2 Tae Kwon Do questions, please help!?

Question

1 - I'm 15 years old, and I think that I'm gonna take up Tae Kwon Do. However, I'd feel more comfortable taking it in a group setting where I'm with people my age. Do most schools offer beginner TKD classes for ages 15 -18 years old? I'd feel weird starting TKD with a bunch of 8-12 year olds, and I think it'd feel better starting with other beginners my age.

2 - Is it true that Tae Kwon Do isn't very effective in real fights? I've read from lots of people's answers that TKD is not very effective in real life fights, so if I want to learn to defend myself, why take TKD?

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

TKD focuses a lot on high kicks and forms , also their sparring is very limited since you can only kick and thats it , thats how you make points , so pretty much is not very street effective unless you cross train in something else like boxing , muay thai or jujitsu.  Some tkd schools however offer their students some self defense classes mixed with the tkd , so if you really want to join tkd but also want to defend yourself well , then check first if they offer a self defense curriculum in conjunction with the tkd classes. If they dont , then you should consider joining something else and if what you really want is just to do cool moves and acrobatics , then go see a kung fu class , there you will get the acrobatics and also some decent self defense training.

Answer 2

Yes, TKD is almost useless in real fights, its more of a very athletic sport for young people. I have always thought of TKD as a better martial art for someone who is already very experienced in another more self-defense centered style so they can use and apply the TKD with their knowledge. BUT TKD is also very beautiful, a great way to have fun and get in great shape, and something to teach you a lot in life and build character. If you are going to start TKD do whatever you can to learn the most realistic reality fighting skills. God bless!

OH I FORGOT TO ADD: My sensei's daughter (He is a 4th degree, his daughter is a 2nd degree) is amazing at TKD. She could totally defend herself if she needed to-and has, because she is also a blackbelt in shorin ryu karate and is very good at both. BASICALLY- the really good TKD people are really good street fighters, if your'e not going to get to be really really good (and really really quick) find a different style that will teach you to use your arms more.

Answer 3

When I was your age, I had to fight with the adults.  Sorry.  The younger group is probably for ages 12 and younger.

TKD is probably the least effective MA, next to Karate and then Judo.  They are mostly tournament sports and have little to no use in a street fight.  Of course the definition of streetfight could be different depending on where you are from.  If you live in a small town or the suburbs, the definition is probably profoundly different than a person who lives in South Central LA or Southside Chicago.

Regardless, if the person fighting you sucks as fighter maybe TKD and Karate could be somewhat effective.

If they are an okay fighter, then Judo would probably be effective.

But if you are fighting a guy who is a well known badass in your neighborhood, who has taken down cops and has beaten up two or three guys at a time.  None of the above would help you at all, and he would probably make an example out of you.

I would learn styles that have been proven effective in the streets and in MMA:  Thai Boxing, Boxing or BJJ.

Those are the real deal and they work you like a mule and may even bring you to tears with their work outs.

In the end, you find it relatively easy to subdue almost any attacker.

I say almost because theoretically some MA say you can defeat a larger opponent.  But I have only seen this in BJJ under Royce Gracie's fights.

Answer 4

yes, you can find classes with people your age, however tae kwon do is seriously USELESS in a fight. i've taken it, and wing chun, judo, and a little muy thai, which i think is very effective. i hear that aikido is aimed at women's self defense and teaches awesome technique. i have yet to see for myself.

Answer 5

1) You should be in an adult class.  Shop around until you find a club or school that seperates children from adults.  

2) It is not true that TKD is ineffective in real fights.  What some people may have tried to do is use moves that they know they have not grasped.  While few people can do a tornado kick  or high kicks, whether in or outside of class, most people can throw basic punches and kicks.   If you want to use TKD, use the moves that are simple and powerful.   TKD also has throws in it at the higher levels, but few people know them because few people learn them.  To learn them, you can take Judo while taking TKD.    The stuff you learn in your "one-step sparring"----the things that are simple, you can use in real fights.

Answer 6

Although TKD is not the best for street fights, it definitely gets you in shape, and if you get to black belt or 2nd degree, or higher, you'll definitely be able to kick people's butts. My sensei could whip anyone who attacked her. She's done it. Also, Kyuki-do would be good, since they teach TKD, karate, judo, and hap-kido all at once.