Taekwondo vs Karate, which do you choose? The majority of people assume they’re the same thing, but some differences will determine which is better for you and your personal goals. We’ll settle this classic debate and go over the differences between karate and Taekwondo to empower you to make your own decision on which is better for you!
The Difference Between Taekwondo vs Karate
The most basic difference between Taekwondo vs Karate is the difference between kicking and punching. Think of the shuto uchi, or the famous “karate chop” you’ve seen in every ninja movie. Karate uses hand combos primarily, and then kicking is more of an occasional thing. Taekwondo is the exact opposite. It emphasizes kicking and uses hand techniques as the backup. Taekwondo has more variety in the martial arts moves you can learn, including spinning and jumping kicks.
Origins of Taekwondo vs Karate
When picking which self-defense you want to study, it can be helpful to consider the origin. Karate started later, but modern culture made it pretty famous, while taekwondo has been around for thousands of years. Karate, made famous by Mr. Miayagi in “The Karate Kid”, originated in Japan. It started around 500 years ago, as legend has it, to stop the use of weapons on the island of Okinawa so that the king could prevent war. Japanese warriors started protecting themselves with their hands instead of weapons, and karate was born- hand-to-hand fighting. So, is taekwondo better than karate?
Taekwondo goes back quite a bit 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 practicing self-defense with your whole body, known as the art of the foot and hand. Interestingly, when Japan took over Korea in the 1900’s, the Japanese declared taekwondo illegal. Japanese rebels practiced the martial arts form in secret, and it’s thanks to them that we can still practice taekwondo today.
Different Techniques Used
So what is the difference between Taekwondo vs Karate? It’s the difference between the two halves of your body, hands/arms and legs/feet. Karate means empty hands, pointing to the fact that it’s a martial arts form relying heavily on the use of your hands sans weaponry. There’s a greater focus on mental strength and stamina because one of your only forms of protection in a karate fight is your mind. Karate students learn lots of hand techniques and combinations while keeping kicks on deck as a last resort. It’s perfect for when you’re close to an opponent and need that hand-to-hand combat advantage.
Alternatively, Taekwondo focuses on the legs, chiefly because the leg is the longest and strongest weapon on the body. Kicks in Taekwondo are very powerful for striking your opponent. You’ll learn spin kicks and several different kicking combinations, while using hand techniques when necessary. Taekwondo is a good fit if your opponent is at a distance because you can use the length of your legs against them. Now, is taekwondo the same as karate?
Competing in Taekwondo and Karate
Both Taekwondo vs Karate are not only practical and effective martial arts forms, but they provide opportunities for competition and advancement that will challenge you to grow. They both require serious mental and physical strength and stamina just like other martial arts classes, which is why hundreds of students in Rego Park enjoy the rewards of hard work paying off at belt ranking and in competition. There is a difference between Taekwondo and karate competition rules.
The rules of karate are a bit more involved, while the rules of Taekwondo are more simple. A karate student can strike to the head, neck, face, chest, side, abdomen, and back. The karate judges 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 competitions are more to the point. A Taekwondo martial artist 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.
To be honest, karate or Taekwondo will both get you super fit and in shape quickly. They’ll both teach you self-defense skills that you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones. And they’ll both push you to achieve a ton and accomplish things you never thought you could do. So, is karate and taekwondo the same? We’ll show you in class, as the better one for self-defense is the one you do. Doing nothing will result in nothing! So come and try adult martial arts classes with our Vision Taekwondo staff here in Rego Park for yourself, you’ll love it!