Can you use taekwondo for fighting?

Is taekwondo useless? What do I think of taekwondo?

[@Yadid1]

I was heartbroken when I learned how little Tkd by itself alone can do. Like the coach, also my first martial art, black belt, and additionally national silver medal (jr). But man, the amount of times my kicks saved me in MMA later on... yeah it was worth it.

[@mynameismynameis666]

i ve kicked many a surprised kickboxers face from an angle they just didn't train. and used my hands mostly to just to keep their striking in check. this being said: the footwork was very valuable and i had to learn to keep my guard up the hard way...

[@hornetc5585]

@@mynameismynameis666 That sounds more like an issue with where you trained. My teacher who was Olympic style taught us to fight with guard up and I didn't even know that hands down was how competition was done until later in my training. The problem is most people take a classes at a standard gym thinking they've learned all it has to offered. Taekwondo can do a lot on its own, it's just there's many lazy mediocres out there who learn all the kicks and a few punches and think that's all there is to taekwondo. There's just so many people who only scratch the surface of taekwondo and dare to call themselves taekwondoists.

[@danielcox7629]

I wasn't that good at it but it's surprisingly good against weapons.

[@hornetc5585]

@@danielcox7629 It really isn't surprising. The art includes weapons so having counters to armed opponents are necessary.

[@amnfox]

Agreed. It does feel defeating to realize how vulnerable you are after working at a "combat" sport for years.

[@sagecho4510]

I didn't mean to click so fast ... it was instinct

[@OCEAMICGROUPTM]

x2

[@josephbedwell3164]

Are you sure it wasn't Ultra Instinct?

[@sagecho4510]

@@josephbedwell3164 Maybe it wasss

[@theknownunknown8209]

That's the quick twitch muscle fiber

[@SteveSimi]

It ALWAYS is!

[@taekwondobro]

It's sad to see taekwondo degenerate into a daycare center, it really is painful. I think that eventually the Taekwondo that remained hard will survive, and the day cares will eventually wither.

[@oldschoolmuzzey]

Taekwondo Bro , the same thing has happened to traditional karate, they enjoy the art part , but forget the martial , fighter aspect and now many karate schools became , karate themed daycare centers

[@taekwondobro]

@@oldschoolmuzzey never sell out.

[@portioncontrol5466]

Actually, the reverse of what you suggest will likely happen. Unfortunately not enough adults do martial arts, especially not TKD. At the end of the day it is a business that relies on memberships so... bring in those tiny champs lol

[@taekwondobro]

@@portioncontrol5466 of course you gotta bring in the tiny champs, but if your membership tanks after 15 and you don't have many experienced people in the dojang , you have a huge problem. The main issue is when dojangs go soft to get more kids but they lose the core aspect of martial arts and they after that usually lose a substantial portion of their adult students. Of course there will always be more rookies, many don't make it.

[@portioncontrol5466]

@@taekwondobro when you figure out the solution feel free to let us all know

[@perrenchan6600]

Your comment about the round house kick being from taekwondo reminds me of Mike from Hard2Hurt and when he was told that he encorporates a lot of Kung Fu and Karate Technique thought he never intentionally practice those martial arts. Its like you said in a previous comment, noone reinvents the wheel in martial arts... Unless you're master ken...

[@SenseiSeth]

Don’t trust that “icy Mike” guy

[@perrenchan6600]

@@SenseiSeth whatever you say sensei 😂

[@mattc4266]

Icy mike friends with Scarface and they bullied ninja Ron

[@ab-ts7md]

Ameridote. Full stop. ;)

[@ArifRWinandar]

I once read somewhere that some native American tribes have a fighting style that was all kicks, because it was meant for wars in which the fighters would hold weapons with their hands. When Europeans challenged them to a fist fight, they were confused because they have no experience fighting with fists.

[@pierrewilliam7119]

I heard that taekwondo once had similar goals

[@m5a1stuart83]

Taekwondo once like Karate, their fight look a like Kyokushin in the old days. But now they just kicking not punching. They are more like Taekkyon.

[@aesthete1618]

@@pierrewilliam7119 taekwondo's goal was for koreans to kick soldiers off horses

[@pierrewilliam7119]

@@aesthete1618 Interesting. Thanks for your answer

[@Kobalamin88]

Context is key.

[@rayyy5483]

I cannot agree more. I practice TKD for long time, I can kick but my footwork was horrible. Not to mention my distance is always off. My hands keep dropping and my punches suck. Then 3 years ago, I started boxing. Now I am back to TKD sparring. I think I am much better now because I know how to move my head, my hands. I can block most of the kicks just my keeping my hands up that I learn from boxing. I meant it all sounds basic but we never covered that in TKD.

[@jawz2005]

Blame your teacher not TKD

[@user-gk4jp6lt2b]

TKD focuses more on counter attacks

[@willguggn2]

Our school focused a lot on footwork and position in competition training and letting your guard down and flailing arms are a big no go. "This is not a ballet school!" is what my master used to say before beating you with a focus mitt. :D

[@Ozzy-DRZ-Adventures]

@Zek Kiel you would be surprised how well old school WTF works against the new school, especially with power and how the new school WTF don't keep there hands up

[@uttambist6501]

Don’t give tips to other competetors 😂to improve Tkd

[@theruggedscholar1544]

Ask the Viet Cong, if Tae Kwon Do can be used for fighting. During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong feared Korean combat troops. General Jones, who created the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, was inspired by his experience and observance of the Korean troops. Unfortunately, the Tae Kwon Do taught in a majority of western countries is not the same Tae Kwon Do taught in a military setting. General Choi Hong Hi, the originator of tae kwon do, created Tae Kwon Do for fighting; not a sport.

[@samford2442]

Ur mixing itf with wtf taekwando, itf is not q kicking martial art it is from shotukan a bit of taekyeon/subak and yang kung fu. General choi is the founder. Wtf taekwando is a sport mainly based of taekyeon and shotukan (shotukan is only used in patterns in WTF teakwando as there are fairly litterly shotukan similarities in wtf sparring), and is not somthing u would want to use for actual scrapping. Itf is super simular to kickboxing in sparring.

[@theruggedscholar1544]

@@samford2442 Thank you for your response, time, and consideration. I sincerely do not understand your response.

[@samford2442]

@@theruggedscholar1544 in this video he is referring to wtf taekwando (world taekwando federation taekwando), but in your comment with general choi and such, you are referring to ITF taekwando (International taekwando federation taekwando). They are two seperate martial arts under the title taekwando and of korean origin. U stated "ask the viet kong soldiers if taekwando works" no because the viet kong soldiers were up against itf taekwando trained korean troops, but in this video the youtuber is referring to if wtf taekwando works in a fight.

[@theruggedscholar1544]

@@samford2442 Once again, thank you for your response, time, and consideration. I completely agree with your response; yet, the video simply stated Tae Kwon Do. Thank you for your clarification.

[@danielblank9917]

They also had guns

[@MetalRobTKD]

Stephan Bonnar earned his black belt in Taekwondo as a teenager and likely didn't progress any further in the style after that. Hence, Jones's kicks were more impressive as he was learning them as an adult and was hungry to learn everything from all styles. He is also a smart fighter and uses his reach to his advantage. Anyone who earns a black belt as a child and no longer trains in that style is going to be a poor representation of it. Everyone has their own genetic strengths and weaknesses and will rely on the martial arts tools that suit them best or that are just instinctual to them after years of engraining them into muscle memory.

[@justtube97]

I did TKD as my first martial art. Years later I did boxing class in college. I remember the skill of switching stance that we learn in TKD gave me a huge advantage over all the guys I got paired with but one guy got the better of me and landed a clean crisp punch on my jaw. He was a wrestler!! I echo and love your assessment of boxing and wrestling being martial art of position 👍

[@EmanualBAvery]

Apply what's useful.I truly stand by TKD.Those who don't know martial arts will experience what it means to not mess with a TKD practioner.Very well spoken Ramsey.

[@amnfox]

Can you kick in a fight? Yes? Ok. Then you can "use" Tae Kwon Do in a fight. I train MMA now and the one thing all my training partners ask me with help on is kicking. Everyone asks for advise on flexibility, dexterity, and application of techniques.

[@peterwang5660]

I find it hilarious that the thumbnail is just Ramsey doing the Yao Ming laugh and it happens to be a random frame from the video.

[@OpnDoarPlcy]

Yes, Taekwondo can be used for fighting. Like boxing, Taekwondo is also an art of positioning because in order to effectively place your kick where you want it to land you must first be in the correct position to do so. Further, Taekwondo is about speed, accuracy and blitzing movements. It’s an excellent martial art that can be modified for either light or full contact depending on the application. Any tool can be useful if you know how to use it.

[@samford2442]

What about itf taekwando

[@alexconstantinou3323]

I’ll like too see you say and do that to a boxer or to an Muay Thai bloke

[@GraemeFaber-ls5wp]

@ Alex Constantinou ah yes, the obligatory "boxing, Muay Thai, and BJJ are the only effective martial arts" comment. Seen it on practically ever martial arts video I've watched, it's gotten very old.

[@calvinwallis2634]

Well said

[@MercenaryFox]

i don't get why taekwondo gets so much hate. it's a cool martial art and sport

[@tensae4725]

I think it’s because there’s not much punching in it.

[@inyalgaico1563]

its due to the fact that it requires alot of physical speed and strength to practise the technique versues technique over physical ability you dont see many old people using taekwando i learned tawkwando and many of the forms and techniqes at face value require wide motions and swings uf you can not make these angles with precision and speed you are not gonna be using it properly thats how the martial art functions its similar to Capoera if you cant flex your body then you will have a hard time and then the fact that the sport is almost only kicking being that good where you only need kicks to win a fight i commend but damn thats tough Not everyone knows this so this is a personal thing but some forms of taekwando are very ineffective to basic logical strategies one would make during a fight things like being left wide open doing an certain attack though that might of been because of the people i facing not doing it well

[@Docinaplane]

Probably because it became child oriented and money driven. It was pretty good in its early days, but did not evolve, rather "devolved" with time. The individual can overcome that, but most don't.

[@m5a1stuart83]

They mean modern Taekwondo but if you go back to its original form. They are more like Kudo Daido Juku. They also emphasis punching, kicking, throwing and small amount of submissions. Then they move to kick boxing alike until we see WTF Olympic.

[@tensae4725]

Neji Hyuuga yeah, that’s right. Any martial art they put in the Olympics gets watered down over time. It’s sad.

[@sonnygallo5662]

I went to school with the Kim brothers and one of them was attacked by 3 guys and all of them received broken bones and an ambulance trip. The TKD taught in the average Mcdojo is sport oriented and for kids. GM. Yu Jin Kim GOD rest his soul taught his sons REAL TKD complete with SD. Incidentally styles mean bupkis. Its the man who is responsible for making whatever TF he does effective. The style does NOTHING. I had no respect for Judo until I trained with a master and he choked TS out of me. Not literally but he could have easily killed me. Respect for All REAL martial arts and sciences taught realistically. 🐅🐉

[@D.J.M.47]

I agree.

[@oscarpeer5125]

2:03 as someone who's taught Taekwondo to kids before, I found your statement very funny and relatable. There is no problem with little kids practicing martial arts. The problem starts, as in illegitimate schools, when the parents of little kids with no extraordinary talent are sold blackbelts.

[@outis439-A]

that happens?

[@Lurksmore]

@@outis439-A Yes, as a teenager I did Taekwon Do for 5 years (a few decades ago). Looking in to the Dojang's, I see Brown belts with poor basics. ex. stance, fist and .... ummm, flow. I didn't even get that belt.

[@outis439-A]

@@Lurksmore yeah I started TKW when i was about 5-6 and in a year I was just about to get green belt.

[@inyalgaico1563]

Hey ramsey dewey can you look at the fighting styles represented in various fighting games like Tekken and Street fighter and see what you feel about them and their modifications?

[@SavedSnake]

Wow this actually sounds like a bad azz idea!

[@leoprzytuac3660]

That sounds really cool! I always whine about misrepresented moves XD

[@arthurbotelho]

Great idea!

[@LtFrankDrebbin]

good idea, I spent hours in front of Tekken 2 on the PS1. My favourite characters were King and Wang. (it don't sound good when you say them fast in the other order 🤣)

[@SavedSnake]

@@LtFrankDrebbin o my gosh I said it...LMAO!!!

[@markadkins1842]

My experience with Tae Kwon Do was positive, but my teachers were very willing to incorporate material from other styles into their lessons. They weren't reliant on one source of wisdom, even if their main draw was TKD. I still appreciate my time in that school. When I watch other TKD practitioners, I can quickly spot differences in how they train versus how I once trained. I'd probably lose to just about anyone today, but my health is bad. LOL. I've probably got a few decent excuses I could offer, but my main problem is a bad case of American-Fast-Food-itis! Should've trained more & ate out less.

[@VACatholic]

11:30 Your students were so fast I couldn't even see them! Nicely coached! In all seriousness, thanks for these videos. They're super informative.

[@mxbblife_mu]

Jon Jones vs Stephan bonnar was actually my favorite Jon Jones fight before he won the Belt ... The huge variety of move Jones was doing on Stephan bonnar was incredible. Not only all the cool TKD Spinning Back Kicks, the Spinning Elbows, and the other Kicks but All the obscure Wrestling moves he was performing on Bonnar. Bonnar had no chance and Jones made him look like an amateur.

[@cowlico]

Always a great video, I practiced TaeKwonDo starting in the 70s and it was in fact different. I didn't practice WT or WTF or whatever nor the new sine wave ITF, but Oh Do Kwan TaeKwonDo. We seemed to keep the Shotokan influenced stances and movements as it were. Our instructor dint want to be bothered with all the in fighting ad arguing that went with the turning of the founding of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) on March 22 1966 after Choi left to the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA) which later became the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) on may 28 1973. The problem with Taekwondo is that the nine different kwans which were at one time and still are in some cases their own schools; (Chung Do Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Soo Moo Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan (which is actually ITF), Jung Do Kwan, and Kang Du Won) all now recognize the Kukkiwon and WTF or WT as the promotional body of Taekwondo, and agree to the black belt certification process and certificates. However after that the rest is just more weird in fighting history with things like Haidong Gumdo popping up. Hearing all of this how can one learn to fight? There is a book called A Killing Art: The Untold Story of Tae Kwon Do by Alex Gillis which is a hoot to read. Some in TaeKwonDo have hidden some its history. In particular, that it was mainly based on Shotokan Karate with hardly any influence from ancient Korean martial arts as is often claimed. It’s all in the marketing and there is an element of this in every style. Whereas Shotokan’s Secret revealed how Funakoshi and other Okinawan masters had been economical with the truth of Karate, so General Choi and other Korean masters have been economical with the truth of TaeKwonDo’s past. Sorry i just went on way too long for this🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I still love TKD and just follow your advice of getting out there and training!!! Thanks again for that wonderful video!!

[@antony6913]

You get going kwon and kwon about it 😋

[@alanmodimages]

Hey Courtney. I study WT and I have read that book. It was eye opening. So much of the history of TKD has been obscured. It was a deadly art. I am not sure if we can ever return to that. Occasionally, just occasionally my Masters sometimes in their frustration to get a technique across will reveal the Martial component (Break their temple, pull their larynx), but this is rare. and you CAN"T teach little Suburban Sally and Johny this or it would make the local news. This leaves us Adults feeling a bit lost as we try to find the practicality of what we are being taught.

[@Heatwave9000]

Huh

[@kennedychwalawanambisi6643]

Yes you can!I have used tkd in two different fights...many years ago. Turning kick worked for me against bigger guys. I love taekwondo...went back to training tkd under itf.

[@jdnhensley9204]

I'm a new karate practitioner. Plan on soon learning wrestling and eventually jiu-jitsu/kickboxing. This was a really great video and I agree with a lot of what is said. Just after a year of practicing I am already doing quite better than the rest of my class. I suspect this is due to actual effort, hard work, and disciplined training. What karate needs is more individuals putting in the work to learn how to do everything well, train themselves through uncomfort, and learn fighting (and its context) as a whole. Mindset and philosophy are key to mastery. Also, far too many kids being forced to do it and not doing it out of their own will. I once tried learning some muay thai and noticed how it instantly increased my karate by just doing one session.

[@jeffreybutler9059]

I have studied traditional Taekwondo/Korean Karate since kindergarten and have nearly forty years of training. Old school Taekwondo was closer to Japanese Shotokan but with more emphasis on kicks. Generally kicks were the first thing you did and then Switched to hands until you got back to kicking range. Punching to the head, hand knife to the neck were from day one as well as heavy bag training. Black belts also used knees, elbows, occasional low kick and sweeps/takedowns. Black belts would also spar against two people simultaneously as most real fights are rarely one on one. The emphasis was to keep every technique simple yet done with blinding speed and devastating power. It should also be noted one of my instructors was Duk Song Son. GM son was a boxer before learning chunddokwon from Won Kook Lee, who was a direct student of Ginchi Funakoshi while he was studying in Japan. Classes were on average two hours long and you practiced several days a week. Old school Taekwondo was taught to soldier and police. Unfortunately like judo when it became an Olympic sport the majority of people started doing just the sport and the art suffered. When I was in college I had the chance to study both Judo and tomiki Aikido under Katsu Watanabe who at the time was an sixth Dan in Judo. It was a great complement to old school Taekwondo. Judo really helped me in clinch work and develop a ground game and old school aikido wrist controls can be devastating once you learn how to do them correctly. Something to remember that the vast majority of the world does not practice martial arts or any type of fighting. Aikido wrist controlling techniques allowed me to control people when working as a Paramedic and later a RN. TKD blocks have become so reflexive that I have blocked people’s attacks without even knowing it. The arts have become so watered down because most people do not depend on them for survival. Most people don’t know about proper body mechanics or the benefits of overall body conditioning. Don’t get me started on ki/chi. Ki and chi are great at healing the mind and body. It lets your train longer and harder. It offers a spiritual side and opens the doors to psychological sciences and many different philosophies. But it won’t let you throw hadokens and put up force fields.

[@PrydeFoltz]

From my experience ... for what it is ... a snap kick allows you to change your mind on the kick, feign a kick, is harder to read, and can be easily become a knee. Makes sense for any kick at or above the waist. The large arc roundhouse is easier to see coming. That said a snapping a low roundhouse makes little sense. Position and rooting is important no matter what other techniques you choose.

[@tomaszgaluba1459]

Well, at least TKD practicioners are actually sparring and putting their skills to the test. At least they used to 15 or so years back...

[@IcyFlare]

I super appreciate you putting that into context and positioning. I also studied TKD, although it is ITF and I'm not sure which style you studied or if it matters. I find that we don't focus so much on positioning in fights as we do effective and fast combos, so I may expand into boxing to learn more of that. Thank you for the education!

[@MikeAMesfin]

"Movement Vocabulary" I like that, I'm stealing that. Oss 🥋

[@rocmiraclepallares7504]

Your videos are eye-opening, im nothing but a beginner in the fighting arts, and I found your videos very orientative towards the approach to each style.

[@salehsankar9012]

I love how you break every question into many puzzles and you solve it logically one after another 💚💚❤❤ great video I love it

[@YerDa67]

I was learning TKD when I was very young. It is indeed almost useless in a street fight. But, I, in my very first fight in the streets in Scotland, used a flying side kick as an opening attack and I sent the bully flying across the playground. It was glorious. But then, it came to the ground, and I had no idea what to do. Boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, wrestling, Jui-Jitsu. They are probably the ones you need. MMA is of course the main one, which includes those disciplines.

[@jamesdotson599]

Ramsey, As usual I'm so impressed by your analyses and understanding of the totality of martial arts. As young as you are, with your determination you have gone very far in your pursuit of that totality.

[@jayandrews2803]

This was a very enlightening video, thank you very much for your wisdom coach Ramsey it’s greatly appreciated🙏

[@alia.moazzami2983]

Thanks, every time I listen to you I learn to pay attention to a new fundamental.

[@andrewryan7583]

Good on ya Ramsey. I could watch your vids all day 👍

[@arandompersonlol1202]

One of my favorite youtubers. Keep up the good work, coach! Could you make a video about side kicks to the thigh? It's my favorite kick to use, I always use it in sparring and also will when I will start competing in kickboxing. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the kick itself. Before everyone mentions it: I know how to control and pull the kick, I've never torn anyone's knee and my partners trust me. :)

[@arandompersonlol1202]

@ahau oxlahun People use it in competition all the time. Robert Whittaker (if you know him) uses it a lot. He hasn't gone to prison, lol.

[@arandompersonlol1202]

@ahau oxlahun I actually haven't looked at the rules of kickboxing for that kick. When I start competing, I will of course. This kick is one of my key weapons

[@cygmt9440]

Best analogy I heard for TKD: It's like ketchup, not good on its own but amazing when combined with other things

[@ersturdevant2831]

Yes!

[@Heatwave9000]

Well no martial art on its own is a match for mixed martial arts because they do not cover every aspect of fighting.

[@GWG-ib9cv]

Starting with karate when you're a kid is excellent. I started with taekwondo then I was a wrestler. When I got out of the military I started mixed martial arts. Everything I learned helped me later

[@Argyleexe]

I have a friend who's from South Korea, got his Tae Kwon Do black belt over there. Dude kicks like a bullet, thought he was gonna break my arm every time I blocked. So yes if taught like a proper martial art it can definitely be applicable

[@tomdewyn5689]

As a kid taekwondo was the first Martial art i wanted to learn Watching the Rhee brothers in best of the best,Van Damme doing al those spinning kicks,some of those kicks can work in a fight if you practice them to perfection Also practice them on a heavy bag to make sure your kicks won't lack power

[@jaimesantiago9312]

Think people make it way too complicated if Tae Kwon Do would work in self defense. Of course it does, I’ve used it . Someone comes at you trying to punch you and they don’t know your a martial artist they are not going to handle a side kick or front kick to the ribs very well. When I used my side kick to defend myself they flew back several feet onto the ground grasping for air. When I used a front kick it lifted them up in air and left them grasping for air. It’s not complicated and I know boxers definitely didn’t want to deal with any kicks. I’m older now and would never put myself in that situation anymore but whenever I was in a situation including with multiple people in group brawl situations everything was pretty even until I started kicking then things always ended after just ONE kick to the untrained attacker. There was a TKD instructor in England that worked on movie sets that killed someone with one hit couple years ago that was facing murder charges last I heard. I’ve studied some boxing and Judo too and they’re great but landing a kick can be devastating when someone isn’t expecting it. Now when I was in that situation using boxing that was a lot more work to end an altercation but as soon as a kick was thrown it was over. Obviously talking about basics nothing fancy. I’ve trained on and off at WTF schools since the 80’s pre olympics and the Olympic sport of it definitely has some techniques you wouldn’t use in self defense situation but the BURDEN of LEARNING is on the student. If you want to do sport part of it that’s what you’ll get, if you want it to be just a workout to keep you in shape that’s there for you too. If you want to train with Power for a real life self defense situation the Power is there., they teach elbow strikes, leg kicks, eye pokes, throat strikes . What is lacking is grappling but all fights start standing up but grappling is great too just not in a multiple attack situation or multiple people like a 3 on 5 situation. Just because they make it friendly towards children doesn’t make it a negative. It’s another avenue for them to learn respect and athleticism. Obviously against other martial arts if you only practiced SPORT TKD your going to be at a disadvantage but if you trained for power and self defense then your practicing hand, elbow, and knee strikes too but it’s not being used in what most people see because they promote the sport aspect similar to Judo but Judo is a great self defense style too . However a Judo athlete would have to adjust to a “trained” MMA sport situation, it’s the same with TKD. The other thing to remember about TKD is all their sparing is full contact and those body protectors have saved many rib cages. Again the burden of learning is on the student and it’s all how you approach it.

[@NerdyPro]

Always insightful. I really wanted to see that hand fighting though. You forgot to add the clip.

[@marekpolak7622]

Started TKD (ITF) recently and I got to say it is one of the best martial arts. Much like kickboxing, we do use our hands a lot, but the kicking is something else 🔥 We spar often, do pad & shield work, too.

[@jaydlytning]

Hey, the defensive moves I learned in Tae Kwon Do saved me from this giant kid in middle school who tried to smash me with an overhand right, so it worked for something! I should add that I was in 2 Tae Kwon Do schools, the first in 1991, the second in 1998. The first one had much more contact and sparring and also a greater emphasis on punching and takedowns. The second one was the day care and we were not encouraged to punch.

[@mrnicomedes]

I'm sure it would double the production time for a Q&A video, but it would be awesome if you could play clips of the fights you're talking about, or maybe just link to them if you're worried (justifiably) about KZbin's broken cpyrght system demntizng your videos. Meanwhile, I'll jot down the names and look 'em up later.

[@powers39]

A friend was going to a TKD school. He was early for his class and the black belt class was sparing. The head instructor and owner of the school came out to the floor. He wasn't happy that the black belts were just throwing kicks and not using hand techniques. At his school TKD wasn't just kicking. That's my 2 cents.

[@MarioLamRedRebel]

Every fighting style can be just in a fight..... winning is not about style but how good of a fighter are you 🙏 OSU 🙏 Greetings from the Netherlands

[@GraemeFaber-ls5wp]

So great to finally hear someone discussing the weaknesses in taekwondo while still respecting its strengths, too often all I hear is MMA fans bashing anything that isn't boxing, Muay Thai, or BJJ. To add my own thoughts, I think the biggest problem with modern TKD is that the sparring is all light contact and points based, so it doesn't matter that much if you get hit as long as you hit the other guy first. You don't learn how to take a hit and you don't learn enough if how to avoid a hit.

[@ersturdevant2831]

Pretty sure a properly placed front snap kick can be effective. TKD can work, obviously.

[@randomguydoingrandomstuff6613]

I'm a black belt in taekwondo. We also position ourselves before we attack, we dont just kick, we calculate distance, a possible counter and the possible reaction of the opponent. There were times when i used my tkd in a streetfight back in highschool,one time bullies tried to tease me for practicing taekwondo saying that they want to try me out and when they were about to come at me i kicked the middle guy with a front kick to the face then used a push kick to make him lose balance then i punched and grabbed him to the ground and just punched him there. Although, I got beaten by some of his friends before people stopped us from fighting. 😅 in college i also practiced judo and karate and when i competed in karate, it was easier for me to kick and measure range and distance because of my taekwondo background. I think it only comes down to who has the guts to use the art. One time i almost got disqualified in karate since i knocked my opponent out with a spinning hook kick to the head because they said that i should have controlled my kick, (apparently it wasn't a kyokushin style karate so you have to control.)🤷‍♂️ i think olympic rules ruined taekwondo. Olympic taekwondo is boring af. I prefer the old school taekwondo. Its not the style, its the person who uses it. Ive seen so many dumb tkd practitioners at mcdojo's and they're like idiots. 😂

[@spencerpetersen4092]

I'm an ITF Taekwondo practitioner and lately I've started sparring boxers (using kickboxing rules) and what I found is that I usually keep them backing into the ropes because they aren't accustomed to leg range yet. However, the gym I've been visiting also offers Muy Thai instruction. So they're relatively familiar with leg kicks as well, which in my experience is the biggest obstacle. I'm only used to defending against kicks above the waist and as soon as a few leg kicks are landed, my footwork becomes completely compromised.

[@shrektheswampless6102]

did you learn how to deal with low kicks?

[@spencerpetersen4092]

@@shrektheswampless6102 I have a working understanding, but the muscle memory still isn’t there.

[@adammanning1805]

Chaos of fighting, wrestling and boxing backgrounds are the very best fighters.

[@henriquecarvalho880]

Something very interesting: the famous Brazilian academy "academia chute boxe" started by the fusion of boxe and taekwondo, lately they shifted the focus to Muay Thai and kick boxing combination, but the academy that gave us people like Anderson Silva and Chris cyborg had the humble beggining of a hybrid between boxing and taekwondo

[@ironmikehallowween]

Very true. Windows of opportunities open up for many traditional martial art applications once the positioning techniques of boxing and wrestling are understood.

[@MerricMaker]

Of course it can, so long as you're not in the sport pipeline. My instructor was quite open about having had two principal teachers, one was a golden gloves boxer, the other was a Kickboxer of the Joe Lewis, Urquidez era. The forms are for exercise and the "art" part of martial art. Sparring is about how best to dodge, feint, hit, get hit, move, etc. Sparring is not the time to do jump spin heel kicks or debate whether or not you're doing your round kicks in the technically correct and hugely telegraphed manner approved by General Choi.

[@shadowcastre]

All martial arts have value to some degree or another. IMO... its best to cross train. Thanks for the video...

[@RexiousX]

The kick skill of Tae Kwon Do is excellent back up WHEN COMBINED with other martial techniques. I think it’s extremely valuable. But not if used alone.

[@TxCajun37]

Taekwondo changed for the worse when it became an Olympic event. Prior to 1984 the emphasis was on fighting. When announced that TKD would be an Olympic medal event in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, it became more of a point fighting style. Somewhere between 1980 - 1984, the World Taekwondo Association and the American Taekwondo Association (memory of exactly when is hazy) adjusted the tournament rules and guidelines to comport with Olympic guidelines. The style has never recovered.

[@jarnovandevoorde1881]

Interesting to hear your thoughts about wrestling also being an art of positioning, looking at it, it does indeed make sense. Unfortunately being from Belgium, wrestling is definately the weakest part of my game as there simply are few good wrestlers here and even less wrestling clubs. So be it mma clubs or pure wrestling clubs, the wrestling is not up to par to other countries such as eastern europe or USA. A martial art that is also very much on positioning is savate, boxe française. Something that I also recommend to anyone to cross train because such as emphasis is put on footwork. There is a reason why it is seen as the most graceful of the kickboxing arts. One of the reasons why savateurs usually do very well in K-1 kicboxing or Muay Thai after they've adapted. Sadly as long at they insist on leotards it probably won't get the recognition it deserves.

[@MoreAwsomeMetal]

Thanks for your vid! The answer you gave me last week in the comments was god enough, but now everything is clearer. If I get it well, you're just saying that any martial art actually is a part of the "puzzle" and that you need to take each valuable part of the puzzle to become a good fighter? (or did I get it wrong?)

[@RamseyDewey]

Basically, yes.

[@FalcoMerc]

Fast version yes it can be used in a fight. Now for the long version I'm a boxer I love it from my experience I would say that boxing it covers a lot of aspects about fighting you learn how to position, hit, dodge, block.... and the most important you usually do sparing so you also are learning how to receive a punch, how to control anxiety during a fight boxing should be fundamental to any martial art enthusiast. In most martial arts they teach you to kick, grapple or punch but not that many martial arts teach how to applied it. For example you can be an excellent marksman with firearms but unless you practice how to pull your gun out of your holster those marksman skills doesn't mean anything in life threat scenario.

[@hej9110]

I must be really lucky because at my taekwondo classes we learn so much about footwork and managing the distance

[@N4TXTV]

Taekwondo can be used by adults effectively if they incorporate boxing or something, for me people would be best doing Thai Boxing that way you have everything covered, I had a sparring session with a very good Wing Chun guy and took him out with one kick to the shin! I tried it on another guy and it worked again

[@dannooooooo]

i also started with TKD as a kid. it seems to be the gateway drug for martial arts haha. I think it provides a good base though for learning how to kick and it seemed to really help me later when I began training muay thai. and some of the kicks are good to know (side kick, spinning back kick, etc). also when I first started training lethwai, we had a tkd guy in there, fairly high level (military search and rescue tech, so in phenomenal condition, and the government paid for him to train tkd and send him to competitions). He had the hardest round house kicks ive ever felt, to this day. Very wirey guy, around 6'2, so long thin legs that cracked like a whip. So I think TKD is a great piece for a fighter to learn, and if you train hard it can be useful, but you need to learn more to really be able to defend yourself or compete in MMA. Cause you'll have no hands and 0 understanding of grappling.

[@godly8781]

my dojang teaches boxing twice to once a week and is getting into jiujitsu after lockdown. I have used taekwondo in the street and found it very helpful.

[@gingercore69]

On the other hand, alex wong(a taekwondo youtuber) teaches some interesting footworks to get outside of the oponent... And ive learnt a footwork pattern from soo bahk do that when people spar wuth me they say it looks like i dissapear and apear out of nowhere sometimes(and im not particulary fast... But the footwork is used at the same time i punch to the face, and i take the oportunity to move away while they have my hand still smashing at their face... Ive seen a similar thing done by lomachenko, but ive learnt it from soo bahk do...

[@charrleschervanik3632]

Funny thing, Coach Ramsey. You mentioned Wing chun, and it's affectiveness being when you know what position is, via boxing or wresting. I couldn't agree more, seeing as I both wrestle and box, and have started using the (what I say early grappling) bit of wing chun in my little personal style. For example, the "useless" inside middle block. For blocking strikes, it's obviously ineffective. But what I see as a Wrestler is a traditional version of going 2 on 1 when you have wrist control. Like you said trapping. And by a 2 on 1, I mean the takedown when you bring an opponents wrist like a seat belt, whilst sprawling to give yourself the top position. So as a wrestler, I understand that Wing chun is the, what I refer to as, art of hand fighting. As it stays in hand fighting range.

[@midnightchurningspriteshaq8533]

Great advice!

[@brokenradio9590]

Hi Ramsey, another beautiful question from the most laddish fan you have. I have a friend who is suffering from alcohol addiction, it is starting to show physically as he has put on a lot of weight and he is not as healthy as he used to be. I'm trying to encourage him to get back in shape like he used to be but he just starts moaning and telling me that he would rather I didn't bring it up becuase it makes him feel insecure and paranoid, he will then start telling me that I am judgemental of people who are not in shape and that I'm putting on a "macho gym bro attitude" even though I would like to think that my personality is far from that XD. However if he keeps thinking like that and doesn't stop drinking then it's only going to get MUCH worse. Do you have any advice on how I can help him?

[@FredKuneDo]

@Ramsey, there are some differences between Round(house)-kikcks in styles. You are right, that the competition systems change a lot, but still the Taekwondo and Karate Roundkick has a different style of chambering and snapping, than in Muay Thai. When you look for an example: in Kyokushin and Muay Thai, both using the roundkick in "full contact context", hitting with the shin, they still use a very different kicking technique. But this does not mean one is less good in full contact, than the other. And yes, of course: Teakwondo-Practioners can be very good kickboxers and MMA-Fighters, when they learn to use and slightly change their techniques in the context of the other competition rules.

[@RamseyDewey]

If your taekwondo instructor didn’t teach the difference between a round snap kick with the instep, one with the ball of the foot, and a round turning kick with the shin, they did you a great disservice.

[@FredKuneDo]

@@RamseyDewey, first, I am NOT from Taekwondo, I am from Kyokushin and Muay Thai. Then: Hitting targets with the ball of the foot is even worse than with the instep In full contact fighting. What I meant was actually my own experience with friends from Taekwondo, because many Taekwondo and some Karateka from Shotokan and other styles, really think they can kick with the instep in full contact, hurting their feet in "K1-Kickboxing" or "Knockdown Karate". It is quite logical: Depending on competition in systems, punching and kicking, stances and movement changes to adapt. You delivered an example a few days ago, while reading from the Book of Jack Dempsey, who knew and taught "vertical punching" in Boxing. This is a good example, because vertical punching were the favorite method in "pugilsm" and early Boxing before the safety of gloves changed Boxing to horizontal punches.

[@travesty-studios]

My Korean friend over in Singapore always yells at me when I give that tkd translation, the "foot" part better translates to something like "step on", but virtually means the same thing.

[@silembochum3120]

Hi ramsey, I just recently started training in MMA and I would like to ask: Do I need a wide variety of training partners? The gym Im at is the only reasonably close gym that trains wrestling as well as boxing, muay thai and bjj. Problem is there are relatively few people at that gym, so sparring partners are limited. Second question is related: I train more than anyone my age (15) at the gym and can already feel myself improving relative to the other people my age. My fear is that Ill eventually reach the point where there is no one there that is an even fight, Ill always either get trounced by the amateur fighters who train as often as me but are bigger and stronger, or Ill easily defeat those that are my size/age because I train 2-3 times as much as them. The problem is theres no one here my size/weight/age that wants to fight amateur or even professional like I do or do this as anything more than a sort of hobby. Should I look for a different gym to find a larger variety of training partners, or will I still improve without decently even fights? I am very happy with the coaches at the gym.

[@SN-ym1sv]

Most of use who don't love in the biggest cities have kind of these problems.. Go to Sparring meetings (don't know if that's the right word im German) and go to train at other full contact gyms from time to time.. Even if it's boxing or other martial arts that I usually don't train.. And u will see that there are some really competitive people in most gyms and these will be the ones you want to pair with.. Be nice and don't try to prove something when you're going there, try to learn from them ;)

[@SN-ym1sv]

And at some point if you're going to be more professional your trainer should put you together with specific partners but it sounds like you're not at this point now so u can just do it yourself like I said

[@silembochum3120]

@@SN-ym1sv that's actually a great idea, I wonder if it can be arranged at all. Ive never heard of specific meetings like that, then again I wasnt looking, but Im sure if I ask around Ill find a gym willing to let me spar there. Thanks for the advice!

[@SN-ym1sv]

@@silembochum3120 are u from Germany?

[@bartangel4867]

Everything in this video makes perfect sense the more dimensional fighter is the better fighter he is. and many martial arts that are missing certain things if combined with others can be very effective.

[@ReallyTwistedHumor]

I did TKD as a kid (I mean 8-12 year old kid, basically I got bullied at school and my Mum couldn't find a kickboxing gym nearby) under Kim Stones; the '91 world champion, 3x world team champion, 8x Brtish Champion....you can see the rest, I'm not gonna sit here hyping him up, his record is there to see. Now I haven't set foot in a Dojo for years (Although I plan on getting back into some kind of Martial Arts when Covid lockdowns end, if only for fitness) but I distinctly remember that while our kicks were important, hands were allowed and encouraged in sparring; as were knees and elbows and sparring was expected/mandatroy from everyone who had been there for more than a couple of months. Also something that Kim Stones used to do at his school back in the 90s was bring in experienced and certified teachers from other schools every couple of months; as in he would pay teaching fees, hotel and plane tickets to host a Capoeria, Escrima, Judo ect teacher for a few weeks and they would work alongside the TKD teachers; which, combined with the fact that I learned to bareknuckle box due to having Irish family and it being a somewhat cultural thing gave me a pretty usuable skillset. It's an approach that teachers who trained under Kim Stones who have gone on to open their own Dojos and Academies have gone on to implement; having a TKD teacher work alongside teachers of other schools under the same roof.

[@Berkelium_BK]

Can you go into detail in a future video how boxing and wrestling teach position better than Taekwondo?

[@nonahlove7135]

Ramsey, I was curious. What type of injuries can professional fighters fight through? What injuries are more painful than others? Broken ribs? Dislocated joints? Concussions? Bruised muscles starting to give out? Maybe blows to internal organs? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

[@Q.Lawrence]

I agree with this assessment. I would like to add that there is a noticeable difference between WTF and ITF Taekwondo. I've always felt that ITF is more practical; the hands are more involved in sparring and you don't fight with the hogu. I've trained both styles. I definitely prefer ITF.

[@pats3714]

Well, you're fit, that's a start. Yeah, and I do remember some guy from prison, telling me how this guy brought down another with low kicks. I was pretty skinny at the time, and into Kung Fu, so I guess his advice was well meant.

[@cpt.ahab_it7044]

A combination of kicks, punches, blocks, and sweeps works best, call it what you want to .

[@tenzoroku]

my tkd dojang was inside a health and fitness facility and it was nice that the daycare is far away from the classroom.

[@heavymeddle28]

If I play table-tennis and get into a fight and gives him a backhand?!. Is table-tennis a good fighting style?

[@zipper4146]

TKD was my first martial art, and after training in bjj, judo, and now wing chun, I feel much more confident in my TKD.

[@bodamyan_bg]

Hey, salut to yaall in Shanghai- China from all-over the world out there!! *:) Luv & Respect

[@anacc7077]

My master would punch me in the face while TKD sparring if I led my guard down. It's not about the art, it's about how you practice it.

[@fa1_z]

Hey Ramsey! You said when you were in your early 20s (in a previous video) you suffered some health problems that had you recovering, unable to work out/take care of yourself, etc while you got better. I’m wondering - how did you regain that lost weight and muscle? I’ve faced similar health issues, and am currently around 20lb underweight. Energy levels are low as one would imagine. I realize you’ll likely tell me to start slow and small - but I’m wondering if you had any sort of plan, specific research you did, etc? I understand that was many years ago - but how would you face “retraining” your body nowadays? Thanks!

[@godfistmartialarts6567]

Can you make a video breaking down "the art of positioning "?

[@RamseyDewey]

That would be a very long video! Every technique in fighting has position relative to it. I have made many videos breaking down position, footwork, angles, etc. As far as the stand up game goes, this might help simplify things: Here’s a drill I taught to my boxing class today: square up with your partner, don’t throw any punches, no grappling, no clinching, no tying up, just footwork- and try to touch your partner’s back right between the shoulders. If you are in position to touch your partner’s back, even for a split second before he squares up with you, then you are in the correct position to strike.

[@godfistmartialarts6567]

Thank you so much! Long time viewer and long time practicing martial artist. I'm always trying to incorporate what works. Dedicated to the search for and teaching the truth. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@kz5058]

The weakness of most styles is that your sparing partners attack using your styles methods. I was able to use TKD against all types of fighters because I expected all types of attacks. Timing and distance were always important. I did have to add some other fighting styles to it, but as far as kicking goes it's an excellent style to master. You can make your kicks even better by blending it with Muay Thai. Add some grappling skills from Chin na, Akijujutsu, Judo, Wrestling, and learn to punch like a boxer. That will eliminate most weaknesses.

[@alLEDP]

Maybe I just accumulated the knwoledge by cross training in other arts but I am pretty sure in olympic style taekwondo sparring their is a BIG emphasis on footwork and positioning. (have a look at @philipp yun s channel he does a decent job in explaining it) I have the feeling that pure TKD players are used to kicking in every distance and situation although the angle and distance favors another kind of technique like striking clinching or takedowns because they dont know anything else. I think a complete fighter should know WHEN to use his tools. Not only HOW to use the tools. I don't just throw a RH kick in stricking/takedown defence without setup unlesss I have plan/know what I do.

[@Tora209]

I feel it has to do with a lot of "counter kicking" Like you have to either block and quickly get your kick done or counter his kick with one of yours

[@alLEDP]

@@Tora209 Yeah I think that has sth to do with this too. But in a lot of cases where you have the time to counter kick you could do sth else which better your position even more like a strike or a leg catch or a takedown. Idk

[@olumideayorinde1367]

Taekwondo has a lot of hand techniques punches, elbows, palmheel strikes, knee kicks, even joint locks but unfortunately, most schools dont practice it anymore and focus on watered down system. The techniques are there but they need to be revisited. Thats all

[@rottweilerfun9520]

Good point about boxing and Tae Kwon Do. I boxed before Tae Kwon Do and won a lot of tournaments because I could punch and fight in general. I did get jumped by four guys as a teenager, I was pretty drunk but I did manage to use TKD , I kicked two of them were in the face , breaking a nose and a jaw I found out later. I don't remember much after throwing those kicks , I woke up on the floor , still wasted.

[@felipe_sousa97]

I guess the main problem with taekwondo is the way they thought the sport version of it, in taekwondo we have some punches, joint locks, joint breaking and etc, and in many schools you almost never train the application of these techniques, also they don't learn how do spar using punches and I think it's necessary, in full contact karate and kung fu you need to learn boxing because is the best way to train punches without hurting your partner, if sports TKD used more punches it would be way more easier to apply the techniques in full contact sports like Kickboxing and MMA

[@NMbones98]

It's just best to mix your fighting style up learn more than one it's the best answer

[@brauliochavez2231]

i do think tkd ( some tkd) is great in both punches and kicks, some knees, some elbows, some joint attacks, etc etc... except grappling i think it all depends on which tk style you learn. and how you use it. but always cross train, train against boxers, against amateurs, againts experienced fightiers, mma put yourself out there so your tkd can be more.

[@3rd-eye-neenja563]

tkd keeped me from getting beat in a rough neighborhood growing up,, i laid waste to many bullies and had to fight off multiple attackers numerous times,,,,tkd is no the same how it was taught 30-plus years ago.

[@Shootingstarcomics]

Yeah, I took TKD back in the early 80s and this guy that was taking it at the same time used to get in a lot of fights later on. I’ve seen him defend himself against several people at once. One time he elbowed a marine so hard he did a flip. The school is still open and the same instructor is still there, if I can get my kicks up to head level again I’m going back.

[@dancata7644]

Masterfully explained

[@tritchie6272]

The silver lining to the Martial Arts themed daycare I guess is,it gets kids up and moving. And that should in theroy at least be good for the kids health. Of course one can also hope that the kid learns something useful in the process. Not sure why but I felt like finding and posting a Silver Lining.Now I need to finish getting ready for Church. It's nice to have a Sunday off work.

[@mrx2586]

you talked about position and precision being important. how important are timeing a will?

[@ianbrew8760]

hello kotch Ramsey 2 question that go together would you add or subtract to the idea thought fighting can be ruffle broken dawn to 6 things, timing position technique speed pawer and stamina? this would be helpful as a focusing tool for me and though I don't know you, I feel as if though on most action I can trust your words a they greatly seem like the personals truth of some one who has knowledge about the world and about fighting, but aside from the fane mail pees of this. any advise about this idea of braking dawn haw to think off training and where to pout energy and in what way? would be grate. as I don't have a teacher or the cash to pay one. and am trying to understand the way of thinking involved with growing of skill and not just understanding the skill it self

[@SavedSnake]

Honestly I feel only if your at the top of your game tae kwon Doe is not practical for an actual combat situation...too much build up before the strike and WAY to much air time..LOL..over all it is too flashy..BUT..Pertaining to training in kicks it is probably the best martial art...BESIDES MUAY THAi...so in a sense...like many martial arts...ALONE..the style will most likely be a long shot in an actual combat situation.

[@Tora209]

Bro, i practice taekwondo and we are not doing 360s all day, we can kick straight and quick to get the job done

[@SavedSnake]

@@Tora209 I didn't say it's useless or a waste of time...TBH if I was more agile I'd probably try to learn to do some flying kicks myself....but for now I stick to straight to the point strikes.

[@Tora209]

@@SavedSnake I didn't say it was a waste of time either, I just sayed that it doesn't have exactly "build up"

[@SavedSnake]

@@Tora209 well than minus all the circus tricks and Tah dah!! You got yourself some MUAY THAI!!

[@Tora209]

@@SavedSnake that's like saying that karate and boxing are the same thing cus they punch the same That's not exactly a valid argument, every martial art does the exact same thing as another one, and even then we consider them different It's not the technique that's being used, it's the how they teach you to use it