Olympic Tae Kwon Do...A disappointment to all of us?

Question

Or an inspiration, when I first remember Tae Kwon Do being intoduced to the Olympics I was excited, what I have seen these last years is a bland representation of the beautiful art.. Am I just a snob?

Answer 1

actually martial arts are the arts of killing by not using any equipment, though taekwondo now is a sport so we cant say that it is still a martial art, it is now a sport.

its not taken as a bland art you just misinterpret theyre way of fighting, taekwondo is an open style of fighting so its not what u think

Answer 2

I think it's to do with Health & Safety.  I was taught how to kill people with my bare feet.  These days, by the time I've got my shoes and socks off, they've gone.

Answer 3

The sport is what it is. At times, it's beautiful to watch, at times, sloppy. Just like all combat sports. It depends on the skill level of the fighters in the ring...what i'd like to see is hand techniques counting for more points. And punches to the head ( protected areas) should be allowed.

Answer 4

I agree, the WTF (Olympic) TKD has always been bland to me and at times sloppy. After every kick, for the sake of a point, they throw the kick along with their body and fall to the ground. Hands are down, no real punching, just "can-can" ing.

I personally prefer watching ITF style  TKD, at least their hands are up.

Answer 5

The feeling that what you see in the Olympics is a bland representation of taekwondo is generally shared by the whole ITF crowd (who practice real taekwondo). You see, it's only WTF style that's in the Olympics at the moment. But the Beijing Olympics are going to have teams made up of both WTF and ITF mambers. Sadly, I don't see any improvement since the WTF have more power than the ITF. It's likely that ITF will have to conform to WTF rules T__T

Answer 6

I don't think so.  Have you watched some the highlights from Athens 2004 on youtube?  

I had a chance to spar with Nigerian Olympic fighter (2004 Athens/2008 Beijing) Chika Chukwumerije  this summer as he was the US training with my master in preparation for Beijing.  

There was nothing bland, sloppy or disappointing about it.  He was awesome.  I used to do ITF TKD, and am now doing WTF.  

I don't think one is better than the other.  I do like the sparring rules better for ITF, but I like the technical side of WTF.  

James

Answer 7

Well it certainly isn't Pankration, a true ancient olympic sport