Is taekwon do anygood?

[tkdan]

It really depends on the school or instructor. We have a fairly well rounded school with a TKD base. Where the flash ends and the reality begins is in our self defense. We work on takedowns, locks, and finishing blows. The one area I see we should work on but don't is in getting out of holds. Other than that I'm satisfied with my school.

[Bushido58266]

Texas, but I know some instructors in Florida, Ohio, N.C., LA, and TN. None of them are "pure" taekwondo. Like I said in my post, I have not seen ANY "pure" taekwondo schools. Every school I have seen does incorporate some jointlocks, takedowns, and ground fighting.

Of course a groundfighting specialist would not be satisfied with a taekwondo schools ground fighting, any more than I would be satisfied with a grappling school's striking and kicking.

Our goal on the ground is to quickly get back to our feet, where we can do some real damage...or get away.

u are correct many TKD places incorporate ground work but its really insufficient. i have grappled many TKD fighters in a traditional BJJ match and ive beaten them all but i have had 6 years of jujutsu training.

[MartialArthur]

"Insufficient" is relative. Most of my students are not training for a BJJ match, they just want to have sufficient skills to re-gain their feet if some brawler takes them down.

I teach them enough to be effective in that situation, but i am not preparing them for BJJ matches. I suspect that if they wanted that they would find a BJJ instructor and take classes.

[Whitefeather]

No

Well, mostly. As everybody else explained so acutely, what do you want? If you want to get yourself active in a fun sport, than I would say that you should shop around ALL of the dojos in your area, not just one particular style. Going to a good dojo with a good instructor and a good student mass is far far more happy than going to a dojo that practices the style that people tell you that you desire but has a crummy atomospherical aura about it and an idiot sensei. If self defense is your main priority, I would recommend finding a karate school that gives self defense seminars, and try one. Than try a TKD self defense seminar. Make up your mind. Mix and enjoy. For defending yourperson from unwieldily drunk buffons, more often than not, karate simply gives you more bang for the buck. In my own entirely humbly correct opinion, that is.

Enjoy,

The Earl of Kirkland

[isshinryu5toforever]

I think we still need to hear what exactly you're looking for. If you're doing Kyokushin, I don't see how you're really going to supplement those kicks and punches with TKD. You might get some advice on being able to get in and out faster through TKD, but if you're planning on competing in Kyokushin, you should train that hard, full-contact style, or you could get used to wearing a hogu (chest-protector) and get smoked by a reverse punch to the mid-area.

[HAPKIDO-KID]

I would say that TKD as it stands, is effective against the untrained. Put yourself in a life threatening situation and yopu will find that it just doesnt teach to fight in enough ranges to be called effective SD!

[pegasi]

Well, the training of a martial artist includes being able to outthink one's opponent, and to attempt to avoid things coming to a forceful conclusion. "We train to fight so that we don't have to." I personally believe one should try to negotiate one's way out of a confrontation, and only use force if necessary.

My instructor is one of those who emphasizes training self defense techniques, and has even "borrowed" some techniques from hapkido, to provide a more rounded set of skills. Due to the nature of our training area, we don't train takedowns and such that often, but often work on things that are very helpful, such as breakaways, etc -- how to disenage and escape if someone has gotten a grip on you, or is trying to. For women and children in particular, emphasizing simply getting away as quickly as possible is often the best way to deal with a much larger adversary, as in the case of attempted abductions. It is not wise to fight back in such a situation, training to escape is much more practical.

[marie curie]

How "good" TKD is really depends on the TKD system you are in... American TKD is a little better for self-defence than Olympic TKD which will get your head bashed in were you to use it in a bar fight. (of course it's great as a sport if that's what you are looking for). What specifically are you looking for or at what TKD system are you looking?

[HAPKIDO-KID]

Texas, but I know some instructors in Florida, Ohio, N.C., LA, and TN. None of them are "pure" taekwondo. Like I said in my post, I have not seen ANY "pure" taekwondo schools. Every school I have seen does incorporate some jointlocks, takedowns, and ground fighting.

Of course a groundfighting specialist would not be satisfied with a taekwondo schools ground fighting, any more than I would be satisfied with a grappling school's striking and kicking.

Our goal on the ground is to quickly get back to our feet, where we can do some real damage...or get away.

u are correct many TKD places incorporate ground work but its really insufficient. i have grappled many TKD fighters in a traditional BJJ match and ive beaten them all but i have had 6 years of jujutsu training.

You have beaten many TKDers in ground fighting...how many have you beaten in Olympic style TKD?

[Fairfax_Uechi]

and two, I wanted something more practical and not sport orientated.

I'd just like to point out that not all TKD is sport-orientated, but I'm sure you knew that.

True, but in my area, finding a TKD school that isn't sport-orientated is like finding a needle in a haystack.