first i must say that i have never done taekwondo,here in portugal schools are usually more legit but i whant to discuss why did tkd "lost" his value in the view of many people,and how efective can it really be as a combat sport,there was a place when they taught taekwondo but it was highly expensive and since the instructor was asking to much money he got fired

I'm one who hasn't lost value in TKD. I've observed, trained, and learned from some the greatest, imho, TKD practitioners. GM Young Ik Suh was the most amazing TKD instructor/practitioner that I've ever seen, and I was also taught by him as well.

Most styles of the MA uses some value when one would be observing a TKD tournament. However, I sure wouldn't want to drop my guard around a TKD practitioner. Not from what I've seen first hand.

Brain has one of the most powerful and gracious high roundhouse kicks that I've ever seen, and I've seen plenty...Brian's TKD. Excellent hip actions; Brian known exactly when to activate the hips, no sooner and no later; right on time, everytime!!

I've nothing but respect for any and every TKD practitioner.

Edited December 23, 201114 yr by sensei8

Part of the problem is the sport and part of the problem is the politics.

Sport because (esp. with those who train just for the Olympics) has taken away from the martial side of it. Its just a game of tag, albeit a hard game.

And politics because there is sooooo much bickering between and within organisations that few people focus on the TKD itself and the art is getting lost beneath all the alliances and power struggles.

Because there are a lot... and I mean a LOT.. of really bad TKD schools. There's a thread on it in the.. KMA forum, I think.

JusticeZero and DWx both make valid points. When there are as many TKD schools out there as there are, there tend to be bad ones that slip through. Instuctors like to make money, and send out others that aren't ready to teach, and quality starts slipping.

However, there are good ones out there, just like with any style. If you do your research, you can find the good ones.

Thanks for the kind words, Bob. I appreciate them.

TKD is super popular in America because it's fun, it's athletic and it's not as high impact as other systems. Because of that, there are a good deal of really bad schools of TKD, and for every bad TKD school, there has to be two good ones to outweigh it. This situation would be the same if there were as many Shorin Ryu or Shaolin Kung Fu schools, but unfortunately the burden seems to fall to TKD.

That being said, TKD is an excellent system, and even though I have never taken it, I would defend it if the school were a good one. Also, just because the instructor is bad, doesn't mean that the student has to be and vice versa. Your training and skill in any art depends on you, and how you train.

Part of the problem is the sport and part of the problem is the politics.

Sport because (esp. with those who train just for the Olympics) has taken away from the martial side of it. Its just a game of tag, albeit a hard game.

And politics because there is sooooo much bickering between and within organisations that few people focus on the TKD itself and the art is getting lost beneath all the alliances and power struggles.

I agree 100% and would add that its been (in some cases)watered down. It has to be when I regularly meet and observe nine and ten year old black belts (some are even second dan). Like anything else there is good and not so good. TKD is probably the most popular martial art in the US. Most people I know outside of MA refer to karate as TKD.

Respect

IMO, martial artists who bash other styles contribute to the problem. The court of public opinion is manytimes based on heresay and not facts or experience.

Because there are a lot... and I mean a LOT.. of really bad TKD schools. There's a thread on it in the.. KMA forum, I think.

link?

link?

http://www.karateforums.com/tkd-rant-vt41431.html