Lutalo Muhammad v Aaron Cook at the 2012 German Taekwondo Open

One of the highlights of the 2012 German Open as Great Britain fighters Lutalo Muhammad and Aaron Cook square off.
Footage provided by Dartfish

[@MrScar665]

If you never fought don't comment

[@finze1]

I trained with Lutalo for 7 years. He's a good friend and a humble person, I have no doubts he worked as hard as humanly possible to train for that competition. The fact he was crowned European champion of his division and the fact Aaron Cook has already competed and lost within an Olympic competition is enough grounds for him to have been chosen. He brought home our first Olympic male Taekwondo medal, ever. We've all become too greedy, it's not easy for god's sake.

[@omerdogan537]

I also trained with him for 6 years and I agree with everything you just said. he is the most humble guy you will ever meet. How can anyone even criticise Lutalo when he was the first British male to win an Olympic medal for GB. Also how is any of this his fault? who turns down a chance to represent their country. Cook just has a lot of media attention Lutalo is only an East London boy so I can understand why all the snobs on here are hating. Well done Lutalo. Always a Champion in my eyes.

[@Son3rColak]

Good job master lutalo. :D Lutalo is my taekwondo instructors son. He fights so good and makes me word so hard i can barely breath. But thanks to him ive become a better fighter

[@Skarlettte]

very good Lutalo. im olnly starting out and even gettin to an olympicis is my dream......u did ur country so very proud i saw ur interview today ur kicks were amazizing ur dad is a great teacher, chin up and dont let this defeat u and who knows me aand u in the final in rio lol xxx

[@binaylimbu]

Damn the blue leg speed overwhelms the red. Are they even in same weight category? O_O

[@jblk007]

The reason that Aaron Cook is not in the Olympics and Brits pick this other guy to represent them, is simple: The Man Coaching Aaron Cook. Cook wanted to change his coaching after 2011 Worlds and sought out a coach who has help develop a 2 time world champ, 3 people currently in the Olympics, numerous national team members from other countries. Cook felt that he wasn't getting what he needed. He's won 10 out of 12 tourney since the change but somehow the other gives them a better chance?! Crazy

[@manishupmanyu2]

This is for everyone whether sports person, martial artist, casual guys here just to comment. Please do not criticize or berate anybody , any style. I request all martial artists not to involve your ego here. Whatever we have learned , gained are not ours to begin with. By defaming one another, we are just disrespecting our master's teachings. "Respect others and they will respect you"

[@TheMarvinJoseph]

I really enjoyed watching this fight. :)) However, don't you think that the method for validating a scoring kick is too... well, time consuming?

[@Zennenen]

People still don't get that MMA means you have already cross-trained. MMA = Mixed Martial Arts. Which means you have trained more than one style and mixed it with another. Most MMA fighters come from a Taekwondo or Jiujitsu background. Seriously people, do some research before saying "this is better than that". So sick of people thinking that "MMA" is a martial art when it's really just a sport mixing REAL martial arts together.

[@yeshak10]

Its a instant replay card. Its to check if people should have gotten points if they deserved it, or take away points if they didn't. That's why Lutalo got 3 points randomly before they started the match back up again, and lost 3 points toward the end of the match (the blue card was from Cooks team to take away the head shot that didn't land).

[@montygordon]

Lutelo was half trained by my dad

[@ocubex]

I didn't know they added that, hence my confusion. Thanks for clearing that up...

[@xXxSinthoxXx]

Someone knows why Lutalu was picked ? and Aaron was kicked out... from JJOO ?

[@kherunyadetimhetep]

Did y'all notice the white female ref actually bumping into Aaron during one of the judges deliberations? That is one of the things which draws suspicion on the fairness of these and other Olympic matches...Let there be no question!

[@Sleepy842]

what time is the "red card" at.

[@alexhughes24]

because UK only has an -80kg position to fill and no option to send an 80+ fighter. They pick the 4 weight categorys they want to compete in early then assign the fighters they want to represent each of those 4 weights about now.

[@ocubex]

was the red card a points deduction and what for?

[@MightIWhy]

It's called making the matches fair now. Back in the old days they didn't have any video replays which angered a lot of competitors cause they lost matches where they should've won.

[@dan32113]

Cook is world number 1. Olympics here we come!

[@bombadil81]

..It's simply unbelievable..i don't have anything against Lutalo, but Aaron is the world number one, he won with KO against STEVEN LOPEZ!!..in 2012 he win also Crismanish...it was clear from Pechino that he will became the London Olympic Champ, why did they choose Lutalo?!?!?!

[@shahramashrat]

Which one is Aaron?

[@TheAJTKD]

okay to get one thing clear Aaron Cook dident pretend. If you have not experienced it so it hurts kick some knees. and if you look closely you can see that latula Mohammed promises his knees many times even if it is not allowed. 0:41 first knee kick 1:01 2 knee kick 1:42 3 knee kick and now, as aaron hurts take latula and kicks him. -.- 2:48 4 knee kick 3:42 5 knee kick and again, aaron hurt and latula takes 1 point -.- 5:00 6 knee kick aaron hurts he takes a head kick. latula had only luk

[@fifa3008]

so who won?

[@deanwalters8300]

what did red keep getting called for?

[@omerdogan537]

Alex you absolute legend of a guy :)

[@hdtjang]

9:30 - 9:35 red score 3 points... 9:43 - 9:47 red score 3 more points... those are the hardest and saddest time for aaron. heart broken

[@elliottaylor752]

This was definitely a 5 Star ✨ match

[@shopliphter022]

awesome action packed fight

[@rko1josh]

Aaron won gold against Steven Lopez at 09 worlds. But Id still prefer Lulato cause he seems to be the smarter fighter while Aaron is just all flash.

[@puple152]

i love martial arts

[@piokkie143]

Im a Judo and Taekwondo player..... Both of martial art braches that i mention, there's no different between the two... so please people.. stop fighting about what branches of martial art are you in.... it only depend on how you manage your move or plan :)

[@tipdiet1161]

nice fight . i like to watch this fight

[@JudoBrad]

I stand corrected, TKD is a much superior sport. It has to be, if your able to call a time out in the middle of a match. Only a real contact sport like TKD could have such a thing.

[@tonysen3979]

Red chest gard .perfect side kick push last time fight..an any time front leg connect hit kit ...

[@livesnipe]

@CEE2027 he had performed a valid kick to the head but was not awarded the points.so his coach ask for the video replay,thus the long wait before,the three points are awarded.

[@AndFusticeJorAll]

whats the red card for? 6:06

[@henriquemedeiros2840]

Request made by red trainer to review a determined moment

[@LSDPepper]

Taekwondo is the Skoda of Marital Arts. Aikido all day!!

[@craigsfireblade]

all martial arts are the best

[@treyj5308]

All in all a good fight, regardless of the refs and other annoying factors.

[@katungukaandrew4914]

Lutalo Uganda needs you plz com back home

[@neoek2575]

In my eyes, this isn't true TKD. TKD is about defence and protecting yourself against other people that may try and attack you. It's not meant for the olympics.

[@rugbylover95]

yeah but at the dutch open cook won like 7-2

[@finze1]

There's nothing to suggest Cook would have won a gold. He has already failed within one Olympic competition.

[@bombadil81]

you're absolutely right, i was only an italian 2nd place national championship, and you?!..i know, nothing respect Lutalo or Aaron, but it's strange that you prefer bronze instead of gold medal that probably Cook could have won!..better for Sarmiento, two times on the olympic podium!

[@jamesiecotter5855]

Cook had already beaten both the gold and silver medallists at this years Olympics and would have stood a much better chance than Muhammed.

[@GoldenNinjaKing]

im surprsied why aaron cook not in london 2012

[@JudoBrad]

To each their own. In Judo you dont get to stop and take a break when someone else is winning. You either fight or quit. TKD, not so much.

[@Chomolongma93]

politics man,cook would be 100% gold for UK in olympics,his mistake was leaving GBtaekwondo.

[@3csimon]

He's ranked 59 in his own weight and 98th in cook's weight.

[@jesoby]

came here expecting debate as to why Muhammad ranked 59 was picked ahead of world No1 Cook for Team GB, instead a meaningless squabble about which martial art is 'best'.

[@rko1josh]

haha agreed, ppl don't realize how hard it is just to win a medal. i'd be happy with coming out with a medal.

[@Aussiex77x]

He wasn't greedy, he just didn't want to train with the national team. Don't you know anything?

[@diogotaira390]

Wow, a fight with Muhammad looks so much more exciting like this. Not that he cares, but it was nice

[@rko1josh]

Aaron is more of the flashy fighter, while Lutalo uses his head. he closed that fight just like how jade faught for gold.

[@Chomolongma93]

cook was 16yrs old in beijing,he won lutalo two times after this fight,he beaten olympic champion crismanich twice.....he would-ve been sure gold.but he was too greedy and that costed him.

[@clearboldy]

yea i agree with you two.

[@Chomolongma93]

why doesnt he go to olympics,he won lutalo 8-2 in belgium.i think they should send lutalo for heavyweight and aaron for -80.

[@westhamboy95]

ccok has beat this guy twice compared to muhammeds 1 win here even though cook won the US open the week earlier so you can see why he lost

[@Chomolongma93]

yeah...he had more funding than gbtaekwondo team together,more sponsors,more cash,and he had only by leaving gbtaekwondo.and then gbtaekwondo said oh you wanna be cocky,ok,we can be that do and whoooop they didnt pick him for olympics.thats just my personal version for this mess,who knows.but anyway cook wouldve been 100% gold in olympics,he is indeed best fighter in his category and plus its in england,and everybody knows who wins in england.

[@Aussiex77x]

That's not greedy. Do you know how much money it costs to travel around the world, competing in these opens? He needs the money to continue training and fighting. Furthermore, he has better training facilities in Manchester where he lives, surely it would be better for him to continue what he's doing. It's Team GB that's being greedy, wanting the money from his win if they let him fight for them.

[@Chomolongma93]

+80kg is olympic heavyweight.so why not,lutalo is european -87kg champion.

[@lethargic_cow]

The match couldve gone either way ..

[@lpstroke7600]

creo que si uviera estado aaron cook en juegos olimpicos por lomenos se uviera llevado plata

[@JudoBrad]

Take your head off? Kick you in the rib cage? Their wearing protection. Whats the point of wearing all the protective gear if your get a time out for oweeee time? In Judo, they try to choke you out or break your arm. You dont tap, you go to sleep or break a bone. You dont call time out because something hurts. Cant even compare the 2.

[@gjjunco]

Its because he Made his own school of TKD

[@shockdemon1]

benson henderson, taekwondo practitioner, ufc lightweight champion. know your facts buddy =D

[@saviorcinco]

So, it's a sport based around hitting your opponent, but when he gets hit, he can grab his knee to stop the other guy taking advantage. Ridiculous.

[@GothykOfficial]

How about Anderson Silva...? He has a black belt in Taekwondo :).

[@finze1]

Omer, it's Alex. Theo's bro haha

[@Chomolongma93]

no,aaron just uses every oportunity to give a point,he is awesome technician so why not,lutalo in this fight always blocking with his knee,nothing smart about it.

[@westhamboy95]

how can you assume that you would of seen i wasnt completely biased as i said judo are stronger upper body i did and tkd and mma so yeh i kow about other arts i know about ground game and a tkd is quicker and stronger than a judo dudes hands

[@Chomolongma93]

well...atleast in tkd you can injure your opponent.

[@user-cf5sw8dx1t]

잘한다. 아로쿤

[@ya88hussain]

Extra aggression of Aron caused him loosing points

[@JudoBrad]

Thats a pretty ignorant comment. You can injure your opponent in every sport. Even non-contact sports like basketball and baseball. Hopefully that wouldnt be your intentions.

[@clearboldy]

ikr.

[@Chomolongma93]

if cook won the gold gbtkd wouldnt get any money,so thats why they sent lutalo in shortest.

[@MaXiMeSHD]

Makes no sense not sending the World No1 just because he doesnt train with the Gb teams.

[@JudoBrad]

Lol, I agree 100%. Thats why Im curious why everyone started whining when I made that comment. I wouldnt fight a Kangaroo. Those fuckers kick hard.

[@odpaws]

as far as i know, there is no olympic heavyweight option

[@greengoblin219]

I used to do tkd but I like boxing better

[@Chomolongma93]

those two kangaroo's would break your jaw in two seconds.

[@PyozGaming]

Lol no. You need to win the qualification in order to go to the Olympics. Your rank will help you start higher in the fighting tree. I'm guessing Aaron started straight in the finals since he is 1st and lost. In Canada you need to loose twice, so if its the same in England, he lost twice in a row. Why would you send at the Olympics instead of the guy that beat him twice???

[@JudoBrad]

First time Ive ever watched TKD. Reminds me of 2 kangaroos fighting.

[@Chomolongma93]

in tkd the point is to ko your opponent,so you can say that it is my intention to hurt my opponent.

[@shauniiixx]

yes, but did you see how he got bronze? the fight was a disgrace. kicking after the ref pauzed the fight and not even getting a warning? running away from the fight in the last 10 sec of the fight should result in gamjeom, he didn't even get kyongo, he fought with his knee up the whole fight, got no warning for that either... i'm a ref and if someone fights like that when i'm in the middle, he'll lose the fight on minuspoints. so i'm not sure if he really is the hero you think mate.

[@00NoRbReN00]

and that´s why Lutalo Muhammad is fighting at the olympics and Cook isnt !!

[@ChosenByValhalla]

Clearly this video shows that cook is not as technically adept as Mahammad....I've watched a few of Aarons fights today and can honestly say I am shocked he is No1, how he has won any of his fights is beyond me. And reading his article in the Telegraph shows he is no role model for any child or future athlete in Taekwondo. How he can justify leaving school without an education(and his parent allowed this) to pursue a career as a fighter which has a short career span is idiotic...

[@QiforceUniversal13]

THE MOST FAMOUS NAME IN GB IS MUHAMMAD! MOST USED NAME AROUND THE WORLD!! REPRESENT WARRIOR!!

[@Chomolongma93]

you call timeout when you get kicked hard on illegal striking places(meaning if you get accidentaly kicked in the balls and other),or if goes shin to shin,knee to knee,i know its hard to understand for you since judo there hardly any contact,only two guys dragging each other with too much dumb overcomplicated rules.i saw guy dropping other on his knees and the only thing happening is referre bringing them back on center,half time of judo fight is referre getting fighters back to center of ring.

[@Chomolongma93]

the only thing that you can injure in judo is your fingers and knee,you only have few seconds on ground so you have only few seconds to submit someone,and they dropped leg grabs for rules making it even more boring to watch.the protection is like spounge and is little to no help at all,,and when i just started at seniors got my air blown in almost evryfight,had ko-ed so hard last month with broken jaw and flowered teeth that i said that its september 2014,continues:

[@GrimReapiN]

Man I hate when they stop the match right as a point is made, right after they kick. Then the guys tries to kick back and all his points don't count. Fucking stupid.

[@UrbanGypsy27]

Damn...more stoppage time than American Football! Maybe a good sport but so far away from fighting!

[@montygordon]

Lutalo*

[@hdtjang]

everyone who is better for this... even my little sis knows

[@123321chet]

Se la jugó

[@clearboldy]

hard!

[@wladimiravila9882]

Wow

[@shockdemon1]

whats really weird is why judo practitioners are watching olympic wtf taekwondo matches and they make fun of them, whats the point? especially considering that olympic tkd and judo are in olympics we should be better role models than this. What a disgrace