Could someone explain to me the difference between "Aikido", "Karate", "Judo" "Martial Arts" and Tae Kwon Do?

Question

They are all basically they same concept, are they not? Please, tell me their similarities, differences, and ways of thought.

Answer 1

they are very different but 1st lets start with basics. "martial arts" is a generic term for all fighting styles. Aikido is an art started by Morihea Ueshiba it is relitively new and is almost entirely defensive. it focuses alot on throws, locks, and circular motions, it is from Japan. Judo is also from japan, the art that most people practice today is the Judo developed by Jigoro Kano. Judo is almost entirely throws and trips. Neither Aikido nor Judo focuses much on strikes. Karate is also a japanese art but focuses much more on strikes like punching, kicking, knees, elbows, and etc. finally Tae Kwon Do is from Korea and focuses almost soley on kicking. People who practice TKD are extremely good at kicking.

The similarties are mostly their area of origins are close to each other. Also they all are either more throwing/joint locking or striking arts. the ways of thoughts are usually the same, use them as defence and as a last resort. especially stressed by Morihea Ueshiba, founder of Aikido.

Answer 2

They are all spelled differentley

Answer 3

Simple question requiring an extensive answer... please bear with me.

First of all, what you read here is the opinion of one person - everyone has their own perspective so please keep in mind that comparing other opinions is important.

Second, the different styles:

1.) Aikido - The Way of Harmonious Energy (one interpretation).  This style is about blending with rather than resisting the energy of the opponent (be that when attacked OR when attacking) and using it to defeat the opponent.

Generally, the goal is to neutralize rather than destroy but depending on the practitioner, that idea can vary alot in execution - some are more violent than others.

Some mantras in my dojo are:

"You don't choose what to do, your opponents tells you what to do." (regarding blending with what is actually happening rather than what you want to happen or think is happening)

"More of what isn't working isn't going to work - when you find resistance, change." (regarding committing to something rather than being flexible.  Resistance is the signal to change to a different technique)

"Its not about winning, its about not loosing."  "What's more important?  Keeping your wallet or seeing your spouse and children again?  Choose one."  (regarding self defense - walking away unharmed is more important than destroying the attacker)

"Its not you vs. your attacker(s), everyone is ONE single thing." (regarding being one with the situation rather than drawing a line in the sand)

Aikido is a physical art, but as you become proficient, your perspective starts to change.  The physical seems easy compared to the mental.

2.) Karate - Empty Hand (sometimes Karate Do) The Way of the Empty Hand.  This style is generally a punching and kicking style.  On the other hand, a block isn't really a block at higher levels, its a strike of its own.  

Everything - even something that seems defensive is an attack of its own.  On the other hand, a few variations on the same mantra in my dojo were:

"There is no first punch in Karate." (never attack, only defend)

"There is only the last punch in Karate." (everything is designed to end the fight rather than prolong it...  The first punch you throw should be the last one, if not the second punch should be the last one...  The fight should be over)

3.) Judo - The Gentle Way.  This is an art based on pulling when pushed, pushing when pulled as a gross generalization.  Its not about strength, its about using the energy provided by the attacker.  In this, the functional theory is similar to Aikido but does differ regarding philosophy and detailed mechanics in actual practice.

4.) Tae Kwon Do - The way of the Hand and Foot.  There are other definitions, but they are basically the same idea.  I wish I could offer more, but I don't know enough about the art.

5.) Martial Arts - In Japanese, Bu Jutsu.  In the West we think of 'Martial' as meaning killing, destroying, dominating, etc.,...  However, in the East, Bu doesn't mean that at all - 'Bu' means to arrest conflict.  Arresting conflict doesn't imply anything of the sort as an absolute.  Sure, killing, destroying and dominating MIGHT be required depending on the situation, but arresting conflict isn't synonymous with what the West thinks of when we here 'martial'.

Next there is 'Art' and there is 'Way'.  Art or method - Jutsu.  Way or path - Do.  There is a difference.

On the surface, a 'jutsu' and a 'do' may look the same, but under the hood, they may also differ.  Certainly, depending on the style and the school, there are alot of grey areas, but to make a simple, black and white comparison, a 'jutsu' is all about the physical - the DOING part of it.  A 'do' on the otherhand uses the physical practice as basically a tool to refine themselves in whatever way they are looking for (mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, psychologically, whatever).

Think of a traveler.  For a 'jutsu' traveler, the goal is to get to the end destination - forget the scenery, get to the top of the mountain.  For a 'do' traveler, the goal IS the journey itself - forget the top of the mountain, pay attention to the scenery.

Not to say one is right and the other wrong of course.  There is however, a fundamental difference in approach.  Everyone is different and everyone is looking for different things so whatever works for the individual right?

Lastly, in my opinion, the differences between the 'jutsu' way of thinking and the 'do' way of thinking are greater than the differences between the 'aiki' or 'karate' parts.

Aikido and Karate Do are more similar than Aiki Jutsu and Aikido for example.  The difference is subtle but its profound.  Some people will think the 'do' idea is impractical and in-effective and some others will think the 'jutsu' idea is too short-sighted and limited in application (application being more than effective response to a physical attack).

There will likely never be an end to that debate - there are excellent points on each side, but personally, I think they are based on misunderstanding.

A BBJ fighter will say Tae Kwon Do sucks and they may be right if a fight actually starts but then again, if the Tae Kwon Do fighter has been working on how to notice fights and dilute them before they happen with their mental attitude rather than encourage them to happen because they can take care of themself, didn't they 'arrest conflict' socially as the BBJ person would have physically?

Personally, I'd rather be the p***y nobody wants to fight rather than the bad-*** everyone wants to fight.  That's an example of the life-giving sword and the death-giving sword - its not about the physical - its all about the mental.

Answer 4

aikido and judo have similar roots... different types of jujitsu.. aikido is focused on joint minipulation and stealing balance.. its a spiritual art for peace preservation... judo is focus on throws and ground fighting its nowadays mostly for sport though.... karate is focused on strikes but the old styles of karate have grappling stuff similar to aikido's modern karate is for self defence or sport.. traditional karate is for life preservation or combat (one hit one kill) taekwon do is.... essentially koreanized karate.. used almost exclusivly for sport and is basicly mostly kicks... no grappling... no throws..... just alot of kicking and blocking and punching..... all of the above are "martial arts" other martial arts include wing tsun, kajukenbo, kali... ect......

Answer 5

sorry jack, ur wrong. Tae Kwon Do is from Korea, created by general choi, but is based off karate. we use hands and feet.

anything that ends in 'do' is from korea.

karate if from japan.

martial arts is just a general term for all the different types including aikido, karate,and many others.