Can you actually defend yourself with Taekwondo?
Taekwondo has earned a reputation for being a competitive sport, but the martial art was originally developed for self-defense. This martial art emphasizes kicks over all other techniques. Since your legs are usually longer than your arms, it is a great martial art to keep would-be attackers from getting close to you.
Without a doubt, Taekwondo is one of the most effective fighting disciplines in the world. It's always fascinating to… In modern MMA, fast kicks have become very important during the standup fight.
So the first way we're gonna go over is very simple all you're gonna do is just parry that front leg
Taekwondo aptly means 'the way of the foot and fist', to correspond with the blows and kicks that score points. The objective of each competitor is to score points by landing blows and kicks on their opponent's torso or head or to win by knockout.
Taekwondo is one of the few traditional fighting styles that has found its place in modern MMA fighting. Over the years, there have been many MMA fighters with a strong base in Taekwondo, and they usually do well. In fact, some of these fighters went on to become some of the best in history.
In a scientific test with National Geographic they compared the kicking power and speed of Muay Thai, Karate, Capoeira and Taekwondo. Taekwondo was found to have the fastest and most powerful kicking technique at 220km/hr and 1040kg force. Practitioners of all martial arts styles are welcome.
So saying that Karate is harder than Taekwondo is maybe true for some people. But the other side may find Taekwondo to be harder simply as karate suits them better. But one thing is for sure, becoming a black belt in both of these arts is very, very hard.
A hyeong is a systematic, prearranged sequence of martial techniques that is performed either with or without the use of a weapon. In dojangs (Taekwondo training gymnasiums) hyeong are used primarily as a form of interval training that is useful in developing mushin, proper kinetics and mental and physical fortitude.
They used Taekwondo combat tactics for hand to hand fighting in situations when soldiers did not have guns or were fighting in close quarters. One example of this was when the Viet Cong would hide in their bunkers or tunnels and the Korean Marines did not have the heavy weapons needed to destroy or expose the bunkers.
As you learn Taekwondo skills for self-defense, a safer, stronger, more confident you will emerge. As you train, you prepare yourself to deal with potentially threatening situations. But that preparation isn't just physical. Through self-defense training, you build confidence, value respect, and become more empowered.
What is self-defense Taekwondo?
Taekwondo competition provides an opportunity for students to display their understanding of Taekwondo self-defense applications and the ability to put together their own team choreography. Self-Defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself from harm.
How to defend against Kicks - Hapkido Kick Defense tutorial 1

Taekwondo has a few “common” injuries to expect. One is a broken nose, which usually results from a powerful kick to the face. When striking boards and tiles, students can fracture their carpal bones, which can be painful and difficult to recover from.
Punches to the body are allowed, but not to the head. A match consists of three two-minute rounds and will go into a "golden point" round if the score is tied at the end of three rounds. At that point, the first fighter to score — with any technique — wins. Here's a quick guide to taekwondo scoring.
First, the fighters must all wear a white competition uniform or a 'dobok. ' These resemble traditional karate uniforms additionally because practitioners of Taekwondo also wear colored belts. These belts represent the level of the fighter. The belt colors start from white (beginner) and end with black (expert).
Otherwise the korean terms we use to indicate the grades are : Boo Sabum - National Instructor (1st to 3rd dan) Sabum - International Instrucor (4th to 6th dan) Sahyun - Master (7th dan) Sanim Sahyun - Senior Master (8th dan) Sasung - Grand Master (9th dan)
If you're interested in learning more balanced, full-body moves, karate might be a better choice. For those interested in learning fast and more elaborate kicking moves, taekwondo is the better option. A good way to find out which martial arts style is best for you is to try taking beginner classes in both disciplines.
Boxing produces greater muscle and core strength and is also excellent for self-defense. And it is focused exclusively on punches. Taekwondo also builds strength, but being points-focused, is less effective for self-defense. It is focused heavily on kicking, although punches to the torso are allowed.
The Rear Neck Choke
The reverse neck choke, commonly known as the sleeper hold, is one of the most well known and dangerous attacks in all of martial arts.
As the longest, strongest limb, fighters realized that using legs in combat gave them an edge over other fighting styles that focus on punching. The devastating power of a Taekwondo kick can drop opponents in seconds, and that is the main reason why it is on our list of deadliest martial arts in the world.
What is the hardest Taekwondo kick?
From our research and from what the experts say, the Spinning Hook Kick is the hardest in Taekwondo.
Taekwondo involves a lot more than kicking. Punches and strikes are allowed and are an integral part of the sport. In fact, the name Taekwondo means the way of the foot and fist. But kicking is more prevalent because it earns more points than punches and strikes.
Conclusion. Taekwondo truly is a wonderful martial art to practice and a big reason for that is because it is a great form of exercise. This is a fighting sport that can make you better focused, teach you discipline and respect, make you stronger, more flexible, and more heart healthy too, plus a whole lot more.
Does Taekwondo use only feet? No. Taekwondo literally means “Foot and Hand Way”. While it uses more kicks than most other disciplines, hand techniques play a very significant role.
A Taekwondo student is called Hak Saeng or Jeja (depending on the Taekwondo system). Moreover, a senior student is often called Sonbaenim and a Taekwondo instructor (master) is a Sabomnim. What is a Taekwondo school called? The Korean word for Taekwondo school is Dojang.
How to Greet Someone in Taekwondo : Hapkido & Taekwondo Techniques
Best Taekwondo Fighting Weapons
Eskrima practitioners often wear hand and head protection or used padded sticks such is their ability to cause damage. This is a pointed, prong shaped metal weapon with two curved prongs and is generally used in pairs. There are various types of Sais used for trapping and blocking.
Muay Thai has a more diverse striking arsenal that includes kicks, punches, knees and elbows. The Thai art focus on landing impactful hits, quality over quantity. In terms of just the kicking technique, there is more speed and control in Taekwondo kicks but Muay Thai has more devastating power.
Gen. Choi Hong Hi, widely acknowledged as the founder of tae kwon do, a martial art that began in Korea and spread rapidly to community centers and storefronts around the United States, died on June 15 in Pyongyang, North Korea.
- Courtesy. Courtesy, or 여의 in Korean Hangul (pronounced ye-wee), refers to showing courtesy to all others in the dojang (training area or school) as well as people you may meet outside of formal Taekwondo training. ...
- Integrity. ...
- Perseverance. ...
- Self Control. ...
- Indomitable Spirit.
When should you defend yourself?
Is the Threat Imminent? As a general rule, self-defense only justifies the use of force when it is used in response to an immediate threat. The threat can be verbal, as long as it puts the intended victim in an immediate fear of physical harm.
The goal of this martial art is to give a sense of self-esteem, knowledge of self-defense, heightened mental and physical well being. These assets attribute to a common goal of harmony.
Taekwondo training provides a full-body workout where teens and adults improve endurance, strength, and flexibility. If you've been stuck on a fitness plateau or are finding your old exercise routine uninspired, martial arts classes may be just the thing to get you motivated and excited to workout.
Karate also tends to give equal time on foot and hand techniques, whereas Taekwondo focuses entirely on kicks. But when it comes to self-defense, Karate works more on-street self-defense with minimum preparation for tournaments, whereas Taekwondo focuses on tournaments more rather than self-defense.
In simple words, a black belt means you have mastered the fundamentals of Tae Kwon Do. You should be very proud of your accomplishment. Only a few ever manage to reach the level of black belt, and even fewer go on to become a “master” of Tae Kwon Do as an art. Children can achieve black belt status.
There are ten black belt levels in Taekwondo. They are: 1st-degree black belt. It takes a minimum of 3 years to achieve your first-degree black belt.
Front Kick Defense - YouTube
The fundamental kicking technique in Krav Maga Worldwide® self-defense is a front kick to the groin. Front kick to the groin is a rising kick that is thrown with the intent of going up the attacker or opponent's “A frame” and through the groin.
Best TARGET to Kick in Self Defence - YouTube
The most common type of injury is probably muscle strains or joint strains. Fractures are quite uncommon, but since Taekwondo is such an athletic art that requires jumping and kicking with full power and speed, it is quite common to strain your legs or ankles in combat or even in practice.
Is Taekwondo hard on the body?
Taekwondo is a highly physically demanding martial art. By this, we mean that you need immense physical power, flexibility, and stamina to be able to perform it at higher levels.
No. Taekwondo itself cannot make one taller. How tall we are is actually a function of genetics and diet. However, when we are below 18, some forms of strenuous exercises, like Taekwondo may help stimulate our growth hormones.
Taekwondo includes many techniques – such as blocking, dodging and footwork – for defending or evading the attacks permitted within the sport's rules. These techniques can be effective in defending yourself if you're caught in the chaos of a street fight, but they were not designed that way.
Taekwondo matches are contested over 3 x 2 minute rounds with a rest of 1 minute between rounds. Each fighter attempts to knockout their opponent or score points by landing blows on their opponent's torso or head. Kicks are allowed to both to the torso and head, whilst punches are only allowed to the body.
TAEKWONDO PUNCHING TUTORIAL - YouTube
At the centre of the competition area is an octagonal shaped contest area. The contest area measures 8m in diameter and each side of the octagon is 3.3m long.
The tenets of Taekwondo are often given in a list of five: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.
In Taekwondo, we call the martial arts shout a kihap 기합 (sometimes spelled kihup, kiai, or kyup). Shouting forces us to exhale. This strong exhale remove air from our diaphragms and brings more power and speed to attacks. Yelling also forces a subsequent inhale, which brings oxygen into our bodies.
Karate also tends to give equal time on foot and hand techniques, whereas Taekwondo focuses entirely on kicks. But when it comes to self-defense, Karate works more on-street self-defense with minimum preparation for tournaments, whereas Taekwondo focuses on tournaments more rather than self-defense.
Boxing produces greater muscle and core strength and is also excellent for self-defense. And it is focused exclusively on punches. Taekwondo also builds strength, but being points-focused, is less effective for self-defense. It is focused heavily on kicking, although punches to the torso are allowed.
Is Taekwondo harder than karate?
So saying that Karate is harder than Taekwondo is maybe true for some people. But the other side may find Taekwondo to be harder simply as karate suits them better. But one thing is for sure, becoming a black belt in both of these arts is very, very hard.
As with unarmed taekwondo, weapons training in taekwondo usually incorporates a combination of techniques training along with forms training (see below). Most of the weapons used in taekwondo are common to many styles of martial arts; they are not unique to taekwondo.
1. Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee is ranked first among the top 10 martial artists in the world in 2021. Lee Jun-fan (27 November 1940 - 20 July 1973) was a Chinese martial art performer, star, film maker, martial art teacher, and philosopher.
It can be seen that the study of Taekwondo is recommended for men, women and children. It may provide benefits in organization, vision, body development, and mental awareness. The goal of this martial art is to give a sense of self-esteem, knowledge of self-defense, heightened mental and physical well being.
Karate's many divisions have separate black belt requirements. The toughest may be Shodokan Karate, which requires around 75 memorized striking moves. It also calls for four different types of sparring sessions and a kata, a memorized sequence of techniques.
One hard low kick will incapacitate most people who have no experience in real martial arts, and you'll learn to throw kicks and punches efficiently both in Kickboxing and Taekwondo. But, if we compare which one between the two is better for self-defense, Kickboxing has a slight edge.
RANK | ↑↓ | NAME |
---|---|---|
1 | - | Jun JANG (KOR-5600) |
2 | - | Vito DELL'AQUILA (ITA-2116) |
3 | 1 | Mohamed Khalil JENDOUBI (TUN-1731) |
4 | 1 | Jack WOOLLEY (IRL-1542) |
On top of that, boxing classes are among the hardest where the emphasis is on hard sparring. In some way, sparring against the other students from time to time is the only way you can train your mind, reflexes, and reactions for real fighting. Taekwondo, on the other hand, also includes a lot of hard sparring.
Taekwondo involves a lot more than kicking. Punches and strikes are allowed and are an integral part of the sport. In fact, the name Taekwondo means the way of the foot and fist. But kicking is more prevalent because it earns more points than punches and strikes.
It probably comes as no surprise that the world's most effective and dangerous form of martial art is also the deadliest in the world. Krav Maga is a non-sport form of martial arts, which means it doesn't care for rules and opponents well being.
Does Taekwondo use only feet?
Does Taekwondo use only feet? No. Taekwondo literally means “Foot and Hand Way”. While it uses more kicks than most other disciplines, hand techniques play a very significant role.
Punches to the body are allowed in Taekwondo. But one cannot punch an opponent on the head or below the belt. Punches that are not in line with the rules would result in points being deducted from the Taekwondo practitioner who initiated them.
Most forms of Taekwondo do not use nunchaku, or any weapon in their fighting style, however, they can be implemented into the art and sometimes are used as a way to enhance martial arts demonstration and technique. Taekwondo is generally seen as a weaponless, empty-handed martial art.
Gun fu, a portmanteau of gun and kung fu (also known as gun kata, bullet ballet, and gymnastic gunplay), is a style of sophisticated close-quarters gunfight resembling a martial arts battle that combines firearms with hand-to-hand combat and traditional melee weapons in an approximately 50/50 ratio.