Which is more grounded in self-defense, tae kwon do or hapkido?

Question

Give me reasons for your answer.

Today it seems that 9 out of 10 TKD schools are just for sport. Self-defense is obviously not a sport so Hapkido now seems more applicable. Over the last 20 years Korean martial arts have become more and more sport orientated. This is not bad if sporting competition is what you want but what about the original intent of these arts? There is more to life than the olympics.

Little TKD kids need not answer.

Answer 1

Well yeah tkd has changed for the worse.  There are some other  more older self-defense oriented systems of tkd such as moo duk kwan, but they are getting scarce.  I would most definitely go with Hapkido if I was looking for combat efficiency.

Answer 2

you answered you own question. but even sport tae kwon do will help you defend yourself if you can punch and kick you can defend youself reasonably well.

Answer 3

dont forget personal attitudes too. people who train for sports will be sports oriented. people who train for defence will learn defensive tactics. they may not learn just one art. they may take skills from other arts to supplement their foundations.

Plus when looking at a school. try to look at techniques suited to you.

Answer 4

My opinion toward TDK is becoming soured as well.  Although I do feel it is great for sports competition.

However, I have seen WAY TOO MANY people come to a school I was/am training at and they are a 2 year black belt or something similar.

They soon after lose badly in sparring sessions.  I feel as if it gives too many people a false sense of security.

If I had to choose between the two, it would be Hapkido.

Answer 5

They're both good. A lot of schools that teach TKD will teach Hapkido also. True a lot of TKD schools are sport oriented, so you need to find a school that teaches the traditional combat form of TKD that's not watered down for competitions.

Answer 6

there is nothing taekwondo can teach you that hapkido cannot.

hapkido has all the strikes, blocks, and kicks of taekwondo. and much much more. the caveat?.....alot of hapkido schools don't spar.

alot of tkd schools do teach hkd...thats because they know tkd is watered down sport c**p, not because the arts compliment each other well.

go with hapkido. it's everything.