Taekwondo Worries!?

Question

Well, I have been doing Taekwondo for aobut 5 years and am about to test for third degree black belt. I really dont do it as much for the fighting but really just to get good workouts and t ostay in shape. I'm just not sure if it realyl would help me in a real fight because we dont spar or stuff liek that full contact. Btw im really good at it but im just npot sure if it is really all it is cracked up to be...

Answer 1

I'm gonna promise myself that I'm not gonna diss TKD....this time. Anyways, i think you're in the right frame of mind at the moment. you're progressed really far in TKD and now you're starting to wonder if there's more out there. I'm not saying that it's not all it's cracked up to be, but TKD doesn't offer everything that you need to know about martial arts. however, some schools, not just TKD schools, would have you believe that their style is all you need to know. anyways, you still have time to learn. There are many other martial arts out there that could offer you different things. You can always learn more. I would suggest leaving TKD for a while and train in some different arts that might actually help you more if you ever got into a real fight. You might actually find a TKD school that does more of a full contact sparring. I personally would look for a different martial art to train in. If you just got your 3rd degree and you questioning your knowledge, skills and the effectiveness of them, then it might be time to learn something else. if you don't then you're just gonna plateau and not get any better.

Answer 2

I echo Beatchanter and the rest of the posters above. I began my martial arts training in a tkd school. It's a great art to build a foundation on. But when you progress so far you start to question the curriculum.

Realize this, if you're in it to advance as far as you can in rank, stick with tkd. They'll even help you open a dojang, if that's what you want to do. I was never in it to reap financial rewards. If I were I'd be like a fifth or sixth degree in the ATA running a chain of schools these days.

I realized that tkd wasn't what I was seeking in the martial arts a long time ago. Here's my sincere advice... stick with your taekwondo training but branch out and learn other arts as well. Start at white belt in an Okinawan or Japanese style as soon as possible. With a third degree in taekwondo you should be thinking about opening your own school. You can always incorporate whatever you want into your school's material. Have the best of both worlds. There's nothing wrong with being financially successful on the coattails of a large taekwondo federation.

Answer 3

Hehehe...

1) First off, you are not a legitimate 3rd Dan in ANY art with only five years of training, unless you're a prodigy (which you're not because you can't even spar/fight) and you're last name is Kimura- and he took six. (RIP Kimura, the Greatest Judoka of All Time).

2) You're are, however, right to be worried. TKD in America is a joke. 60%-70% kicking. No kick has ever been effective against me or in any REAL fight I've seen. An unless you're a Thai Boxer, it probably never will be. Learning TKD is like trying to learn to fight with Aikido or ballet or gymnastics- although the gymnasts could probably clean house at your 'dojang'.

3) Learn to fight using a real art (one that doesn't encourage pointfighting- this ain't football, afterall).

Answer 4

You are not going to like this answer. Tae Kwon Do, for the most part is absolutely ineffective in a combat scenario. Historically, Korean systems were very deadly fighting arts until the Korean Government bastardized them in the 1960s, thus turning all their fighting arts into sport-oriented arts under the blanket name of Tae Kwon Do. Also, think about it, you're a 3rd degree after 5 years? That's crazy! What you should do is take the little knowledge you have and find a good, combative karate school.

Answer 5

Many people who've been in my Isshinryu karate classes began in TKD. I'm not sure it's the TKD, or just 90% of the dojang, but many mature into a different style. At least it's not like starting 100% over again. You're already in shape, can kick, know what a chamber is, etc... Now, time to learn some martial arts.

Answer 6

This is something that sometimes plagues people in other styles also, not just people in TKD. Why not look at training in Maui Tai or kick boxing afte this next testing. You will still get good workouts and learn other aspects as well as develop a better understanding of what works and why or when it works best. Not only that but you will also learn how to better fight in closer when a person is inside your kicks and make you a more complete martial artist.

Answer 7

Let me put it this way, all of the guys in tournaments want to fight the Taekwondo guys, because they know they can take them apart. Also in every Martial Art it takes twenty or more years to get to black belt, not five. Taekwondo is a sport not a Martial Art. Try Aikido, it's really good for learning defensive techniques.

Answer 8

You are wise to be asking yourself this question Brady. In my opinion you and your gut are RIGHT. TKD's effectiveness in real life is not a colorful one.
Look at it's history, look at reality in competition. TKD is a SPORT when it comes down to it. Kuk Sool Won is the true "martial art" of Korea. That's not to say that TKD doesn't have some highly effective moves, but in the end it's not a truly rounded martial art.
I have seen blue belts in many other arts CREAM TKD blackbelts. That's not a unilateral statement because there are many AWESOME TKD blackbelts, but unfortunately I think that TKD is the most misrepresented art in the USA. There are far too many schools "selling' blackbelts and if you just put your time in you'll get yours too.
Anyway, I could go on for hours so I won't, but ask yourself what you want???
Are you wanting a truly effective art? True self defense?
Look elsewhere and look at arts that train in reality. ANY school that uses "point sparring" is doing you a disservice if you want reality. Bar fights don't stop for points and "muggers" don't stop attacking your, your spouse and kids to raise a flag for which color gets a point.

Answer 9

every one here is correct in their own opinion. but Tae Kwon Do is just like any other art out there. no single art is fully rounded. you have to cross train (MMA) to achieve a well balanced self defense.

now for the other part not all TKD. is point sparring! the foot work, balance, speed/timing, accuracy that you get from sport TKD is some of the best that you will find in any art. plus you can only get out what you put into any art. whether you study Karate, judo, aikido, hapkido, bjj, kung fu, or what ever other arts there are for you to take.

Answer 10

I suggest keep it up but maybe look at cross training

if you stay with tae kwon do i suggest take some hap ki do, ju jitsu, judo or anything like that

you could always switch and start kickboxing, muay thai, savate, boxing, san shou