way round"?

Your opinions are obviously based on bad technique or you have never taken Tae Kwon Do.

[Surferdude]

Yea, Besides Taekwondo is very good whats wrong with 70% of kicks Thunder leg in drunken master used it and could beat master Wong!!!!
But besides that, your legs are longer than your arms so you could keep your opponent away easily.

[TkdWarrior]

Originally posted by Surferdude

But besides that, your legs are longer than your arms so you could keep your opponent away easily.

provided u know how to use it rite way...

UltimateFighter wat u said is very true but it restricts to olympic TKD only. beyond that u'll know TKD is good at all ranges...
tho some guys don't do ground work but most of them will be good enuff for stand up grappling
hell for once one of Aikido teacher blamed us for stealing his techniques because we were doing lots of locking/grabbing which looked like aikido. when we show him lot other which we hav learnt he got a little calm down but kept saying u stole our techniques...
-TkdWarrior-

[votex]

UltimateFighter have you ever been hit by a side kick or roundhouse in the leg? It would break like it was nothing. How about a kick to the groin? That hurts like crap. As for not using your hands enough that's not true at all you use a about 50/50. You start off learning to use your hands in TKD and one you get that down then you get to the kicks. Most people use their legs more often because they do the most damage and the longer reach. If you are going to bash something at least get the facts right before you make a fool out of yourself.

[Robinf]

from Ultimatefighter

3/. Unable to strike from close range. Very basic with the hands and ineffective jumping/spinning attacks used.

Sounds like you only have experience with sport sparring TKD. Actual tkd uses mid range kicks, if any kicks at all, also uses grabs, joint locks, take downs, and plenty of other hand techniques.

What happens in many schools is that they focus on sport tkd rather than the actual martial art.

Robin

[Vapour]

Good mate of mine practice TKD (Not WTF). TKD being recognised as Olympic sport is probably the worst thing happen to TKD. If you watch Olymic TKD you can see why.

I don't really buy that TKD can trace their origin to taekwon. The smiliarity between TKD and karate is too close to be a coincidence not to mention the fact that the guy who invented it did study karate plus he claim no lineage of traditional korean school. But this doesn't mean TKD is worse than karate.

Though it is true that leg is far more powerful and longer than arm, once holding and grapling is allowed it effectiveness is severly reduced. In real fight most kick is low kick aimed at legs. If one only done sporting side of TKD he won't be able to use fist because his punch has no power and it's likely to break when used without protection. But then, there are some genuine school of TKD which teach how to punch properly. But because TKD is now a Olympic sports, availability of such school are becoming less and less.

[votex]

I believe that's what is wrong whith most schools today not just TKD but almost all stlyes in general. They(the people running the schools) no longer teaching self-defense but are in it for the money and when that happens it starts to look like cr@p. How are you going to defend yourself if you don't know the basics or how the moves are supposed to look like and what they are used for?