What can TKD learn from Karate, and vise versa?

[bushido_man96]

Many people not in the MA's think that these two martial arts forms are synonomous. Those of us who study them, know this to be untrue.

My question is this: What can these two styles learn from each other? What could they offer each other?

I believe that they could both offer some positive things. Some that I can think of is footwork from TKD, and better usage of the hands from Karate.

What do you all think?

[granmasterchen]

well it all depends on the instructor of each one of course and how they teach their chosen art, then there are the multiple versions of tkd and karate that exist today. But in general looking at tkd as it is most popularly portrayed today as the olympic competitive sport version verses the standard karate based off of the funakoshi decent there is much that each other can learn from their counterpart. Tkd in general has strong emphasis on kicking but generally lacks the skill of hands seen in karate and vice versa. Also karate in general is more of a contact based kumite fighting art where as tkd is more of the point sparring base that has basis on control. Karate in general would be better for conditioning for a street fight encounter and more of the philosophical look and ki. Where as tkd would teach us in general how to show better sportsmanship and professional competition. Each would have much to offer....but please dont get me wrong, as i stated in the beginning i am going off the most popular generalization of each art and there are many different versions of each style that have different emphasis on different techniques and strategies and of course the instructor at every dojo/dojang teaches differently from the next.

[bushido_man96]

You are right, Grandmasterchen, about the variance between instructors. But I think you made some good points. One of the main concerns I have is with the contact levels that you spoke of. I also believe that many Karate schools have different contact areas, like hands to the head, kicks to the groin, sweeps, etc.

My dad started in TKD when I was about 4, and back then he said they allowed sweeps, groin, and head contact with the hands. The olympics have changed that.

I was wondering about Kyokushin Karate. From what I have figured out, the rules for target areas are the same as TKD, but the contact level is harder, and not done by points. Is this true? If so, the two styles could make a happy MA marriage.

[granmasterchen]

well i started out in the old school version of tkd with groin contact, sweeps, takedowns, grappling and head contact, and it wasn't just light contact either, lol. But as you've mentioned the majority of tkd has evolved into the olympic sport. The tkd that i studied has been reknown as tangsoodo or even shotokan karate. While over in japan i had a great time studying with many of the kyokushan karate schools. From what we saw and did there it was basically like a K1 fighting match, which is a very big focus over in japan now. So it's not point sparring, they go for the KO. They train more brute power and stamina with their techniques than they used to in the past. Many of the karate schools in japan are also giving up on teaching kata and many other aspects of the martial art and solely focusing on competition in events like pride and K1.

[bushido_man96]

I had heard that the Mas Oyma started the K-1. I believe he is the founder of kyokushin, but can't remember for sure. Is this the case?

Another note, it is a little sad that some styles are losing the forms and focusing on fighting so much. TKD is the same way, once you are recognized as a possible national fighter.

[Kajukenbopr]

TKD-speed,better use of kicks(sport) - they are pretty much alike if its traditional tkd

karate- stronger fighting stance than sport tkd(hands up,rooted legs) better use of hands(not just punches-throws,and locks too)

but like i said, traditional tkd is a lot like karate. this only applies when comparing sport tkd with traditional karate.

[bushido_man96]

TKD-speed,better use of kicks(sport) - they are pretty much alike if its traditional tkd

karate- stronger fighting stance than sport tkd(hands up,rooted legs) better use of hands(not just punches-throws,and locks too)

but like i said, traditional tkd is a lot like karate. this only applies when comparing sport tkd with traditional karate.

My style of TKD is traditional. We don't do a lot of throws or locks in our traditional practice. We have one one-step with a takedown, and 5 or 6 that have some arm twisting in them. Not much else. We have some ho sin sool techniques, but we don't get to them often.

[Kajukenbopr]

TKD-speed,better use of kicks(sport) - they are pretty much alike if its traditional tkd

karate- stronger fighting stance than sport tkd(hands up,rooted legs) better use of hands(not just punches-throws,and locks too)

but like i said, traditional tkd is a lot like karate. this only applies when comparing sport tkd with traditional karate.

My style of TKD is traditional. We don't do a lot of throws or locks in our traditional practice. We have one one-step with a takedown, and 5 or 6 that have some arm twisting in them. Not much else. We have some ho sin sool techniques, but we don't get to them often.

yeah, a lot of karate schools lately focus either on katas or competitive fighting, leaving out self defense, throws,locks and everything else that is important to know as complimentary to any self defense style.

so you're not too different from that, see?

[DokterVet]

As a former karateka, I was always impressed with the flexibility of tae kwon do practitioners.

So I would say that karateka (and all martial artists) would do well to learn the stretching methods of tae kwon do.

[marie curie]

Oooooh, great thread! Yes, I think that Karatekas could get a lot out of TKD drills, allowing kicking speed and accuracy to increase.

I think that TKD-ers would be well off to learn someof the more forceful hand techniques. When I was in TKD, we only did pretty weak hand techniques and I always suprised them when my punch wasn't a push, but hard strike!