Is Taekwondo any good?

Question

How is exactly Taekwondo? Do you need a lot of flexibility? Do have ranks and belts? What kind of exercises do you do? Is it useful if you´re attacked?

Answer 1

Yes, TKD is great.

There are typically 9 belts to get to black belt.

For each rank, you have to learn a few basics (kicks, punches, stances) and a form (known as poomse or kata), and most schools will require 2 self defense techniques (how to escape from a hold, etc.) and 2 punching defense techniques known as 1 steps or 3 steps (what to do if someone throws a punch at you and you see it coming).

With each rank, the techniques, form and self defense you learn will be progressively more difficult.

You will advance very fast your first year, but then it will slow down.

Depending on how often you train, it will take 2.5 to 5 years to reach black belt.  

The Olympic style sparring that is the "sport" aspect of TKD is not all there is to it.  But sparring is fun and is a great workout.

Yes, it will be useful if you are attacked.  

James

Answer 2

I want to join a class for TaeKwonDo too. It is very useful and does focus mainly on kicks.  

Answer 3

It's a great sport to cross train in, especially for football because it keeps so much life in your hamstrings as well as other leg and back muscles and tendons.  It's fun too.  If you've ever boxed and you know what it's like to get punched, getting kicked hurts twice as bad.

Interesting enough, before migrating to karate, judo, and shoot wrestling (like MMA or Sambo) I had studied Tae Kwon Do.  I actually found myself in a real fight on the blacktop.  Since you only practice TKD barefoot, and you wear shoes in most environments you might fight in, a style that focuses so much on kicks really doesn't deliver.  Instead of doing some flashy step behind jump turn back crescent heal hook kick, I grabbed the guy in a half body lock and started throwing right hooks - definitely not TKD.  Being in shoes, my mind and body just did not respond with kicks.  While it's a great sport - I wouldn't want that to be my only rabbit in the hat in a life of death situation.

Answer 4

I am in tae kwon do and it focuses on kicking and punching targets.  they do have ranks and belts.  the exercises are mostly punching bags and kicking paddles.  At our school we have to learn korean, too.  If you practice hard and focus, tae kwon do will be useful in attacks.

Answer 5

it's not designed for street fighting more for tournament fighting

it's somewhat similar to kickboxing

it can help with defense, but it's not the best for that like BJJ or krav maga

Answer 6

Yeah, there are ranks & belts.. I wanna join it too.. I've heard it focuses on kicks, & leg exercises.. Plenty of self defense. so yes it is useful

Answer 7

yeah it is worth doing especially if you want to get really good at kicking.

Answer 8

Tae Kwon Do is a great martial art if you've never done anything before because there isnt a lot of pressure and you can learn at your own pace. Its known for its kicks and it focuses on them more than any other martial art.

To do some of the flashier kicks you do need a lot of practice and flexibility but you'll do a lot of good stretching in class. And yes, there are belts and ranks that you can advance through (white through black, there are different belts in between depending on what school you go to).

As far as exercises, like I said there's a lot of stretching, but its mostly composed of hitting pads and targets and sparring.

As far as self defense, its not that practical. There are kicks that you can use in real life, but TKD has become more of a sport than a system of self defense so if you're looking for a a practical self defense art than you'd have better looking at something else like Krav Maga or Kajukenbo.

Answer 9

It is only as good as the person practicing it. Yes they have ranks and belts.. It is not superior or inferior to any other martial art.

Answer 10

I don't know much about the overall art it's self, but I do know that Tae Known Do's teaching methods as well as it's operational protocol rocks!!  I love that, "Sir, Yes Sir" response those Tae Knwon Do sensei's get from their students .... that's the way it should be!!

Answer 11

TKD (Taekwondo) as far as i can remeber is based on the old korean styles of kickboxing that come together after WW2. It is the basis for modern kickboxing in that army vets brought it back from serving in korea.

TKD is primarily a kicking sport, it has some fantastic kicks, concentrating on flexibility and speed. Very little punching involved in most versions of it. When i say sport i mean that most of the kicks are aimed towards higher points areas such as the head, while punches are only worth points if you strike the harder to hit body.

As the sport is based on kicks, yes flexilbilty is important. However given training and continous stretching of the muscles anybody will be suprised by how flexible they are.

Yes theres belts in TKD, Alot of people criticize the sport for handing these out piecemeal. The belts signify the rank.

Exercises are based on flexibilty and aerobics. There is also traditional elements such as choreographed sequences that very loosely simulate combat. Exercises change greatly from club to club.

Useful if your attacked- No.

Anything is better than nothing, but as TKD is a sport, and a kicking sport at that its not much use with a pair of jeans.

If you are genuinely looking for defence, i would recommend Boxing, Jiu Jitsu/Judo, Muay Thai (thai boxing) or altogether in MMA. These are generally easier to do with everyday clothes on. Most attacks come from close distance, punches are quicker to throw, grappling is THE close range way to go. Many people prefer the traditions with the training, while modern boxing and mma are more practical in their application. Old doesn't mean good.

Best idea is to try around and see a club where students are capable. An excellent user/master does not mean great teacher.

On a personal note, if somebody does not wish to train with my club, i always advise them to find a club that spars full contact against each other. As this will give you time to see what works for you, rather than slow motion attacks in drills. (sparring is practice fighting)