Tae Kwon Do's effectiveness on 'street application'?

Question

From my point of view, TKD is a very effective martial arts, legs have more power and cover more distance than fists so TKD kicks can cripple an opponent easily. However there are some critics about TKD that doubts about its street effectiveness, I never use my TKD skills in real life, so i don't know about it. Do you think TKD is effective in a street fight, especially for those who has applied TKD in a real street fight? In street fight, i mean that you are fighting someone who doesn't have any MA experience (common brawler) although he looks tough.

Answer 1

TaeKwon-Do as a defensive art is extremely effective, and when taught appropriately and utilized by a proficient practitioner, it will serve very well whether facing a novice fighter or an experienced martial artists.

Unfortunately many on these posts like to knock other arts in which they may have very limited experience or in depth knowledge. That is the nature of asking for opinion on such an open forum.

TaeKwon-Do has its limitations and its flaws, just as every system of defense out there has, and just as every individual fighter has. There is no perfect system. What each individual must seek out is a single art or combination of arts that sepak to them, that they understand and enjoy playing with, and that they are excited about putting in the long hours of training and practice required to make them effective.

I personally like traditional TaeKwon-Do as it employs many of the self-defense principals I believe in and agree with. It focuses on minimum use of energy for maximum effect, concentration of force for maximum impact, limitation of power to the most effective ranges, and a malleable use of distance and technique to utilize the defensive ranges and strenghts of the human body in the most effective and logically sequential way possible.

There are many flaws in the WTF Olympic model of TaeKwon-Do that may inexperienced and poorly trained instructors adopt in its entirety as a comprehensive art. It is not, and anyone in a school that focuses only on Olympic model sparring is unfortunately being short-changed significantly on the whole diversity and range of what true TaeKwon-Do offers.

TaeKwon-do does initially focus on the use of the legs for distance defense and keeping opponents at a safer range. Certainly for the untrained, inexperienced, and ineffective, utilizing such kicking, checking, striking, blocking, and pushing techniques can be fraught with danger. For the experienced and well trained and prepared artist however, these tecniques are executed in the sure and certain knowledge that the opponent will try to grasp them, deflect them, or overbalance the defender; thus all such techniques are executed with a speed, to targets, and with distracting simultaneous movements that will make it difficult for all but the most experienced opponent to achieve their aims.

Contrary to very popular (and entirely wrong) opinion, TaeKwon-Do is not an art of primarily kicking techniques. It is a fully developed, fully matured, comprehensive defensive system which has as many hand, elbow, shoulder, and knee striking techniques as any other hard system I have seen, worked with, or experienced. We also teach falling, rolling, tripping, sweeping, and throwing. Again however, if you look toward the restrictive view of TaeKwon-Do from the WTF Olympic view, then it would be easy to believe we only know how to punch with our fore fist. I can assure you, all of my students, and many other students of TaeKwon-Do I have met know a great deal more than that.

The real crux of your question however does not really come down to the discipline, it comes down to the person using it and their ability to effectively employ whatever techniques from whatever art they have studied. Trainiing is designed to help you overcome some natural human tendencies that are not particulalry conducive to mounting an effective defense. If you train well, have a qualified and experienced instructor, and are mentally prepared should the worst case scenario ever occur, you will have done all you can to provide yoruself with the best opportunity possible.

In such a situation myself, my first line of defense would be my mind to try to talk my way out. My first life of physical defense would be TaeKwon-Do to keep them at a slightly longer distance and if they managed to get inside that range it would be a combination of TaeKwon-Do and HapMoosaKi-Do to strike, debilitate, and control simultaneously.

Interestingly we just held a Freestyle games event on Sat Sep 22 and had TaeKwon-Do, HapMoosaKi-Do, Kickboxing, and Karate practitioners all sparring with each other in a freestyle continuous sparring model. At the black belt level when everyone expects everyone else to be competent and knowledgeable, distance was the key until the odd opening occurred. In junior divisions, the lack of experience and effectiveness often results in messy confrontations with TaeKwon-Do practitioners forgetting to protect their head, HapMoosaKi-Do people wanting to close to quickly against competent kickers, and kickboxers forgetting that TaeKwon-Do people are used to seeing telegraphed kicks and moving away from the while counter-kicking or striking.

Ken C
9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do
8th Dan TaeKwon-Do
7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 2

I've done both and I can honestly say it's going to greatly depend on the quality of instruction. They both have their pros and cons. With TKD it's a high risk, high reward style sometimes. Yes Those fancy high kicks of TKD can definitly work in a fight and will be a one hitter quitter, but you better hope you don't miss. TKD also tends to encourage full contact competition which is priceless for becoming an effective fighter. You will be much better off if you're used to getting hit. Now with karate, they usually have much more training with their hands for strikes and focus on blocking more. They use effective and low risk kicks. The downside is that I have often found it to be too defensive in nature and you need to be aggressive or have great technical ability. I am being very general and I know this doesn't apply to all forms of karate or taekwondo but it is the vast majority from my experience. You can go to a good karate school but if you're not used to getting hit and do no contact or light contact sparring, a lot of that is going to go out the window when you get in a real fight. In a perfect world find a place that is balanced. There are both TKD and karate schools that focus more on self defense.

Answer 3

TKD is a valid art, however, because it emphasizes kicks so much I'd have to say it is less effective as something such as Karate or a Kung Fu style.

Every time you kick, you shrink your balance base and you take a risk of not only getting knocked over but also of your leg getting caught. Once they have a hold of your leg, if they have any experience at all in a fight, you're in big trouble as they can pretty much control you.

So, yes. It's got good power behind it because of the strength in our legs...but I wouldn't advise it unless you really knew what you were doing -- and even then you may want to opt against it because of the balance risk.

Concerning the answerer above me: actually, most untrained fights go to the ground because people don't actually know how to fight. If you get two trained combatants together...chances are that the point the fight goes to the ground is when one of them falls and it's over. This typically holds true even if only one of the combatants is trained and the other isn't.

I don't know how many real fights you've seen, but those that involve trained fighters typically end up as standup game unless the person played a lot of football or they study bjj and, on top of that, it ends quickly.

This, of course, excludes ring matches as those are geared towards the grappler.

Answer 4

Like any other traditional art it is limited!
Have you ever seen anyone fighting in the street using traditional stances, blocks, punches?
I haven't!
What arts teach you is a good eye, instinct, reaction, and perhaps an intuitive response.
Kicks are powerful weapons, but keep them low.
You might be surprised how easily a roundhouse can be caught, and how hard it is to actually hit a head with a kick.
Remember, we talk no rules and no holds barred.
Most confrontations "in the street" end up on the ground, now what with all the fancy kicks (over 10yrs of TKD myself).

But on the other hand, any skill in whatever style is better than no skill.

Should you have a run-in with an experienced street brawler your chances are virtually nil though.

After all I suggest to stay out of trouble (sometimes you just end up in the wrong place at the wrong time), avoid corny areas, the best victory is still the one you win without fighting.

Answer 5

Be aware of the different ranges... street fights can take different ranges, punching, elbow/close, cinch/grapple, ground, etc. If you are working only one range you have a weakness. Typically when I sparred against someone in TKD I would circle in, close the distance, and beat 'em down, then on the ground I win or if I was not allowed on the ground (happened a lot) then I would negate the kicking zone by being close. To be able to use it (and I've experienced some folks who did it well), you need to practice full speed, with contact with different ranges allowed.
Best of luck.

Answer 6

Fighting is entirely about speed and reaction. If the street fighter has excellent reaction and speed then all the high kicks of TKD will be useless. You will just have your leg thrown aside before it can gain momentum and be knocked over for even trying it.

If this thug is slow and dimwitted, then chances are you probably didnt even need to kick him but a kick could end the fight faster.

Like has already been said, any martial arts training will give you an advantage over none, but it isnt going to win any fights guaranteed, that is all about speed and coordination.

Answer 7

Against a "common brawler" as you put it... I defended my-self with a side block and a punch to the chin (the first one-step sparring technique as a white belt... Yes some training in Any MA will give you the advantage 99% of the time... The conditioning in TKD is great (flexibility) and ppl on here hate on it so much with little to no understanding of it what soever... But, for practicle purposes, if you want to test it... join a boxing gym, or a Muay Thai school... hit and get hit.. its great fun too (it is very true that if someone trained in something else gets inside your powerful kicking range you will lose... I am a TKD guy and I found that out in MT, but if the MT guy cant get in.. its a really bad thing for him... Now I am "taking my licks" and tryin to learn In close stand up (but when it hurts too bad.. I cant help to fall back on what I am more comfortable with) But dont listen to these ppl popping of non-sence that TKD is useless, they have no understanding, and have never sparred with a TKD practicionor with "Traditional" teaching

Answer 8

It is better to know how to puch and kick properly than not at all. TKD is a very effective striking art. However, pulling off a roundhouse kick on wet or icy footing is probably not going to happen (as we have here in Ohio 7 our of 12 months). In fact, you will most likely fall.

I am assuming that the encounter is in self-defense, in which case it becomes difficult to not cross the line on appropriate force with striking. In my book, "street effective" means not getting killed, and also not going to jail or getting sued.

For law enforcement, TKD is one art that is not recommended. Try a big 'ole kick with a utility belt and a firearm on your waist. If you do pull it off, then try explaining to the jury why you kicked him in the head.

Answer 9

Its not TKD that is inefective its the training, you train purely for sport, that would be alright if the sport was a tough one but its not, and in the training alot of the time people will sacrifice power of kicks for speed

I doubt the majority of TKD fighters will have kicks stronger than Muay Thai fighters, even though kicking is aparently TKD's thing

and the fact that they dont use hands and have a horrible habit of keeping hands down doesnt help it at all

guess what Im saying is that ANYTHING is efective against someone who doesnt know what they are doing, but as soon as someone knows a little boxing or grapling, theres not much you can do

Real fights never look good, they are messy, i cant see TKD working against anyone who knows even a little of what they are doing in a fight

Answer 10

most people who criticize taekwondo criticize the olympic sport its nothing but people hopping around with their hands low kicking to each other's heads, and is based off of points and points are awarded for "flashier" moves
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sT1mJnHdCqs

now if you are learning real "traditional" taekwondo and in a real fight you dont try to tornado kick someone in the head then yea it could be effective.

as for kicking in self defense you got some points: legs are stronger and its a longer distance weapon but dont think you should be throwing a lot of kicks in a street fight especially high kicks.

most people would argue in a street fight not to kick above the attacker's waist unless you see a GREAT opening just because higher kicks especially to the head are easily telegraphed.

no matter how great you are at kicking, when you kick you are at least slightly weakening your base simply because you are on one leg, which can make you more susceptible to a takedown. kicks are slower than punches so it makes it easier to see coming. also it takes more time to recover from a missed kick than a missed punch so that leaves you open for more counter strikes.

another good point you make is in the streets for self defense you're most likely gonna encounter someone who doesnt have any martial arts training. i'd agree theres more people in the world who dont do martial arts than do. however what if you do encounter another person who does know something? by you underestimating them off the bat that gives them an advantage. one of my friends is a golden gloves boxer trying to go pro most people assume by looks that he doesnt know how to fight but is a GREAT fighter by the time they realize how good of a fighter he is its too late. one guy at my gym told me if defending myself think that the person knows just as much as you because truth is you dont know how much they know and this way you won't be surprise by what they can do. its better to be overprepared then underprepapared when it comes to your safety

i havent had to defend myself on the streets yet(im thankful for that too) but IF i were to kick i'd probably only use a roundhouse and i'd be looking to crack some ribs or cripple some legs.

Answer 11

I took Tae Kwon Do, and I think is will be good in a street fight.