9 replies to this topic

[ilovenacho]

I decided to learn Taekwondo with my friend. I wondered what martial art is good for me. My friend recommended Taekwondo to me. It looked so aggressive and active sport. As you know, there are many interesting and different Asian martial arts(Korean's Taekwondo, Japan's Judo, China's Kungfu etc) and the number of people who learn it is increasing. I don't know why people are crazy about doing martial arts even they get hurt on their whole body but whenever I see my friend doing Taekwondo hard, I feel how much those sports can make people concentrated and move faster and agilely. I hope that I can do this for a long time and get motivated to change myself.

[Lori]

My brother once put up a boxing bag  in the garage when I was living with my parents.  I thought I would test it out and try some training.  My first punch, silly me, I socked it so hard and badly sprained my wrist, and that was the end of my do it yourself defense training.
Sounds like you have good guidance, hope it does you well and you enjoy it. It's good have a hobby or sport.

[ilovenacho]

thanks Lori. It is quite bouncy and kicking based sport but I think this type of martial art fits me. I'd like to learn the ways to protect me not attack someone.

[Ryan Howard]

One thing you need to be sure to understand is that Taekwondo is first and foremost a sport and not a true method of self-defense. It has certain rules and as such, certain techniques are less than applicable to a self-defense situation on the street. For example, Taekwondo is very kick-focused, and kicks to the head are scored highly. However, to deliver a head-high kick, you need to straighten your grounded leg. In a real-world situation, all I need to do is step to your inside and deliver a kick to the front or side of your locked knee and you won't be walking again for the better part of a year. My understanding is that Taekwondo had tournament rules prohibiting such counterattacks for obvious reasons, but of course, there are no rules when someone's seriously trying to start a fight with you.

All this isn't to say that Taekwondo is useless. I think if you train long enough and learn as much as you can, then it will have many positive benefits. And I have met a couple people good enough at Taekwondo that I would not mess with them. Just be aware, though, that not every technique good for a tournament setting can be used in a real-world setting with the same degree of success.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

I agree that taekwando is a great way to use movement in a controlled way. If you have a good instructor, you can get all kinds of benefits out of it.   As far as using it a a form of self defense, I guess it's as good as any martial art, but every person is different and different disciplines may suit someone more than others. I don't know much about the fighting aspect of it. But watching taekwando masters is beautiful, allmost balletic, and I've heard from people who are very devoted to  it that for them it's  a form of meditation.

[MeanCat]

Ryan Howard, on 03 January 2012 - 02:25 AM, said:

One thing you need to be sure to understand is that Taekwondo is first and foremost a sport and not a true method of self-defense.

True, but then, most martial arts teach you techniques that you wouldn't be able to apply in real life situations anyway.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

Hey Moni!! Good to see you again. Were you able to catch up with Joni? He stopped by not so long ago. I fondly remember when MoniJoni used to  hunt moose in virtual wheat on the old board. Good times.


ETA -sorry about going OT, but nostalgia was full of that too. Back to your regularly scheduled martial arts thread.

[MeanCat]

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Off-topic (sorry everyone!!): Well hello there, lady!! Yeah I noticed Joni stopping by, way too short tho His post of murmurs-memories was fantastic! jonimonijonimoni
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[Sweet Fanny Addams]

Back to  martial arts, well sorta...

[Elena H. Mendoza]

Quote

I agree that taekwando is a great way to use movement in a controlled way.

Good video watched at this time.