taekwondo or karate,which one is better for a teenage gal?Is it too late for a 16 to learn either of them?

Answer 1

It is never too late to begin learning a martial art. I've seen people as young as 3 and as old as mid-60's start training. The late teens and early 20's are the "prime time" physically, so it is actually a very good time to get started.

As to which art is best... you'll get many different answers depending on who you ask. They are both fantastic for many reasons and both have drawbacks as well (keep in mind there are many other options too). Not to mention that they can seem quite similar to the uninitiated. So, I'd recommend some other questions instead. Focus more on how to find the best martial arts' school, rather than trying to pin down which art is better. All schools are NOT created equal. Martial arts are not regulated, so you'll find dramatic differences from one place to the other. Which is part of the reason you'll get such varied answers. Don't get caught up in letting someone tell you one art is better than another! Some people say taekwondo is more competition/fight oriented, others will say karate is. Some people say there's more to learn from karate, some say taekwondo. Some say taekwondo is more fun, some say karate. When in fact, it's the specific school that make the difference. Even when it comes down to the aspects of training, such as if there's going to be more kicking, punching, fighting, self-defense, etc. Each school will vary, even within the same art. (It's true that girls sometimes gravitate more toward a preference for kicking, but this is also about personal experience and individual schools.)

So I suggest you think about these other things: What reasons are you (or the girl, if it's not you) seeking training? (Self-defense, fitness, fun, confidence, competition, etc.) This will help you narrow things down. Then look into things like: what is the main focus of the school? how qualified are the instructors? are there other teenage students? how much can you afford to spend for lessons? do you want a traditional (uniforms, history, customs) or contemporary (normal workout clothes, less use of foriegn language and customs) atmosphere? Call around, ask for references, watch a class and talk to the other students. Make sure that the school you choose will meet your wants and needs.

Good luck!

Answer 2

There is no "better" discipline to study than another (the only thing that makes a difference is how dedicated the INDIVIDUAL is when studying it and how well they train to perfect their techniques), whichever Martial Arts discipline you think will best suit you is the one you should go for whether it's Tae Kwon Do or any one of the different disciplines of Karate.

What really matters is finding a good teacher that is going to help you perfect the techniques you'll learn in the class, and that you're comfortable with the instructor and his or her teaching method.

you don't wanna end up in some Mcdojo's type of school that you wind up paying hundreds of dollars in the long run with a contract that's locked you in for 6 months or more and you can't get out of and binds you to the payments until the time is up whether you're still going to the class or not.

as for age, right now is the time when you wanna start thinking about what college you wanna attend within the next two years, so I would say that it would've been better for you to have started earlier in life to study Martial Arts. (but I'm not saying that you can't study Martial Arts right now, just offering my opinion on your priorities)

But yeah you can start studying ANY Martial Art now; because it's never too late to start studying Martial Arts, but it's just going to be tougher to do so by juggling that and your school work in high school.

good luck, and good training.

Answer 3

2nd question 1st. I started Tae Kwon Do at age 44. Next question.

It isn't the art, it's the artist. The most important thing is to find a good instructor.

The major technical difference between TKD & Karate is that we use our feet more than karate ka do. Some women prefer that because, in general, women have better lower body strength while men have better upper body strength. However both can do both. It's up to you.

Answer 4

I started when i was 42, I'm now over halfway to my black belt, down hill from here (I WISH). Both are good, go to the school and watch, find one that you feel comfortable with. Some schools are very strict, some are a little less strict. Find a good fit for you. My school isn't super strict. My master make SURE that everything is under control, but we still have a lot of fun. The little kids love tossing me around, OK so I go down pretty easy for them, I'm 6'1" and 239lb but they still think it great to take me down:)

As far as girls go, my sparing partner is 28 year old girl, we have an 2 - 14 year old girls, and in my son's class they have a 6 year old girl, Girls in general don't do Martial Arts, it's a shame, but true so expect to see more boys then girls. Stick it out and you'll have a great time.

Answer 5

For a 16 year old girl, I'd recommend something like Kung Fu or Aikido over either Tae Kwon Do or Karate. Both Tae Kwon Do and Karate will tend to meet force with force. Sorry to say, that doens't work so well for girls. I'm not being sexist, it's just a matter of how the bones are built and muscles grow different in men and women. But in Kung Fu, you learn how to absorb the energy from your opponent and return it back to him/her, more so in Aikido.

Answer 6

I say Taekwondo and you are not to old. Just make sure it is Taekwondo. Most of these people in here that say they use there feet more in There taekwondo classes are not taking Taekwondo they are taking Tae Do which is taekwondo without the fist. But seriously find something that suits you and what you like

Answer 7

Both are great. Which you choose should depend on your goals and reasons for taking them. Tae Kwon Do is an excellent martial art with emphasis on defense of multiple attackers. Karate, in general, is focused on a single attacker. These are excellent for developing speed, conditioning, balance and self-confidence. 16 years old is not too old to learn. People of every age can learn and enjoy the martial arts.

Answer 8

if your 16 you need to take an intrest in everything it pays off big later so do it but don't limit yourself either i don't much about karate but tkd real tkd is pretty bad *** when you get up above 1st degree black belt like 3rd i would not ever mess with you weapon or not i lived in south korea the home of tkd the main difference is karate uses weapons tkd does not.
go to a multitalent school that teaches all different types aslso check the level that each one teaches to and pratice all you can
have fun good luck

Answer 9

Tae kwon do, wins hands down every time, and is especially good for a teenager....i used to do Tae kwon do some years ago, and it is one of the most effective martial arts fighting styles out there that is really useful.

Answer 10

16 is a very good age to start(its a good age period)my sugestion would be freestyle karate and muaythai(not kickboxing)but in saying that your only young you got plenty of time try before you buy have a go at a few before you decide.oh to be 16 again.