I understand that tae kwon do teaches great kicks but is it usefull .?

Question

I mean it is one of the most popular martial arts but can those kicks be properly integrated into a fight situation. Also is it better in Korea, could someone froma korean school defend themselves better than a U.S. student. any info would help.

Answer 1

Never take a knife to a gunfight...

Meaning, if you try to beat an attacker at his or her own game, you are more than likely to lose the confrontation. If everyone knew only one style of fighting, then very few disputes would be resolved decisively.

Answer this question: can Brazilian Ju-jitsu techniques be effectively integrated into a situation where the attacker is wielding a staff and knows how to use it very well? Would a stand-up boxing-style fighter be effective against a TKD practitioner who knew how and when to implement a swift front snap kick, or, if conditions allowed, a quick and powerful reverse turning kick? I don't think it really matters WHERE a student trains, but HOW he trains. there are some very skilled martial artists, one of whom I have met personally, who trained exclusively in the US, and I dare say he would be able to hold his own, if not decisively defeat, an attacker who decided to confront him, regardless of fighting style.

Now, I will agree with some comments here that the flashy, look pretty, made for show types of TKD techniques that seem to permeate the TKD world would be good for nothing other than to make you look good while you are getting beat like a drum, but proper application of TKD kicks CAN be very effective, particularly if you opponent doesn't realize you A) know the technique, and B) use it at the right time. Same for karate techniques, Muy Thai, BJJ, etc.

EDIT: Please allow me to change a word, since there appears to be a bit of scepticism with my above analogy. Change the word STAFF to BAT, PIPE, or possibly even CHAIN. Smart thing to do would be to avoid the first swing with the aforementioned weapon (avoidance is taught in TKD), execute a reverse leg sweep (also taught in TKD), and once yur attacker is on the ground, a swift, low level front snap kick to the groin, side, head, etc, a downward (axe) kick, or simply stomping on the area of choice of your attacker would negate the attack nicely.

you gotta dodge the weapon first, though. this is a crucial step.

the point I was making is this: A true student of martial arts, one who has studied and absorbed not only the techniques, but the PRINCIPLE behind the techniques, will ahve the ability to defend themselves in a "fight situation" (is that the same as saying a "weather event"??). Flashy showoffs who think their martial arts training renders them invincible get themselves hurt; students who study and apply the principles as taught will more often than not come out okay; I say more often than not because you never know, they might not be quick enough to dodge the weapon. Forget this step, and it doesn't matter HOW much you have studied.

Answer 2

Tae Kwon Doe can be usefull on the ground only for up-kicks assuming the grappler isn't already on top of you. An up-kick can end a fight pretty fast if the one on top is standing. Kicks to the legs from your back can also be usefull. However, a good grappler can avoid an attack like that and close the gap. Bottom line: Make your stand-up fight count. The ground is no place for a Tae Kwon Doe fighter.

Answer 3

I learned to kick from a tkd coach who turned mma......he refused to show me flashy stuff in class because he knew the difference between whats useful and whats not. Most don't ....fighting changes drastically when you open the rules the kicks are good but the mind set and style won't help. Most pro fighters only know a roundhouse to the legs, the rest can get you in trouble if you don't have experience.

Truly the techniques would work but the problem is most tkd fighter who are good don't have real fighting experience.

Yes the Koreans are better, generally but not all.

take your pick,

imagining a scenario fighting on ice, or fighting with a staff(when has that ever happened) is not an exuse to be a crappy fighter. Btw jiu jitsu teaches staff self defense, which is not useful anyways. But a BJJ blue belt would still maime a person with a staff....trained or not.

A tkd or traditional martial artist would disagree, but a mma fighter would just laugh

Answer 4

IMO not very well.

MOST kicks unless they are trained at mid level or lower are slow and a waist of energy and can easily be caught in midair, cause your balance to be off and lose power as well the higher you go with it.

SO TKD only seems popular here in the USA because they have more McDojo's than most do sorry to say.

Do not get me wrong, there are some VERY GOOD TKD schools but in the USA they are very hard to find!!

Kicking is fine but it should be left for waist level and down. A nice sharp snap kick to the knee or shin is more effective than a jab to the nose!!

So look for a good teacher, and school not so much the art or style!

Answer 5

Of course TaeKwon-Do is useful. At its core, the principal techniques are simple, powerful. easily learned and understood, easily implemented, and difficult to defend against. The concept is minimum effort for maximum effect within a hard style response.

True, the art has a multitude of technqiues which vary from straightforward and simple, to complex and difficult. Unfortunately too many people see only a limited and restricted view of TaeKwon-Do and go on to form an opiniion that TKD is simply flash and sport with no basis in reality. Nothing could be further from the truth - though there are many schools that do focus entirely on the sport side of things.

The art is not necessarily taught "better" in Korea, as such determinations are subjective and will depend on what you seek to fulfill your "better" judgement. There are many quality and experienced instructors all over the world, teaching the variety of styles of TaeKwon-Do (ITF, WTF, ATA, etc.). It is in the instructor that you will find the quality of the art, and it is in the student that you will see the quality and effectiveness of the art.

Any truly experienced martial artists who has been exposed to multiple arts in a deep and meaningful way will understand that an expereinced TaeKwon-Do practitioner will use simple, stright line, powerful techniques in an initial physical defense engagement. No-one with ANY sense would immeidately launch into a jump spinning wheel kick against an aggressor who was not already debilitated or concussed.


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

Answer 6

Kicking sport karate schools brain-wash training will in time teach you to kick 80% of the time. When attacked on a icey parking lot between two can what is your first line move ?, a kick and you'll soon be on your back-side looking up at your attacker.

One simple example and that is why I've been a Kenpoist for over 10 years now.

Answer 7

Not very. The only use those kicks have are when there aimed low, at the legs. Its good for your confidence I've no doubt about that.
Here's a view you don't often see on here. Your more likely to get into a fight after a few beers, right? Do you realistically think someone could pull of those kicks when they are drunk?
As much as I love the art its best kept in the ring.

Answer 8

it's mostly flashy kicks, but it's not to say that TKD does not have its own merits.

while TKD is a sport, i view it as an excellent 'base' style for the starting martial artist, before moving on to other styles later on (boxing, muay thai, jujitsu, etc). for one thing, kicks are a challenge to master for the novice. if one gains a proficiency in them, it is an invaluable skill in a fight. secondly, TKD teaches agility and speed, as well as enabling the practitioner to integrate kicks into his skill repertoire and be very comfortable in using them against an opponent. and lastly, it trains the student in defending against a kicker, which may intimidate or catch the average assailant off guard (not considering ones who train extensively in martial arts).

i think korean practitioners have an edge, primarily because of the integration of TKD into everyday life. it's their national sport, training in TKD is compulsory, and there's the psychological pressure of the person being Korean ('I'm Korean, therefore I simply have to be good in TKD').

now, if a US student began his training at the same age as Korean students do, with the same frequency and fervor, and equally gung-ho instructors, then there will be few variables and factors to decide who has the edge over the other.

Answer 9

Of course the kicks can be used in a fight. It really depends on the situation and what the attacker is doing and whether he has any weapons. Normally the foot is slower than the hand so if you're in a fight and you want to take it under control fast, you would use hand techniques. But really, the best thing is to not get in a fight or put yourself in a situation where you have to fight. It just isn't worth it.

Answer 10

absolutly if it is taught properly.... is it great against matching up against other trained fighters... maybe not... if a TKD practionor can stick with the basic techniques... he is a dangerous fighter.. TKD teaches hard hard strikes... and hard hard blocks.... against a boxer.. quite frankly these blocks dont work... the problem is most schools want to teach a 540 cresent kick to a student who can not even perform a front kick or side kick properly ... like teaching someone to count, then moving straight to algebra... makes no sence... but it makes dollars (sorry for the pun) if a TKD guy did nothing but practice the front kick, side kick round house and reverse kick.... and all the blocks and counters to these kicks, and left out the jumping spinning "take a picture of me now" type techniques.. TKD (mixed with some boxing) is a pretty damn good combination for stand up fighting....