Maestro

What? You mean you guys can't do that?

People unfamiliar with Tae Kwon do think its all about high kicks because that's what they see. Let's think about it: when are you going to be watching Taek won do if you don't practice it? Exhibitions and tournaments. And who would want to hold a tournament where everyone is dancing around kicking at each other's knees? Just because this is what people see doesn't mean that's all there is. People seem to like to rip on Taek won do because of the flashiness of its tournaments. I don't think anyone here would argue with me when I say that the style of fighting seen in TKD competition would not be the best way to go about winning a street fight. As a TKD student myself, I would be among the first to admit that. What people seem to unfailingly overlook is the fact that a proficient TKD artist would not go about trying to win a street fight in this manner. Not everyone even teaches that way either. My school for example, is highly traditional, and does not at all emphasize high kicks over other techniques, it emphasizes what is fast, powerful, and what works. Also, anyone who squares off against an attacker on the street and then immediatly launches into a high spinning hook kick was probably done before they started, but that would be a reflection on the individual, not the art itself. Anyone who is truly proficient in TKD would know that "flashy" kicks are only effective when properly set up--if even then--and would only use them at that time, if at all. Just because you have a certain weapon does not mean you have to use it.

Hello all. My first post here. Kudos to SubmissionFighter for starting this thread. It's like therapy. Traditional(non-sport) Tae Kwon Do Pros: -Emphasis on self-defense, free sparring, and practicality of techniques. -None of the "kicks only" attitude of sport fighters, lots of kicks though, if you want 'em -LOTS of emphasis on Ki development Cons: -No close-in techniques besides elbow and knees. -No groundfighting or grappling -Many techniques ineffective until excellent flexiblity is obtained