I don't get it.

[marie curie]

I sparred with someone from a TKD background who said that they weren't Olympic, but I didn't recognize the organization, so possibly there is a Traditional TKD organization out there with dropped hands too, but other than that, my experience has also been the Olympic stylists are the hands down people.

[bushido_man96]

Traditional Taekwondo does keep their hands up. As many have pointed out here: Olympic style TKD really has no need to do that because they don't punch often anymore. The reason is, one has to score a "trembling blow" to displace the opponent. That is hard to do with a punch when you're up on your feet so high because you're bouncing & focused on throwing kicks.

I think that if they would take the time to set up their punches, then they could put enough power into them to get trembling shock.

I have seen some PRO-TKD fights, and seen one guy carted off on a stretcher after taking a solid punch to the ribs. However, they did not fight with chest protectors, either.

[NightOwl]

Also agreeing with everyone here, bushido_man is correct because it is the Olympic style that does not allow for hands to be used and thus the result of not using them.

It isn't that they aren't allowed to punch, its just that punches don't ever score, so they don't waste the energy to do them.

Just musing but what if you managed to get a TKO off one? I'm assuming that would win you the match.

[marie curie]

Hehe, step past and chuck liddel your opponent to your victory? Sounds nice

[bushido_man96]

Also agreeing with everyone here, bushido_man is correct because it is the Olympic style that does not allow for hands to be used and thus the result of not using them.

It isn't that they aren't allowed to punch, its just that punches don't ever score, so they don't waste the energy to do them.

Just musing but what if you managed to get a TKO off one? I'm assuming that would win you the match.

Absolutely. The only problem is generating enough power to punch through the chest protector. I punch them all the time in class, and I think you could wear someone down with them, allowing your kicks to do even more damage.

[YoungMan]

I officiated at our recent tournament, and saw several people trying to use punches, with little to no effect.

I think the way WTF free fighting operates, it's just very difficult to impossible to use punching effectively. It turns into two people chasing each other. It's probably easier in point fighting or MMA matches, because the fighters aren't moving around so much. To me, point fighting is basically Tag anyway.

Considering the number of times I've also seen free fighters get knocked out with head kicks (this is with headgear mind you), fighting with your hands down is a very bad habit to get into.

[bushido_man96]

I officiated at our recent tournament, and saw several people trying to use punches, with little to no effect.

I think the way WTF free fighting operates, it's just very difficult to impossible to use punching effectively. It turns into two people chasing each other.

I think it is the result of the chest protectors as well. It is hard to punch through them, and make someone feel it.

[Zorbasan]

i dont think i could fight with hands down. not only would i feel exposed but surely it would affect balance as well?

[bushido_man96]

i dont think i could fight with hands down. not only would i feel exposed but surely it would affect balance as well?

Well, they use their hands to gain momentum in kicking and stuff, so they kind of play a balancing role, in a way. I still don't advise it, though, unless you like the taste of spinning heel kick with mustard on it!

[IcemanSK]

Traditional Taekwondo does keep their hands up. As many have pointed out here: Olympic style TKD really has no need to do that because they don't punch often anymore. The reason is, one has to score a "trembling blow" to displace the opponent. That is hard to do with a punch when you're up on your feet so high because you're bouncing & focused on throwing kicks.

I think that if they would take the time to set up their punches, then they could put enough power into them to get trembling shock.

I have seen some PRO-TKD fights, and seen one guy carted off on a stretcher after taking a solid punch to the ribs. However, they did not fight with chest protectors, either.

Yep, without chest protectors it's a different story. As others have said, when you train to sit down on your punches, you can throw them hard. But in the Olympic style, you're up on your toes & bouncing so much to avoid kicks & then get your's in, it's not feasible to try to land a solid punch.