Taekwondo vs Karate, it’s one of the longest-standing debates in martial arts. Lots of people think they’re the same, but some key differences will determine which is better for you and your martial arts goals. We’ll settle the debate and go over the differences between karate and Taekwondo to guide you to make your own decision on which is better for you!
The Difference Between Taekwondo vs Karate
The most basic difference in Taekwondo vs Karate is between your hands and your feet, punching vs kicking. Think of the shuto uchi, or the famous “karate chop” you’ve seen in movies! Karate uses hand techniques primarily, and then kicking is a backup. Taekwondo is the exact opposite. It emphasizes kicking and using hand combos as the backup. Taekwondo is also more diverse with the martial arts moves you can master, including spinning and jumping kicks.
Origins of Taekwondo vs Karate
When you’re thinking about which one you want to study, it can be helpful to consider the origin. Karate started later, but has been popularized by modern culture, while taekwondo has been established for thousands of years. Even though Mr. Miyagi made karate famous in our pop culture, it has its roots in Japan. It started around 500 years ago, as the story goes, to stop the use of weapons on the island of Okinawa to prevent war. The Japanese started using hand-to-hand combat to protect themselves instead of weapons, and karate, or hand-to-hand fighting, was born. So, is Taekwondo better than karate?
Taekwondo goes back even further to 50 B.C.E. in Korea. It’s all in the name! ‘Tae’ means kick, ‘kwon’ means punch, and ‘do’ means, well, doing things. So taekwondo means defending yourself with your whole body, known as the art of the foot and hand. Fun fact, when Japan overtook Korea in the 1900’s, the Japanese banned taekwondo. Japanese renegades practiced the martial arts form in secret, and it’s because of them that we can even practice taekwondo today.
Different Techniques Used
So what is the difference between Taekwondo vs Karate? It’s the difference between the two sides of your body, hands/arms and legs/feet. Karate means empty hands, referencing the fact that it’s a martial arts form relying heavily on the use of your hands, without weapons of any kind. Karate emphasizes mental strength and stamina because one of your only forms of protection when practicing is your mind. You’ll learn lots of hand techniques and combinations while keeping kicks on deck if needed.
Karate is a good fit for when you’re close to an opponent and need that hand-to-hand combat advantage. On the other hand, Taekwondo emphasizes the legs, chiefly because your leg is the strongest (and longest!) weapon you have on your body. Kicks in this martial art are very powerful for striking your opponent. Students in Taekwondo classes learn spin kicks and several different kicking combinations, while using hand techniques as a backup. Taekwondo has more effectiveness at a distance because you can leverage the length of your legs against your opponent. Now, is taekwondo the same as karate?
Competing in Taekwondo and Karate
Both karate and taekwondo are not only practical and effective martial arts forms, but they also provide opportunities for competition and advancement that encourage legitimate growth in their students. They both require serious mental and physical strength and stamina just like other martial arts classes, which is why so many in Manchester enjoy the rewards of all their hard work being recognized at belt ranking and in competition.
There is a difference between Taekwondo vs Karate competition rules. Karate rules are a bit more complex, while taekwondo rules are straightforward. In a karate competition, you can strike the head, neck, face, chest, side, abdomen, and back. The judges in the competition have a list of criteria that need to be followed for the match to be considered a win, like good form, accurate distance, and good timing. Taekwondo, however, is a bit simpler. In a taekwondo competition, a student gets 3 points for a kick to the head, 2 points for a spinning kick to the opponent’s torso, and one point for a basic attack on their torso.
Honestly, both of these martial arts styles will transform your body and get you fit fast. They’ll both teach you practical self-defense that you can use to defend yourself against an attacker. And they’ll both teach you to keep going no matter what, respect yourself and others, and gain confidence like never before. So, is karate and taekwondo the same? Well, the best one for self-defense is the one you take the initiative to do. Doing nothing will result in nothing! So come and try family martial arts classes with our Soaring Eagle Tae Kwon Do staff here in Manchester for yourself. You’ll love it!