I know everyone hates Taekwondo but... hear me out... I've been converted

[@PhilipAJones]

I'd imagine after getting a solid foundation in other arts, the intricacies of TKD become more appealing.

[@inside_fighting]

That’s the realization i came to. I’m glad it’s not my base but I’m loving the idea of training it now.

[@ForHonorUSMC]

You speak the truth. Got my black belt when I was 15, and left TKD after. Trained mostly on my own for 10+ years. Now that I've studied many arts since then, I see how to make certain TKD movements way, away more effective.

[@neocloudmarts9613]

@@inside_fightingI think you should keep attending. The athletic training and speed with the martial arts skills is fantastic.

[@neocloudmarts9613]

By the way I had the similar experience as yourself. Taekwondo can kick you before you punch. All styles Taekwondo is effective

[@neocloudmarts9613]

@@inside_fightingstrongly disagree about Taekwondo does not work in self defence. The reason being a florist in Greece (woman) Taekwondo black belt (who was not a mma fighter) took on four men armed knives and beat them. If you can read Greek it is in the papers about 12yrs old

[@c.b.1378]

The interesting thing is that in the forms of Kukki (national) Taekwondo (which is the actual name of the style people tend to call WTF Taekwondo), there are more arm techniques than leg-techniques. In the complete Kukkiwon curriculum(as defined in the Kukkiwon Textbook), the self-defense curriculum encourages high guard, boxing style punches and body movement, knees, elbows, low kicks, takedowns and even limited groundwork and joint locks, and even modern training methods and more complete sparring. The problem is that 95% of what people are spending time on in Kukki Taekwondo clubs, is training for WT(F) style competition, since winning competition brings prestige to the school, and in the process they effectively ignore the rest of the system. If people had spent more time training the complete system, Kukki Taekwondo would NOT have had a reputation as such an incomplete martial art. Here's a demo (with high movie-fu factor) by the Kukkiwon of the modern Kukki Taekwondo self-defense curriculum, and while it is obiously made to look like an action movie, every technique that is shown in the demo is in the actual Kukki Taekwondo system, including the head punches, low kicks, takedowns, joint locks and weapon techniques: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZqUnKSBfstnns0

[@CharlieBark-y2x]

Didn't know that! Thanks for sharing!

[@felipeleeuwen]

The thing with superficial martial arts fans, is they forget that these traditional martial arts were developed and used in ancient battles, including taekwondo. Sure, a lot were lost in time, but with a good school and teacher, they are definitely worth it.

[@dx5soundlabs939]

the biggest problem with traditional martial arts isn't that the techniques don't work, it's the lack of realistic applications training... the more MMA evolves and advances the more you see it circling back to traditional techniques people used to scoff at... i think if it continues long enough eventually MMA will essentially come to embrace all the traditional techniques, just with better applications...

[@jashardwallington]

Bro both of yall are so right

[@davefletch3063]

Taekwondo was stolen and repackaged karate, but the ROK soldiers in south Korea seem to make it work well

[@nephilim2051]

I hold a first dan black in tae kwon do. It's a mere supplement for my other styles, as tkd focuses on kcks. The hip twist conditioning to make kicks snap is something I took from it. My graduation to black was breaking a 2x4 lumber complete with corners, with an "axe" kick, as my undefeated Korean national champion instructor calls it. I learned the old school, and man, I've been turning side bashed in the diaphragm so many times, which ended with me curled up like a child on the ground unable to breath. In tournaments, I've fractured my jaw and clavicle, but it also won me the national championship inspite of the injuries. Old school tkd, is legit. My instructor fought off 8 guys while he was drunk and they were all sent to the hospital. His name was Kyu Sang Han.

[@kaguth]

I earned a black belt in TKD also and my instructor learned under Grandmaster Chung Kee Tae. I feel like they also came from a more old-school TKD background as they were very concerned with practical application. There were also kickboxing and Muay Thai classes at my school so I eventually transitioned to that. Whenever I went to a new Muay Thai school, they were always impressed with the variety and power of my kicks. It's funny because TKD is typically more of a snapping kick while Muay Thai is a follow-through power kick, but I think the hip flexibility I had gained in TKD translated very well to the power Muay Thai kicks. Anyway, I think it is generally good to learn multiple Martial Arts and styles and I don't regret learning TKD.

[@turbopowergt]

@@kaguth I agree. I learned some Muay Thai when I was studying Jeet Kun Do. TKD added a lot to my precision and more target options when the opportunity came up.

[@turbopowergt]

To clarify, my original style was Tae Kwon Do.

[@King75102]

​@kaguth That's interesting. You're really lucky to have trained in old-school taekwondo. When I look at footage of old school taekwondo, its fascinating to see how much power their kicks had. Since you've trained in both Muay thai and old school taekwondo, which style would you say has the more damaging front kicks ?

[@turbopowergt]

@@King75102 That’s an interesting and hard question, and it has been a few decades since I’ve trained seriously. TKD has a several different options for the front kick, but assuming it’s a rear leg front kick similar to a teep I would say that against another trained fighter they would be similar. I think the TKD front kick could be delivered with more power against a target. The reel is often used to push people back, but TKD uses it more as a precision power strike. I’ll use a teep at short range before a TKD front kick because the teep can still work if gets a little jammed up. The TKD front kick not so much. But my experience was in the 90s before Muay Thai became as big as it is. I would love to hear from others.

[@PytheasNZ]

Out of curiosity you should look into ITF (International TaeKwon-Do Federation) style as well. It was originally developed for the South Korean army. They use both legs and hand techniques. Tremendous power as well

[@anthonygerber8261]

Yeah, my students lost for excessive contact to the body at a recent ITF tournament.

[@Autonomous_617]

Ya, as a kid I stayed away from itf due to its lack of aggression and point style scoring. I dont care what the style is, the fight should NOT stop everytime a point is scored. WTF lacks punching but at least you get 3, 3-minute rounds.

[@rcosta98]

​@@Autonomous_617ITF sparring is only point stop until blue belt, after blue belt it is continuous and at black belt level sparring it's pretty much a full contact sport

[@yearlytwomonthly6113]

Itf is real TKD way more brutal than WTF TKD that’s in the Olympics lol it’s from North Korea 🇰🇵

[@gabrielorellana6544]

​@@yearlytwomonthly6113It's not from North Korea lol

[@General_Kenobi_212]

One of the first martial arts channels I ever saw here on KZbin when I was new to martial arts and looking for kicking tips was (Kwonkicker), a Taekwondo/kickboxing guy who's trained in Thailand and even did a seminar on kicking at Tiger Muay Thai. His tutorials helped me tremendously when I was just starting out years ago, and showed how great Taekwondo and traditional martial arts kicks could be in in kickboxing/mma (Edit) I just checked cause I haven't looked at his stuff in ages, but he's still around. He just goes by the channel name (Micah Brock) now and still seems to have his old videos up 👍

[@xGarrettThiefx]

I remember that guy, he's a fantastic martial artist!

[@ricrey431]

From what I recall, he had the best instructional videos on Tae Kwon Do that I've came across. You know of other channels that are of that caliber of kicking?

[@crisalcantara7671]

general kenobi .

[@General_Kenobi_212]

@@crisalcantara7671 Hello there

[@808frontline]

I’ve never trained TKD but I had many many tkd buddies and I will say this: “The very best kickboxers that I’ve ever seen were TKD guys who have trained Boxing” I grew up in the Kenpo, Kajukenbo and Kung fu scene. Tkd guys have great cardio, great flexibility, great balance and they understand that attributes are just as important n maybe even more important then techniques. If you mix: 1. TKD 2. Boxing 3. Judo or Jiujitsu You will have a far more elite striking stylist then your average Thai boxer. And for street fights the tkd mindset of hitting and not getting hit versus Thai boxing attitude of absorb and fire back is far superior.

[@rbrb7869]

Your channel is the best fight channel for me because you are so open-minded. You can always see the best in a martial art. In my opinion it also shows your combat experience. Many other channels talk about different styles, but if you say something positive about a style, I think you mean it. I don't see this on many other channels.

[@inside_fighting]

I appreciate that

[@hanivdoniv]

I hope TKD's explosive in-out footwork gets talked more like this video, especially good to translate that footwork skill to mma since TKD's far range is similar to mma.

[@junichiroyamashita]

How are they similar?

[@hanivdoniv]

@junichiroyamashita mma fight usually has long distance between two fighters like TKD.

[@bentinho]

TKD was my first art, I was lucky to train and compete in the late 90's-early 2000's during what is now being called by some as the "Power Era". Which is the time the training footage you used is from. Man, we trained to kick *hard* moving in all directions, not just fast. One of the guidelines to score in competition at the time was having to physically displace our opponent with our kick ("trembling shock" was what they called it). Timing drills, reaction drills, incredible footwork -- which I still don't see utilized in other combat sports -- we trained and fought orthodox and southpaw...it was a time... My teachers motto was, "If we lose it won't be because we're out of shape." lol He also told us a back kick isn't a good back kick if it doesn't fold the heavy bag. The style is very different now, even for me and it's only been 20 something years. The electronic hogu really changed the game.

[@dx5soundlabs939]

wholeheartedly agree...i learned TKD, and use it immensely in terms of footwork + kicking...especially useful if you're someone who switches from orthodox to southpaw a lot (something TKD really focuses on)... the ability to change ranges quickly and deceptively is indeed phenomenal... using it in combination with muay thai/kenpo/hapkido/kickboxing makes it extremely useful...but as you said, only as a supplemental art...

[@inside_fighting]

It's cool to hear you use it in the way I hope to eventually.

[@dx5soundlabs939]

@@inside_fighting thank you... i was just really stoked to see someone actually acknowledge its benefits... the other thing: hook kicks.. the TKD style snapping hook kick is absolutely terrifying when someone truly masters it... most MMA/kickboxing guys swing the leg up and hook the heel, but in TKD you essentially do a roundhouse kick past the person's head and use the momentum to snap your heel back... it's far sharper, snappier, faster, and more explosive... and even better, most people see it and think you just missed the roundhouse kick so they're not even looking for the hook... was my bread and butter kick until i tore my ACL

[@blaa443blaa2]

"Never underestimate a system , because it's trendy or not". Thanks for this . Exactly what I've been thinking all the time. Trends come and go because we are on a shared martial arts journey together- we learn from each other, from other systems.. I started with taekwondo, aikido and still doing them along other arts. Taekwondo distance management and reflexes and aikido rolling are infact the only skills I have ever needed to protect myself.

[@grantoaklands4724]

What a great video, thanks 😊. Started TKD in the 70s, trained in Korea in the 80s, got my 4th dan (WTF) in the 90s. Still training, and combine TKD skills with boxing and grappling. TKD done well is an elite movement and kicking system. THANKS to you I am going to adopt and use "Old School Taekwondo". 😊

[@inside_fighting]

Super cool! I am glad to hear that you liked the video :)

[@VenturiLife]

Front Kick - Ap Chagi (“Ap Cha-gee”). Other great kicks are The Inner/Outer Crescent Kick (“An Chagi / Bakkat Chagi”) and Wheel kick.

[@noslen1968]

3rd Dan 80s power TKD here. The footwork I have gained from TKD is the most useful thing about it. The extreme range of TKD kicks, is also surprising. You must understand the limitations, strengths and scope of any martial art. TKD, like many martial arts, is geared towards competition - where rules have been 'gamed' to simply win in a tournament. The same could be said of BJJ where pulling guard in a striking match would be bad, for example - hate away... (GJJ blue belt)

[@inside_fighting]

No hate :)

[@raven69600]

Taekwondo is the military equivalent of the USAF… we get shit on by everyone else, but everyone else wants to be in the USAF! 😉. I started in Karate ( very loosely taught) back when I was 7, got into plenty of street fights from 7 to 12… grew up in the projects, it’s what we did…. Started ITF TKD…” Kukkiwan “ back in 82 at the age of 12 until 17 while also wrestling and boxing throughout junior high and high school… I went off to serve in the military, and in my travels I learned a little bit of various arts, Muy Thai, Kickboxing, etc…. Now after a 35 year hiatus I just earned my 1st Dan Blackbelt in wait for it…. The same Dojang I got my start in wayyyy back in 1982! I have to say, this is a very well done video about TKD…🤙🏾👊🏾🙏🏽

[@willjefferies192]

Okay... So obviously I'm a subscriber and I appreciate your content as a curious/thoughtful student of martial arts. Sensei Seth has recently branched out and done Sumo, Savat, wing Chun etc...after doing a tier list he has since admitted was based in ignorance of most of the styles he critiqued. And I feel like that is what a lot of content creators do...I just saw a "keysi" doesn't work a day or 2 after your video on it...and basically came back to they don't do it in MMA (slightly more nuanced but you get the gist) Keep doing stuff like this.

[@VenturiLife]

That episode was from National Geographic with Bren Foster (an Australian martial artist / actor). Bren is also an exceptional athlete, and martial artist, so a lot of the power/accuracy does come down to the practitioner as usual. His kick was measured at 219km/h (136.08mph) with 1042kg (2297.22lb) of force behind it. What you can get from TKD is indeed the kicks, speed, and athleticism, as it's very dynamic. Also look into Hwa Rang Do.

[@inside_fighting]

He’s a specimen but the kick was a perfect tkd kick and demonstrates how effective it can be

[@VenturiLife]

@@inside_fighting For sure.

[@inside_fighting]

@@VenturiLife gonna deep dive in tk hwarangdo soon

[@stoopidhaters]

​@@inside_fightingYeah his technique is amazing and what's so unique is he is not planted like typical Dutch or Thai Kickboxers so his base foot pivots off the ground which would add more Speed and Power due to zero friction.

[@johndough8115]

The one thing I didnt like about that specific show... was that they didnt really compare Apples to Apples. I believe the TKD kicker, was the only one of the artists, to take a single step with his kick. Obviously, if your whole body is stepping in... its gained forwards momentum, which is added to the power of your legs kick. They also didnt factor in the MASS of each of the fighters. I believe that they claimed that the Boxer had the strongest punches. However, the little Chinese dude, used like less than 6 inches of travel, and got like 600 PSI. If you weight a third of the boxers mass... and only use 6 inches of travel to generate that much power... you are probably actually much more powerful, in comparison (Pound for Pound). Not to mention, that same Chinese dude, could have also have thrown a Longfist punch instead... and compared that to the boxers strikes. And... they also could have tested each fighters Short Range power generation potentials, against each other. Nothing was what it Seemed, as far as Results goes... due to bad testing methods. According to Glen Levy... his first short range Fajin Hammerfist, actually broke the sensor that previously stood up to all of these artists strikes / kicks. They then installed a much stronger sensor... Likely the kind that are in Planes Black-Boxed, that can stand up to the forces of a Plane Crash. According to Glen, his strike created over 12,000 PSI. The show didnt want to reveal this to the Public masses... so instead, they said that his forces were the Equivalent of getting hit by a car moving at something like 60 mph (paraphrasing, as I cant recall the exact MPH / Wording). Not to discredit the dudes kick. Obviously, very good power on it.

[@alexanderren1097]

15:20 “It is fencing with your feet.” I love that you brought that up because the fundamental kicks of TKD are indirectly from Savate which is French “foot fencing” that was developed in France partly because of the bans on dueling with swords. And these kicks were adopted into Shotokan Karate during the early 20th Centuries just as the Koreans where there to learn Shotokan and who later adapted it and created TKD TKD then took the kicking aspect and dialed it up to OVER 9000!!!

[@thedappermagician6905]

To an extent but it's fundamentals are truly from Taekkyon

[@c.b.1378]

@@thedappermagician6905 It is not. All of the founders of the original kwans had background mainly from Shotokan Karate and some other Karate styles. There are no documentation that any of them trained Taekkyon extensively. However, as Taekkyon was considered korean, they created a mythology around it in order to legitimize Taekwondo as a uniquely korean sport. However, as someone who has trained both Shotokan Karate, Taekwondo and Taekyon, Taekkyon is way different from the other two.

[@ishudshutup]

Sorry, have to disagree here. The closest art to Taekwondo is Taekkyon. Taekwondo is a more practical version of Taekkyon or could even be considered v2.0. The kicks are all the same, a lot of circular and jumping motion combinations like the spinning round house, crescent kicks, and jumping side kicks. Not only that, it's the combination of these kicks that Taekwondo retains with it's explosive multi kick drives. Could the originators of Taekwondo have been influenced by other styles, certainly, but as in modernizing it and removing the fluff kind of way.

[@ynghuch]

There's a good handful of fighters in the UFC alone with taekwondo backgrounds. Thug Rose and Antony Pettis, both great fighters with great kicks.

[@inside_fighting]

Agreed yet somehow their base is overlooked

[@giqwaju3691]

Yair...

[@Ghostface__x_]

Edson Barboza, Petr Yan, Sage Northcutt(ex) Smooth Benson Henderson

[@ret1sgreyes]

I earned 2nd Dan in ITF TKD back in '84 my junior year of high school. It took me 10 years of training. Then during my time in the Army at Ft Bragg I found a Tracy's Kenpo Dojo and learned that system. It took me 4 years to earn my 1st Dan in 1989 due to Army scheduling and field duties. Both styles complement each other. Now I train to keep the body fit.

[@The31st]

I competed in WTF tournaments as a student and what I found was that with the electronic system, you have to fine tune your weight. The electronic scoring system only registered a point of you hit their pad with your foot pad (which only covers the top of your foot) with enough force to register on their system. The amount of force needed to score depends on the weight class you're in. I competed in -64, -68, and -74kg. Before the fight you test the system by doing some little kicks on the helmet and chest guard to make sure they are working. In my first year of uni I was at -64 and little taps would score points. In my 3rd year I competed again but I'd put on some size in the gym and was now walking around mid 70s. I didn't feel like cutting weight so I just went in at -74 and when it came time for the test hits I tried the little tap and nothing happening. So I hit it a little harder, still nothing. To score I actually needed to give it some at that weight, which makes sense cos it's 10kg up. That was the first time I realised that the weight class was going to make a big difference. At competitions like that it's not uncommon for there to be some weight classes with not with ppl so they merge them. That puts the lighter ppl at a big disadvantage cos now they have to hit hard enough to score on the heavier system. But it's why the high level guys you watch at the Olympics now don't have to hit hard. They have fine tuned their weight to power ratio. I guess it also makes sense for one day tournaments to avoid injuries and exhaustion. I also fought a really great guy there who made me realise how different the levels were. He was a national team member for Cyprus but a guy who has never actually made the team to compete for them. And his mastery of distance control was like nothing I'd ever seen. Again, it played the system by moving in and out just enough that I couldn't cleanly land the top of my foot on him. Either just far out enough that I was landing with my toes and couldn't deliver the force I needed to score, or all the way in so that I was landing with my shin and not the foot pad. Made me think how good Olympians must be.

[@khublieoldschoolgamer5737]

Steven Chee's Advanced TKD was my first love in martial arts, i also practiced Rhee TKD and another hybrid style called Yun Jung Do geared towards self defense. If you take a close look at the difference's in the TKD round kick and some turning kicks in it's different styles you will notice WTF tends to focus on speed with a slightly more vertical arc, where as your older styles tend to kick on more horizontal arc with a small jump with the foot on the supporting leg about an inch off the ground, it is very subtle but it's there and it helps generate a more powerful kick without loosing to much speed. Bren Foster also fought in Thailand having also trained in Muay Thai. And hats of to Joe Rogan for having two of the most powerful turning back kicks (it's not a spining back kick), and side kicks in the world. Yair Rodriguez is one of the most dynamic fighters in the UFC today.

[@ssths]

OOHHH I cant wait to see your thoughts on taekwondo. I have a lot to say about how underappreciated and misapplied TKD is. I gotta say man, you are the best Martial arts youtuber I know of. Youre one of few people I have encountered who I can tell has managed to start attaining unity with the Spirit of Martial Arts. I see martial arts as a Principality, that encompasses many many aspects of human existence, when you go deeper into its study. The hard sciences(physics etc.), philosophy, psychology, sociology, History, Human Geography and Anthropology, etc all have a place in martial arts. Martial Arts is this complex deep thing, that most people only scratch the surface of. and the few who go deeper, often do so at the expense of other avenues of their life. Youre one of a few, who has been able to reach some level of "knowing" of that Spirit, and still be successful in other areas. Even more youve managed to make the study of that Spirit, something profitable for you. Props to you man, you rock. keep doing what you do.

[@inside_fighting]

Really appreciate that. That’s the nicest comment I’ve ever gotten 😅 I’m motivated me to keep going 🙏🏼

[@The31st]

I would say my favourite thing TKD teaches you is switching stances and being effective in both. You learn to do everything on both sides which very few styles teach.

[@turbopowergt]

I learned TKD from a kickboxer on a military base in the 80s. I supplemented with Wing Chun, Boxing and Judo and competed in open point tournaments. Point tournaments in the 80s were pretty high contact at the Brown and Black Belt levels. TKD gave me all of the attributes you talked about. I was able to use my kicks in street fights. Once I had a guy try to start a fight and I just threw a lead roundhouse kick to his head and controlled so he felt the boot but didn’t hit him. He and his friends just walked away.

[@markmessi9020]

I started in karate and exiled to mma. I ended up gravitating towards boxing and my striking style these days is essentially out boxing with dextrous high kicks sprinkled inbetween combinations. TKD is the same thing, the kicks and dexterity you get from these traditional gi striking styles is unmatched. Great video

[@mountain1ify]

I used TKD (green belt) effectively at least three times in self-defense, in two out of three, knockdowns occured on first strike. First in rear attack, 180 degree reverse elbow to body (he was tall), and in an attack by two people at drinking party, sidekick to body sending guy across the room into corner on his behind (his friend backed off). Thirdly, multiple hammerfists/low block to break a clothesline of two guys's locked arms on top of an escalator at a mall. The explosiveness and strong technique of the art are more than most people can handle, even with a friend. We did lots of kicks and forms with discipline of technique, a little breaking, and almost no sparring. I suppose the training's effectiveness was in how it made you do a technique when the fight part of the fight or flight response occurs. When the bodies reaction to dangerous stress becomes a clean explosive technique under adrenaline, you become effective. This training produces a poor ring fighter, but can form an effective form of self defence. The basic hand movements (just like karate) have many applications, and are easily integrated with weapons, similar to the Dambe Boxing.

[@The31st]

I agree that the big issue with TKD is just finding a good school. I also think that if you're an MMA fighter looking to get some cool new skills, joining a class and spending 1 or 2 nights a week for years to learn it probably isn't the best way. Getting private instruction from someone good is probably more worth your time. Like the city kickboxing guys have with Van Roon in new Zealand. Worth looking into that guy.

[@YousifSaif]

I trained taekwondo for seven years almost during the 90s during what you called it the old school taekwondo before moving to Muaythai and Kyokushin for the past 25 years. If I'll agree with something it will be that taekwondo really developes a unique kind of re action and distance cutting technique. Also it has a strong back turning kick which they call it Ti Chigi ( as an Oshiro mawashi in Kyokushin. I believe taekwondo overall started to go down and moved out from the martial arts dictionary after they joined the Olympics because the way of training has changed to be more like a flashy point system moving to be closer to sports than martial arts. In taekwondo barley they do conditioning training or at least some push-ups, unlike the way you train Muaythai or Kyokushin. Thanks man for sharing all these valuable insights on martial arts. Osu..

[@hkunsam2410]

You can see the taekwondo moves in MMA everytime but people don't actknowledge it

[@CocaineCowboyJones]

Fun fact: Mirko Cro Cop has TKD Background too

[@inside_fighting]

Yes and he had the meanest kick for over a decade

[@The31st]

The double kick is also one of my favourites. It works really well in other sports just cos it's so easy to set up and so unexpected. Japanese kickboxers are really great at it.

[@dasmarkopo]

Nice to see that you're so open minded about martial arts. You have great insict into what martial arts is about. I really appreciate your content, it's all about love of real martial arts.

[@skasteve6528]

I've never had much time for Taekwondo, but my son is five years old, when he's six, I'm signing him up for classes. I consider it a sport, like Judo (my second choice). The main reason is that he is likely to get hit or kicked reasonably safely. I don't want him to get hit or kicked, but I don't want him to freeze if he ever gets hit when he's older. Modern Taekwondo is great for kids because they break things down to simple steps, six year olds don't have a huge attention span.

[@thebaneking4787]

I’m not a TKD guy. I got my yellow belt as a kid but I think the kicks are impressive and if taught correctly is effective. There’s just no need for 360’s and stuff in real combat.

[@bryanking1428]

Great video, being openminded is the way to evolve in martial arts. The people who bash will never be the best.

[@zachariaravenheart]

I was a Taekwondo Instructor for about 2 1/2 years. I had to move on to a better paying job at the end of last year, but I had fun teaching. I always tried to make sure I taught the students the practical applications of the forms once I figured out what they were. The biggest issue with the system is that it is watered down and no longer cares much for practicality, but more for the sport of it. The reason for this is the people training it don't want the practical side of it. They just want to have fun, which is fine. I once asked the advanced class (red, high red and bodan belts) if they would like me to teach them the application of a technique in Form 7, but everyone said no ;-; I was so sad. . . but then I later told the application to one of the black belts and it blew his mind XD

[@inside_fighting]

This is sad to hear. I think thats the problem with the system

[@CalebClark]

I really enjoy my ITF TKD training. It keeps me in shape.

[@carloscruz2850]

Thank you so much for respecting these arts that get put down by closed minded idiots!!👊

[@inside_fighting]

🙏🏼 i like finding the good in these styles

[@CoachPS]

Hey bro, Paris here. Love this video. I came up and got my first black belt in wtf tkd. Got to say I'm happy that I started in that fashion. Tkd hit hard in the 90's. My last tkd tourny in 98 guy took a back spin kick to the head and even though he had a helmet on, he died. Which is why I won't do kyokushin no gear tournaments. Great video as always my man!

[@inside_fighting]

Parisssssssssssss

[@CoachPS]

@@inside_fighting my man!!

[@Shinkenwillow]

I start to teach one year ago and I am totally agree with you! Nowadays I have years since 2016 I was trained at tkd, and not only by a sabum who formerly Olympics in tkd backup in 92 and did kyokushin kay before its so a kind of Yang of my Ying way back from which I would like to be completed with a less tactical wise: the most efficiently within the fews efforts", and finding that it is truly best option if I were able to handle the "classical dance hard to handle's martial art"... I begin from a chinese school legacy "filled with baijquan combat tai chi" wing chun which I have to use for myself defense as a kid multiple times, but my sifu had to stop so I did KB and, as a teen even bodybuilding, which allow me to know the body even better, I studying and now teaching too a lot about this arts... my sifu quote bruce lee "don't do just what you find easy" so after a trouble moment of myown life and kind of PTS I choose, 25yo, not athletic, no stamina, just effectiveness tested and aware that I want not to test it never again I ask myself "what's most hard to me to do? And that I have few years if I want to become kind enough skilled in? (Splits etc) tkd! It was not easy find a school which not do the one which sucks, and in sparring I was unable to follow rules, I tryed and after few kicks taken I became empy minded funds in my elbow stick to opponent's throat or other stuff like this... I was luck a lot cos in the same year I find that from southamerica to italy, read it in a paper on a lamp, "tkd private lesson" and I start it, I wanna kick and my sabum just let me walk, frustrated and bored but never give up... from 2 privates since 4 now and all days 5h of lifestyle, that allows me to learn more easily quite all of other striking arts, even though iaido or hema, or shaoln's dragon style, and takedown locks and how to avoid to be locked in, but just wrestling... 20years improving myself and dedication in studying and practicing, and still having issue in jumping spinning (cheat 720 and tricking stuff makes me feel like dumb but it's a life challenge with ourselves so isn't chance to me to give up)😂😂😂😂❤

[@Patrick-sheen]

McGregor trained a lot of TKD when he was at his prime. Of course he mixed it with other all the other stuff he was excellent at. His instructor killed a guy in a street fight, went to prison and McGregor’s game changed after from what I can see.

[@inside_fighting]

Wow i didn’t know that

[@Patrick-sheen]

I’m sure Gunnar Nelson who is a Goju Ryu black belt had an impact too. His coach John Kavanagh was a black belt in Kenpo. A hybrid Karate, TKD, MT etc style that was following on from the framework Machida had laid down. I think injuries/lifestyle really were the nail in the coffin.

[@bangermccrusher]

Who was that guy?

[@Patrick-sheen]

Was late last night and hadn’t watched the video before commenting. A lot of McGregor’s success came from this TKD training. He absolutely used it as a supplement to his training. I don’t know the full story but he trained at SBG and they used this particular TKD coach who was v well known in Dublin. I don’t know all the details but it’s absolutely a major part of his success. One question: I’d be concerned about injuries as a middle age gentleman, that said, this video has really got me thinking about training this. What would you say about that? Great vid by the way.

[@HaykAmirbekyanTKD]

Mc Gregor lol. Hese stiff and weak. he was just bullying guys half his size.

[@michaelsentilles7009]

The series you are referencing is called Fight Science. It was a great series examining different martial art styles of today and even back into history with weapons.

[@Patrick-sheen]

To Elon, Inside Fighting: you said you lived in Portugal now. If you’re learning the language a really great read is Lyoto Machida’s `O código do dragao’. I could not find it in English for some reason so read it in Portuguese. It might spark another interest in you and/or another video. Your channel is awesome, keep up the great work.

[@ideologinfo]

I've spent 1,5 year in taekwondo 12 years ago. My current Kudo trainer is very impressed with my kicks (even despite a decade long training pause). Yes, taekwondo is a great kicking school.

[@mathmusicstructure]

I've never heard of people hating TKD. That's too bad as a skilled TKD student has incredible range and power. They can knock you out at a distance where you think you are safe.

[@yearlytwomonthly6113]

It’s crazy to know I’ve been training TKD for years and the way he analyzed the attributes in terms of kicking ability and it’s uniqueness I thought all styles that incorporate kicks knew how to do this lol 😆 I thought it was normal training to be that fast but I guess not. I always loved kicking styles and Jean Claude Van Damme 🎉thanks for the insight

[@chuckles2040]

I went back to shotokan for fun, play boxing, rough housing.. We had a TKD / Hapkido well known teacher, just wanted to play round. We started doing playful sparing, and about few days some ground work. Here is what happened. Our BJJ skills skyrocketed. Our Real sparing, was incredibly improved.. all cause we changed our approach to go 95% playful, and 5% hard cord. TKD, BJJ, Hapkido, Daito Ryu Jiu Jitsu Aikijiujitsu..... in learning how to play instead of hard core sparing.... we jumped in level of ability to defend ourselves.

[@LeslieJones_RSTRCTD]

Getting ready for the 30 minute video! 😂 I get your message, and it’s an important one, pick out what works for you and add it to your toolbox. I device I have been going on for the majority of my life, not just for Martial Arts.

[@VasilisJoestar]

I do Wtf Taekwondo and my coach teaches us the old school way, like you said , its effectiveness is based on the coach you find. My coach also have trained the military

[@reidcarabba5941]

I did Taekwondo for 8 years and have been doing Muay Thai for 5 and I can’t say that my Muay Thai style has benefited from the many years of taekwondo. It’s a great sumplimentery martial art

[@SonnyCrocket-p6h]

If you'd seen the real deal "gold badge" (5th Dan and above) from 50 years ago, you'd be laughing at every other style. Those guys really COULD kill you with just their thumb

[@inside_fighting]

They were tkd guys?

[@SonnyCrocket-p6h]

@@inside_fighting better believe it. The 6th Dan who was the judge for my 1'st degree black belt test, March of 1973, Was standing in front of a 2x4 makawira board, hinged to the floor, about 4 ft high, big oil spring keeping it erect. He was chatting with my 5th Dan instructor and striking the rope-wrapped board with casual little palm down knife hand strikes. The board was going all the way to the floor, very noisy He moved away, still talking to Moon, Hyo Kun. I said to my buddy, "Watch THIS and stepped into the board, striking it with all my power and a knife hand. I of course meant to make a lot of noise and impress everyone. It went one THIRD of the way to the floor! Sheesh! It was like watching Eddie Hall fold up skillets with his bare hands. Such things should NOT be possible for human beings to accomplish! have you seen the guy who could poke holes in coconuts with just his forefinger? That should not be possible, either. but he did it, repeatedly on video with Guiness there to witness/record it. kzbin.infodJIGE8CZKCA

[@upgrade1015]

TKD is an upgrade side quest art . Years to upgrade your kicking instrument . Boxing / bJJ / wrestling / krav / Muay Thai / ……then …… after years of the above … upgrade your kicks

[@inside_fighting]

That’s exactly how i feel about it

[@mikea7732]

The problem is, I don't think you can learn TKD kicks to a high level if you start past like 10. I started at 8 or 9 and saw so many people come in order and they can't ever quite get those hips

[@inside_fighting]

@@mikea7732 I’m in my 40s and able to pick them up. But i have a lifetime of martial arts

[@Howsoonisnow2009]

I trained MuayThai, and there were guys who had TKD backgrounds and always got me with that low combo kick you mentioned. I could never anticipate it coming but I’m also a hobbyist

[@DeusVultLurch]

Would this opinion also extend to something like Tang Soo Do, which incorporates some of that kicking into a four limbed style?

[@igorpotocnik7231]

Practicing ITF TKD before boxing gave me many advantages at boxing like better footwork and distance management and also quicker and more effective guard change, because in TKD we learn kicking/punching from both guards interchangeably. I see also another advantage for MMA kicking and it is instep kicking as opposed to shin kicking which conditions those delicate bones of feet (heel included) and also lengthens the kick's effective range. And let's not forget that other than Yair the most famous UFC ITF TKD practitioner was Mirko Crocop who practiced it in his youth before started kick boxing.

[@allan459415]

Awesome video, my first martial art was TKD, however, I started to understand how to make it work only after studying combat sports for quite some time. I do BJJ now and work with some MMA guys, I feel that certain aspects of TKD such as timing, precision, and quickness could definitely come in handy. A snappy front kick with precision could certainly be useful in a street fight.

[@joejoejoej9763]

Tkd is the first martial art I trained. I got a blue belt with a red stripe (3 belts before black if I remember correctly) before studying and training in other disciplines. I recently met my old master and went to train on his new gym, and the class was so damn boring and counterproductive that I kepg thinking how I could not bring myself to go back. But then I sparred my master, and bro, he has so many awesome things going, but that he was not constantly teaching because the class would be "too hard" for everyone (we trained in a government building here in Brazil with the eldery, begginners, and not-so-fit guys), made me go crazy.

[@ivanthompson3648]

I attended a seminar with a 6th Dan master, he was 67 yr old and he’s the most legit guy I’ve ever met- most legit places spar without chest protectors for conditioning btw.

[@VTdarkangel]

If anyone wants to question if TKD is completely useless, I recommend looking up "David Loiseau spinning back kick" here on youtube. It is a UFC fight from several years ago. I have been a critic of TKD as well, but I admit it does teach a unique skill set that is useful in combination with others. That fight is a perfect example of it. Loiseau timed his kick perfectly. Officially, the fight was ruled a KO by flying knee, but if you look at what the other fighter's reaction is, you can tell he was already done before the knee lands.

[@derekthue8026]

I did TKD for 6 years, the main instructor was 8th black TKD , 7th in judo. Self defense was a mix of close range (judo), and long range like he said with kicks to keep them away, or get to the “inside” to close distance

[@VTPSTTU]

Thanks for the video. I'm not a martial artist by any means. I did take a little bit of Krav Maga at two different Taekwondo studios. In one, the guy teaching focused on all kinds of fighting styles, and his Krav Maga was probably a little more traditional Krav Maga. At the other, the teacher was primarily a Taekwondo teacher. A friend had introduced me to the class, and my friend was a hard core Krav Maga guy. My friend used to criticize the teaching a "Krav Kwon Do." In hindsight, I was learning kicks in a more focused and effective way than I might have been in regular Krav Maga. I wasn't any good, but I was learning an effective way to throw kicks. With anything related to self-defense, one has to look at training from a probability point of view. If we imagine a thousand scenarios that one can't avoid through situational awareness or layered defenses in the home, we need to ask ourselves how many more of those situations we could handle with various training strategies. At my age and poor health, maybe I can only defend myself in 100 of those 1000 scenarios in my "baseline" condition. If I do fifteen pushups a day and increase my upper body fitness that way, maybe I increase that number for 100 to 110. That's a small improvement, but if I am feeling well enough to do those fifteen pushups and don't get tired of pushups and stop, then I've improved my chances a little. If I add squats, maybe I improve my odds by another 10 scenarios. If I own a gun at home and carry a gun in public, maybe I improve my odds from 100 out of 1000 to 500 out of 1000. If I take good training in defensive firearm use, maybe I improve to 800 out of 1000. Different martial arts will improve those odds in different ways and different amounts. Maybe jiu jitsu or wrestling of some kind only changes the outcome in another 100 of those 1000 scenarios, but maybe those 100 scenarios are scenarios where no other skill set is going to give me a positive outcome. No matter how many scenarios a particular tool or training can help reverse, that reversal isn't going to happen if one doesn't follow the training or keep the tool ready for use. A firearm might change the outcome in 400 or 500 out of 1000 scenarios, but if one hates guns and refuses to train or to keep the gun accessible, the gun is useless. Maybe one martial art would change the outcome in 600 of the 1000 scenarios, but if someone doesn't enjoy that art and quits, then one doesn't get the benefit. On the other hand, if someone stays with another martial art that would only solve 400 of those scenarios, that person is ahead of where he or she would be if he/she didn't do anything. Many people who initiate physical confrontations are not high-end street fighters. They are just thugs and bullies. An effective kick that inflicts pain on them will cause them to mess with someone else.

[@Snugglez187]

I appreciate this video. I was very into Taekwondo in the 90's, and my instructor really focused on speed, power, and efficiency of technique. He had been very traditionally trained and used to roll his eyes at Olympic TKD. All of our competitions were full contact, and knockouts were not uncommon. I agree that it's definitely not a complete system, or good for self defense. For developing speed, power, and excellent kicking technique, it's hard to beat, though. At the time, I just did it because it was fun as hell.

[@Lynxtpm]

The problem with taekwondo is that no one is taught real taekwondo, or almost no one. Real taekwondo has open hand and closed han technic. It also has takedowns, joint locks, sweeps, and standup grappling. It has the exact same origin as Tang Soo Do. The difference is that it has been modified for more leg use. Taekwondo has all the same technics as karate. So, the technica are there. The only thing needed is to teach it properly and seriously train thos technic.

[@itllkeal]

My buddy changed my mind on TKD. 😊

[@H4nmiin]

Reading the comments - where have you guys been for the past 20 years of online people ignorantly dismissing Taekwondo without seeing its good sides? I swear the internet has been so ignorantly hostile... have you all been in hiding or something?

[@inside_fighting]

We got a good group going here 😅

[@Cmaxb9]

Excellent points as usual. This training video is absolutely fascinating, beautiful movement and such a ferocious closing of distance with perfectly timed kicks. I love seeing this style of TKD and it really is a wonderful supplement to other arts. But also damn fun to practice and build skills with, just pure enjoyment

[@DarkPhoenixTSi]

One person to look at. Joe Rogan. He was a Mass and NE TKD champion long before he got into MMA and BJJ, and is signature was the turn around side kick and the amount of power he could generate while covering a lot of distance.

[@lalablook938]

Great video! I’m starting taekwondo soon

[@inside_fighting]

I’m supplementing it in to my training 2 times a week 🙏🏼

[@SonnyCrocket-p6h]

most of it in the US is so watered-down that it's unregcognizable. Its just group dancing. A black belt is supposed to mean 'untouchable by the untrained man" and in the US TKD it means: "I'm sort of able to not trip over my own feet"

[@inside_fighting]

@@SonnyCrocket-p6h that’s the great tragedy.

[@SonnyCrocket-p6h]

I've got one student who's tolerating all of the pain and abuse, cause he WANTS it. i"m 71, he's 26 and has trained with me for over a year, now, but only 2-3 hours per week. I'm 6 ft, over my best fighting weight by 70 lbs. :-) I put him on his back.. We've trained how to swivel around, using his palms on the ground,alternate stamping kicks at my shins, roundhouse kick at my ribs, groin tailbone, thighs. IF I get around his feet, he has been taught how to use spearhand, punch, ridgehand, grab my legs, etc. I told him I was going to grab his Spartan-beard. I normally defeat him by kicking his legs, but, kidneys with ball of the foot snap front kicks, but this time, I said I'd use no kicks. First, I drove a spear hand down into his groin (no real contact) then I swept-aside his legs with my arm, pinning them against his body, curled up on his side. then I swept aside his arms with the other hand, pinning them to the ground. Then I let go of his legs and grabbed his beard. He was so upset he almost crapped himself. :-). I said:"That is the difference it makes when you've done this stuff for thousands of hours, not 120 or so hours.:-) He SO sure that he could just tuck his chin in enough to protect his beard, at least, but he panicked when I got past his arms. The INSTANT that I was no longer holding-aside his legs, he should have kicked me in the floating ribs or head. He said "It's hard to believe how VULNERABLE I still am!". :-)

[@brendancommon6397]

Im an ITF black belt and I agree with what you are saying here. TKD is a good art but its too specialised. I study BJJ now and because ive got a good leg coordination from TKD and dexterity I'm very good at triangles.

[@RKmndo]

I trained Shaolin Quan as a kid, and LINE, MCMAP, and BJJ later. I have my 8yr old training at a TKD school now, so he can be around other kids. It's been a great start for him in striking martial arts, and I can show him variations, from similar other martial arts, of the techniques that he learns in class. TKD definitely has a place in a striker's toolset.

[@dannyharris9897]

Back in the 80's, I worked with a guy that served in the Korean Army in the 70's. He said that the Army had all the soldiers with a Martial Arts background fight. The winners 🏆 became their trainers. All the winners were TKD. My friend said he was on his High School Yudo Team, and there was a variety of MAs.

[@anthonygerber8261]

Pettis, Anderson Silva, so many champs started in TKD.

[@ThatKenpoGuy]

After watching several of your videos I find it interesting that many of the traditional martial arts and the various self defense systems seem more useful and effective to train as supplements after training boxing/kickboxing ect, rather than as base systems. It's kind of backwards of what I thought starting out which is to get a base in something traditional and then branch out into combat sports. Caveat, I also think it's most important to train something you enjoy over optimal unless you are planning on competing in MMA or something! I appreciate that you emphasize the value that can be found in almost any martial art

[@kevinsho2601]

I started out tae kwon do as a kid and did contemporary wushu at a high level. When i started to doing mma and got into real fights it gave me a great base.

[@decluesviews2740]

TKD was my first martial art (in college). I loved it! Obviously not a complete system at all. But it did provide some good skills that I haven’t seen in other striking martial arts. Of course, those others provide skills it didn’t. But you’re right on with your point: it can be an excellent supplement that could give you an edge in certain situations. The ability to do deceptive and/or multiple kicks without losing your balance can come in handy, and as you said: the speed, power, and distance management. Plus, it’s really fun! (Boxing/fencing with your feet is an apt description.)

[@kimonidavis11]

13:06 the kick is called an AP chagi

[@Lasombrosidad]

I think that the perfect WTF taekwondo style consists in the use of the legs in high, mid and low targets, with a strategy of quick advance and retreat, with some leg sweeps, almost like taekkion without the danc.

[@thewanderer6542]

My first martial art was TKD. When I got in to MMA and kickboxing, I learned very quickly that, by itself, it wasn't the most effective. I learned from a pretty old school instructor, so there was SOME immediate carryover. However, once I got better at kickboxing and MMA, I started reincorporating TKD concepts. Covering distance and/or managing distance with round houses and side kicks, getting in and out of engagements quickly. Something that carried over well immediately was my ability to read changes in stance. As I improved more, I started reincorporating my spinning techniques. I went from being disillusioned, to being able to appreciate aspects of it.

[@kolinstewartsaludar2086]

If I'm going to combine the best martial arts, it would be the ff: TKD, Muay Thai, JKD, Pangamut, Wingchun, Boxing, Savate, capoeira and BZllan Jujitsu.

[@WarriorNoldor]

My foundation for martial arts was TDK and Hapkido he was a good master and old school plus we also learned some boxing from him to fill the gaps.

[@roballington2319]

I agree. I would add there are two systems of tkd; the old ITF style has more techniques sweeps., stomps , hands. But it is a point system with roots to military and should not be underestimated. The speed of the wtf system Olympic produces great skillset of these skills. I think Nelson of combat wrestling under Paulson adds some footwork. There have been some good tkd instructors who add boxing like hee IL Cho from old days of full contact. Anyway thanks for your insights. Great video and opened my eyes

[@inside_fighting]

very glad you enjoyed it :)

[@joaoguilhermebastos519]

Thanks for giving Taekwondo some love. We need it. Btw you may find it more complete than you imagine. And about the front kick; Snaping: Ap Chagi, Pushing: Podo chagi and piercing you have Mireo Chagi. From that angle i couldnt tell which was but those are the core variations.

[@elpakas7364]

Honestly, I’ve been practicing tae kwon do for two years and I can see a big difference in my stances and kicks . On top of that, you could always use your TKD base to learn other striking arts like Muay Thai.

[@saiyanninjawarriorz]

I love TKD I wish I could afford the school I tried out, it gives you some OUTSTANDING weapons for the toolbox, currently doing boxing, I've done Karate Juijitsu and MMA ect🥊

[@petereriksson6760]

As an adult TKD practitioner..(I also trained and taught Jujutsu in Sweden witch is a kind of Japanese jujutsu that looks like a mix between Shotokan and Judo). we have almost everything except grappling in the system... I think it is two things hurting TKD. a) the focus on kids. b) the competition format and scoring, system that makes everyone focusing on a very limited part of it. Regardless of style I think the instructor matters way more than the style.

[@FunkyBukkyo]

Just an anecdote on no system is complete. Bajiquan is said to be taken along with Piguaquan. Baji is the short explosive movement while Pigua is the long circular movement. This is so one will have short and long movements in their arsenal.

[@michaelmorgan8311]

I’m blessed to have earned my Black Belt in Jhoon Rhee style Tae Kwon Do at a school in Texas. It was definitely more complete than the form practiced in the Olympics. My maxillary orbit was fractured during my Black Belt exam because I was tired and dropped my guard. It’s been a great way to keep in shape and be able to protect myself and my loved ones.

[@leerussell8499]

I started with teakwondo self defence and moved to traditional when they shut down the gyms teaching self defence but both I found had useful bits and stuff I just knew when going to muay tai n kick boxing actually had a good look at all kicks not just whatever good for competition

[@alpachinko9154]

Personally, I prefer ITF based Taekwondo, as they actually use their hands in sparring. The Olympics has diluted WTF so much, that it's pointless to use 'em, even though they train many hand/elbow/arm techniques in general. Would be interesting to see your opinion on ITF Taekwondo

[@jasontodd6779]

Taekwondo the long lost brother of Boxing.

[@MasterBrentMessmer]

As an old school Taekwondo instructor, Thank you. I too cant stand what tkd has become

[@zipper4146]

1st dan in tkd, it was my first style and I honestly had little confidence in it until I later trained bjj and especially judo. After those, I found my tkd to actually be useful, very useful actually.

[@EnterTheDream]

Well I'm a tkd guy so I'll be biased. It was National Geographic that had that strongest kick challenge. Sensei Seth recently did a strongest martial arts techniques challenge too and tkd came out on top. The problem is people only see the sparring. For Taekwondo gradings you are tested on way more than that. You have traditional elements such as patterns and techniques demonstrations (including hand techniques) like Karate. You break boards, and spar but you also perform self defense against strikes and grabs. Now it's down to the teacher but these other areas are not pressure tested enough in my opinion. The art does have all these parts, but rarely are they practiced effectively.

[@danielkeizer4174]

Fight science. It was on discovery. That's where they had the hardest kick. Though there are 3 episodes about it. The first had TKD as the hardest kick. The second had mt knee as the hardest kick (although it was technically a knee) and finally the MMA episode wich measured Bas Rutten's kick as the hardest they ever measured on that show. There was also one called sport science on history if I'm not mistaken....

[@김스티브-e8w]

I think Taekwondo is a martial art that brilliantly translates the philosophy of boxing into kicks. When comparing boxing to Muay Thai, the characteristic of boxing is a hit-and-run style, while Muay Thai is a style of giving flesh and taking bones, while Taekwondo is a martial art that clearly pursues the boxing style. Unlike Muay Thai, kicking attacks in Taekwondo are performed simultaneously while moving, and hit-and-run movements are performed with highly mobile footwork. I think it's natural for people's attention to turn to Taekwondo in a situation where Muay Thai-style footwork and kicking are weaknesses in MMA.

[@Barisdagame]

Just be a martial artist meaning learning all styles and discipline

[@BradYaeger]

It's interesting because modern TKD pretty much devolved back into the one of the mother arts it evolved from , Taekkyon . But I learned from an old Korean guy in the early 80's and the school was pretty much unaffiliated and didn't compete . We kept our hands up and punched as much as we kicked , and did takedowns . The closest thing I could compare it to is what Hee-Il Cho did . And by the way that guy had INSANE power . He was known to bust open brand new heavy bags . He was also in Best of The Best which featured some outstanding kicking scenes by the Rhee brothers

[@alpachinko9154]

Unfortunately, the taekkyon connection is more of a passing resemblance, as the Korean government didn't want Taekwondo's Shotokan karate roots to be known. Kwan bop and soo bhak do have more of an influence in tkd than taekkyon, and have continued to develop into other systems to this day.

[@teovu5557]

Taekwondo has ZERO connections to taekkyon......general Choi choose the name taekwondo only because he sounded like taekkyon when they were creating a new style for Korean nationalism in 1955 but told is literally based on nothing but karate and to a lesser extant kung fu as the five kwans that formed tkd were karate schools and one was kung fu(Kwon boo bu/Kang duk Kwan) and General Choi admitted in 2001 that he never studied taekkyon and only started he did due to nationalism after ww2.....this is common knowledge nowadays.

[@teovu5557]

​@@alpachinko9154Kwon bop bu and it's splinters Kwans abandoned their kung fu forms and the sad part is none of the kung fu techniques made it into taekwondo forms like the Chang hon forms nor tae guek forms etc the guys who invented the new forms for tkd were from karate styles and the Kang duk Kwan,Chang moo Kwan and former Kwon bop bu guys adopted the new system and were not invited to add there input sadly.

[@alpachinko9154]

@@teovu5557 like 90% agree with you here. Only disagreement would be the "lack" of Kung Fu in Karate/Taekwondo. Karate, including the mainland Japanese styles in application have the same/very similar techniques to Kung fu, when considering the grappling and throwing. Obviously, this also depends on what your references of Kung Fu are, as there's many styles and styles within styles. Karate simplified the aesthetic of Kung Fu movements broadly speaking, whilst introducing their own interpretation of how to maneuver into techniques. For example, O-soto gari is one of the most widely practiced throws/takedowns in martial arts around the world. The way to execute it will differ, but the basic biomechanical process remains. With that in mind, I personally, couldn't say that there's no elements of Kung Fu within Taekwondo and karate

[@BradYaeger]

Thank everybody , looks like my information is outdated . I was going off what I had read in books in the 80's so that isn't surprising .

[@jessehendrix2661]

I've thought for a while that kyokushin plus WTF taekwondo would be a great combination. A very similar ruleset, but one specializes in fighting up close whereas the other specializes in fighting on the outside. And taekwondo does have all the hand techniques you need, but they just don't use them in sparring. On one hand that's a shame, but on the other we got an elite kicking style out of it.

[@inside_fighting]

Yes definitely a bad ass combination. I have a friend who's a black belt in both.

[@jessehendrix2661]

@@inside_fighting I'm a tang soo do instructor. The master at my dojang was an old school taekwondo champion, and we do a lot of WTF style sparring. Cool guy, and good all around fighter. I wanted to learn to use my hands a little better, so I did a year of boxing and it helped me out a lot, especially up close. Now I'm analyzing kyokushin fighters and doing drills to try to steal tricks from them. Studying Kenji Midori in particular has proved useful, especially against taller guys. There aren't any kyokushin schools nearby, but I would like to maybe test for rank in kyokushin one day.