What is the difference between Taekwondo and Karate. Are they both Korean martial arts?

Answer 1

Karate is Japanese and means Empty Hand.
Taekwondo is Korean and means Foot Fist Way.

You'll see more practical techniques taught in Karate than in Taekwondo. Taekwondo is more 'showy' with stylish kicking techniques. You'll usually see a lot of board breaking and stuff like that in a TKD demonstration although breaking techniques are taught in both styles. There are quite a few styles of Karate and also a couple of different styles of Taekwondo, although you mostly see the style seen in the Olympics i.e no hand techniques. Also, weapons are commonly taught in Karate but not in Taekwondo.

Answer 2

Karate is a Japenese martial art that uses hands as well as feet and holds. It teaches quite a rigid stance from what I have been told.

Taekwondo is Korean, and although it uses techniques taught from older martial arts of Korea (Tae Kyon) the modern sport was developed by a man name General Choi Hong Hi. General Choi spent much time in Japan learning karate and also Korea was under Japanese occupation during and following the war, hence many things are similar such as gradings, belt colour progression and other such traditions.

Taekwondo is a kicking martial art, although the ITF style also teaches the importance of the hands and teaches punches similar to kickboxing. We are taught holds despite what some people perceive, but this is purely for self defence purposes and are not allowed in tournaments. The philosophy behind Taekwondo is the leg and foot are the most powerful weapons the body has and also means that you stay the furthest away from your target and danger. Aside form this both styles can be considered quite similar. One thing to note is that Taekwondo teaches a more fluid motion in fighting. Karate tries to focus power but can make students quite rigid in their stances and punches. Taekwondo students are tuaght to relax more, while their stance is important in line work when it comes to sparring they should move around more and stay relaxed, making them more unpredictable.

Answer 3

Karate is Okinawan originally ( it is a mix of Kung Fu from China and Ti from Okinawa), the Japanese claimed it as their own upon seeing it . Karate developed in a country that was not allowed to have weapons so they were forced to study martial arts in secret.Pretty much everything I have researched points to TKD being developed from observations of Karate when Japan occupied Korea. This is why TKD has forms similar to Karate. Karate is much older than the more modern sport style known as TKD.

Answer 4

According to the Karate Kid movie Karate actually comes from China (under a different name) but the Japanese culture adopted it and over time has become karate as we know it. Taekwondo i really don't know that much about but wikipedia is a big help here

Answer 5

Karate is not Korean Martial Arts.

Answer 6

Tae Kwon Do is Korean, Karate is Japanese. Karate has many different forms and is a general term. Karate is more disciplined from the accounts I have heard from from people who have done both.

Answer 7

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial art, it focuses on foot work(kicking); Karate is of Japanese origin, and it is a form of martial art that's based on the strength of arms and hands.

Answer 8

Tae Kwon Do is Korean.
Karate is Japanese.

Both employ strikes. TKD uses more foot techniques, Kararte about 1/2 & 1/2.

Tae Kwon Do is a highly disciplined Martial Art, at least if it is taught properly. Same for Karate.

Answer 9

Taewando is a korean martial art...

Karate is from Japan and Okinawa

Answer 10

Besides the other answers Tae Kwon Do is more circular and Karate is more linear. Karate (shotokan specifically) has very few spinning techniques, and very straight forward kicks, everything is well grounded and connected. Shotokan goes for the one blow disabling techniques, from what I can tell TKD has a few of those but not as many. Also, I’ll probably get flamed, but TKD shares some of it’s basic forms with Shotokan.