Taking a Closer Look at the Hand Techniques of Taekwon-Do

[bushido_man96]

There are many aspects to each style. TKD is no different. There are many great kickers out there, and there are different styles of sparring for different styles of TKD. Right now, I do more of an Olympic style of sparring, but I do punch quite a bit, because I enjoy being in close and punching. In the Olympics, however, most of those competitors know that the scoring comes with the legs, and that is what they focus on.

I think the biggest part of it is the hogu, the large chest protectors that are worn. There is really no point in punching it; it absorbs too much, and you don't get the body displacement that judges like to see in scoring points.

Now, that is only the sparring side of it. Not all styles are going to spar like an MMA match would be. If that was the case, then all we would have around is MMA, which might get dull after a while.

Danielle, thanks for sharing this article on the hand techniques of Taekwon-do. Its a very good synopsis, and TKD really has many more hand techniques than it does kicking techniques, in my opinion.