Does anyone here know taekwondo & or karate? If you know both, which do you like best?

[VIVANT]

If you know both, which do you like best?

If you know one, what do you like best about it?

I was trying to decide between the two but I definitely want to do what she does?

https://youtube.com/shorts/0jKKjOBYOfY?feature=share

[dustybiker]

It’s not only these two though. The trainer and studio are specific key factors. If you aren’t happy with them it can make you dislike it as a whole.

Taekwondo was my choice. I’d been through three studios before I found my current. The first was awful. They leaned more to aerobics than the sport in order to satisfy their local clientele. Anything to bring in customers..

Scored with my current instructor who was an olympian in Korea and has at least one black belt in every martial art form. He incorporates them all into his training.

Good luck. Everyone should learn to defend themselves. Enjoy it.

[VIVANT]

Thanks for pointing that out bc it’s probably really important factor.

I heard TKD is mostly kicks/ legs but I saw people in a ring using full force arms as well. Now I wonder if that’s the specific place. I think TKD is very cool but I want to use my upper body too. I have very strong core so it’d be a waste to focus only or mostly on legs. I guess I can study both & combine 🤷🏻‍♀️

[dustybiker]

No. Taekwondo using full body for strikes and defense. People lean to legs for the most points.

[VIVANT]

Ohh ok thank you!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[dustybiker]

You are welcome. Good luck with your choice. You’ll have a blast regardless.

[AddylynnNightingale]

Taekwondo is fun, but once you get past your foot you're in trouble, they have hand strikes but the main focus is kicking. Karate works on kicks, but also works on hand strikes, knees and elbows even. There are several karate styles too, I'm sure there is one to your liking out there.

[AddylynnNightingale]

Karate also has throws by the way. You sold yet?

[HippieVeganJewslim]

Throws? Karate literally means empty hands!

[AddylynnNightingale]

@HippieVeganJewslim Throws.

[bzcxx]

I have a black belt in taekwondo! I prefer taekwondo because it’s meant for self-defence while karate is more offensive. Taekwondo puts more emphasis on kicks and using hands to shield/protect your face/body. You’ll learn lots of cool kicks like spinning and jumping kicks. Karate uses more hand movements and so their feet often stay grounded. Think about it, is your hands or legs longer? Of course using legs in a fight allows you to attack an opponent from further away. If you’re using karate and attempting to use your hands/fists, you’ll have to be at a much closer proximity to your enemy.

[VIVANT]

Ahhh good points!! You cleared up sone things for me and more than what I was wondering. Thank you very helpful 🙏🏼😊

[TallAnon]

I mainly practice karate, my dad did tournaments in tae kwon do (and kickboxing). Biggest difference is that in karate you use your fists more and in tkd you use your legs more. I heard that tkd is more suited towards women and being flexible with your legs is more important.

Some details to look at when deciding is whether they are full-contact, which is more rough, but also more taxing on the body and the most important things is whether the people are out there to help you. If they are there to stroke their own ego, avoid it like the pleague.

[VIVANT]

Yeah I heard the same about women flexibility & TKD etc. I do have sone years of gymnastics and can split legs but my upper body strength has always been my strongest point in any sport I’ve done so I don’t know if it’s necessarily better for me to do TKD. Tho I my understanding jay be crude perhaps upper body strength is a key Y in TKD as well but also relies on flexibility dk

Thank you ! & I hear you about the useless ego strikers 👍🏼

[TallAnon]

Really depends what kind of TKD you're looking at, tournament focus is more on points / legs than how practical it is.

With karate, the style is important, kyokushin for example isn't very practical (no grabs at all)

[VIVANT]

Hmm I’m def going to have to do sone digging. Thanks!

[VIVANT]

some*

[TallAnon]

It could be worth just giving it a try once so you experience it yourself 🙂

[OneGuysPerspective]

People have mentioned the inherent differences of the styles. For me, the biggest question I have is if you are studying for self defense purposes, can you, in your everyday attire, properly execute the techniques taught in the dojo? My uncle studied Taekwondo, and he found the practical application of the style challenging on icy streets in the winter. Also ask yourself what you hope to get out of your studies. Talk to the instructor, and see if it looks to be a good fit. Always ask if you can watch a session first so you get a sense of the school in general, and maybe ask if you can talk to other students.

Good luck!

[VIVANT]

All very good points snd the thing about ice -practical- thank you!! 😊

[ArtemisSilver]

I've taken a bit of both, I liked TKD better when I was younger and uninjured enough to do the high impact rotational kicks.

After getting older and being messed up in a few accidents I prefer the simpler linear strikes from karate.

Given my physical condition though I'm best off just doing some simple boxing and judo.

In my experience picking a martial art is about playing to your personal strengths and mitigating your weak points.

[Guardian45]

Agreed.

[VIVANT]

That’s why I can’t decide. I’m familiar with more fluid impact of power from years of gymnastics & I think TKD seems more fluid but I also have very strong upper body & I hear TKD relies on lower body mire so.. I would not want an art that limits the use/ reliance on that. Amd I’m considering getting the basics then moving to MMA depending on how much power I can weird in martial arts.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

My little cousin is age 8 and just got her Orange Belt in Karate has an excellent trainer and he is very kind-hearted, down-to-earth, etc. And she got Autism and special challenges but does great, she is my fourth cousin. Makes excellent grades in school and her third-grade teacher says she's doing great.

[VIVANT]

That’s awesome!! I’m happy for her congrats 🥳

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@VIVANT Thank you Vivant appreciate your kindness 🙏

[VIVANT]

Thank you for sharing 😊😊

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@VIVANT You're welcome :-D

[coachTanthony]

Both are terrible for normal people. They will teach you only so much per class until you rise up and get your belts. I think it's a scam. Better to take MMA style classes and learn self defense.

[VIVANT]

Hmm I suppose I can learn technique turn study on my own. Is kick boxing similar to TKD? Also do you use lunches in kick boxing? Prob a dumb Q but humor me 😊

[HippieVeganJewslim]

Lunches? We did fill bottles with sand (sand is denser that water) and used them as weights. We punched while holding the bottles.

[coachTanthony]

@VIVANT Learning techniques for what? If you just want to learn techniques and get belts then go for it just don't expect these classes to save your life lol

[VIVANT]

No not for saving my life for the coordinated art style & philosophy for defense of go mma

Not lunches lol punches

[LemiaOfThunder]

Thats an interesting take. I dont think its a scam considering the moto I was taught when I was learning Never use them unless you have too. Imagine teaching a white belt the most powerful punch or kick, then whats stopping them from using that on someone. I dont think the belt progession is scamming people unless they fail basic white belt. I have learning disabilties and low balance and I progessed to green belt without any trouble.

[coachTanthony]

@LemiaOfThunder To each their own my man.

[Guardian45]

What is your purpose in taking this? As self defense? As a discipline? As physical exercise? As a philosophy? For fun?

All these Qs should be considered. There are MANY martial arts, each one is a little different.

[VIVANT]

Honestly All of those reasons. TKD reminds me much more of gymnastics than the others but I also have a very strong upper body strength so I don’t want to do something that limits the top. I’d prob just find MMA that suits me except I love the philosophy behind natural art s so I think I’d start there at least & yeah I don’t know which. I want something that has lots of fluid strokes bit uses the whole body. Tho the split kicks in TKD are perfect but maybe that is in other arts as well. I really should look into it mire, I just wanted to hear from people familiar with it as well 😊

[Neilbud]

So karate is more sport fighting at this point than anything. Mostly stand up fighting. But you will get to use your arms.


Takwondo is also sport fight but more of a distance game. Most everything you do will be with your feet/legs.

[VIVANT]

Yeah that’s what makes me unsure bc my upper body has always been my string point in sports but I think the kind of philosophy of fighting I prefer is TKD maybe I can try both and see 😊

[MiamiMadness]

I actually have a tae kwon do school but I don’t know it, I find boxing and BJJ to be way more effective at self defense

[VIVANT]

I think stylistically taekwondo is basically kick boxing maybe the force is different tho… aside from defense just looks super artistic and fun. 😊

[Twalli]

I got a black belt in taekwondo, and then stopped and restarted a few years aog. TKD focuses a lot more on kicks, operating on the philosophy that legs are longer than arms.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

My karate master might’ve thought the same about legs being longer. He said to kick as well.

[Twalli]

@HippieVeganJewslim legs are longer, but karate has more hand strikes. Also in tournaments, hand strikes to the face area aren't allowed in TKD, but are in karate.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

Yes. Punching to the philtrum and to the side of the head are allowed. They are in a few katas.

[VIVANT]

Hmm I’m mixed. I want to learn the leg work but I def want to focus on arms as well. My upper body was my strongest tool in gymnastics and I want the full advantage of being snow to rely on it for force. 🤔

Thanks guys!!

[HippieVeganJewslim]

@VIVANT yes. Using arms to jump high is necessary. Never forget Newton’s First Law.

[VIVANT]

@HippieVeganJewslim 👍🏼😊😊🙏🏼

[Karate_Guy]

I've done both, and I definitely prefer karate -- it is much more practical / self-defense oriented. Of course, as others have said, it largely depends on the specific style of karate and/or studio/instructor. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss. :-)

[HippieVeganJewslim]

I took karate when I was a kid. I stopped at yellow belt. I love that the philosophy is more than kicking and punching but also other things.

[VIVANT]

Yeah the reason I do not just start with MMA is bc I like the philosophy. I’m considering taking classes in a martial art then do MMA.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

In my classes, we did take some written tests about the history of Shotokan Karate-do. The master always talked about it. Also, we did mokuso (meditation) every day.

[VIVANT]

Very cool thank you 🙏🏼

[HippieVeganJewslim]

No problem!

[TonyMetal___86]

Taekwondo is a form of karate like judo, kung-fu, ikido... etc

Taekwondo is light but it's cool...

[VIVANT]

I did not realize they are simply umbrellas of karate that helps a lot!! I think starting with karate then specifying 😊😊

[TonyMetal___86]

True karate skyscrapper girl, i'll be daniel sun and mr miyagi will teach us how to play karate 🤣🤣

[VIVANT]

😂😂🙌🏼

[humanearth]

Nope, but I was taught boxing as when I was a kid at the YMCA

Back then Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard were the big boxing stars. Plus Rocky was just released in theaters

[pizzalovershouse]

I don't know if everybone could learn that kick

[VIVANT]

No. It I already have several years of gymnastics and can split so I have a chance 😊😊

[pizzalovershouse]

Oh ok that's good

[Anonymous]

That’s tae kwon do she was doing. Also known as “take your dough.”

[VIVANT]

Lol yeah I know it’s TKD

[Opinion Owner]

If I were you I’d study kiyokoshin karate over TKD.

[Wraith_Cemetery]

Started my martial arts journey with karate as a kid. Then eventually moved on to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, and MMA. Currently competing in BJJ, MMA, and Medieval European Martial Arts.

[Anonymous]

taekwondo is fun. I like the style of it more than other martial arts forms, except for maybe Judo because I'm just a huge fan of throwing people around using leverage and Judo is awesome at that. But the stylized kicks and punches from Taekwondo are pretty stinkin' great too. Of course, I can't do them, but it's fun to see others do. lol.

Karate would be fun for you too though. Your legs would be great at handling all the kicks and stuff. 😍

[Dinosaursandanime65]

Most people say they do but what they actually mean is “oh yeah, I can abuse the male anatomy. So skilled am I”. It’s like going to McDonald’s specifically for their ice cream but then end up not having any

[Sevenpointfive]

i did karate when i was younger. i loved it

[VIVANT]

Thanks 😊😊

[sean1234]

Taskwondow? I need to learn that so I can get more things done. 😂

[TonightYouu]

Im more of a weapons specialist

Ballistic knives and whatnot