Taekwondo vs Karate, a classic debate. Most people probably think they’re the same thing, but there are a few differences that will determine which is better for you and your self-defense goals. We’ll settle the debate and go over the differences between Karate and Taekwondo to empower you to make your own decision on which is better for you!
The Difference Between Taekwondo vs Karate
The most basic difference in Taekwondo vs Karate is between your hands and your feet, punching vs kicking. Think of the shuto uchi, or the famous “karate chop” you’ve seen in movies. Karate uses hand techniques primarily, and then kicking as a backup. Taekwondo is the exact opposite. It emphasizes kicking and uses hand moves as the backup. Taekwondo has more variety in the moves you can learn, including spinning and jumping kicks. These are very different from our adult American Jiu-Jitsu classes.
Origins of Taekwondo vs Karate
When you’re deciding which one to study, the history helps, and it’s often told backwards. Karate is the older of the two.
Karate grew up on Okinawa, then the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, where local fighting methods blended with Chinese martial arts over several centuries. Its name means “empty hand”: fighting without weapons. It reached mainland Japan in the 1920s and spread around the world after World War II. Mr. Miyagi just made it famous.
Modern taekwondo is a 20th-century Korean art. During Japan’s occupation of Korea (1910–1945), Korean martial arts were suppressed, and several of the men who later founded taekwondo’s first schools, the kwans, had trained in karate in Japan. After the war, those schools developed a distinctly Korean, kick-heavy style, and the name taekwondo was adopted in 1955. Korea’s older martial traditions are part of the story, but taekwondo as it’s practiced today is about 70 years old.
It’s all in the name. Tae means to strike with the foot, kwon means to strike with the fist, and do means “the way.” So taekwondo is the way of the foot and fist. So, is Taekwondo better than Karate?
Different Techniques Used
What is the difference between Taekwondo vs Karate? It’s the difference between the two halves of your body, hands/arms and legs/feet. Karate means empty hands, pointing to the fact that it’s a martial arts form relying heavily on the use of your hands without any weapons. Karate emphasizes mental strength and stamina, then, because one of your only forms of protection when practicing is your mind.
You’ll learn lots of hand techniques and combinations while keeping kicks on deck as a last resort. It’s perfect for when you’re close to an opponent and need that hand-to-hand combat advantage. Alternatively, Taekwondo emphasizes the legs, chiefly because the leg is the longest and strongest weapon on the body. Kicks in Taekwondo are very powerful for striking your opponent. You’ll learn spin kicks and several different kicking combinations while using hand techniques when necessary. Taekwondo has more effectiveness at a distance because you can utilize the length of your legs against your opponent. Now, is Taekwondo the same as Karate?
Competing in Taekwondo and Karate
Both Karate and Taekwondo are not only practical and effective martial arts forms, but they also provide opportunities for competition and advancement that can push you to grow. They both require serious mental and physical strength and stamina just like other martial arts classes, which is why so many in Boise enjoy the rewards of all their hard work being recognized at belt ranking and in competition.
There is a difference between Taekwondo vs Karate competition rules. The rules of Karate are a bit more involved, while the rules of Taekwondo are more simple. A Karate student can strike to the head, neck, face, chest, side, abdomen, and back. The Karate judges have a list of criteria that need to be followed for the match to be considered a win, like good form, accurate distance, and good timing. Taekwondo, however, is a bit more straightforward. In Olympic-style taekwondo, kicks score more than punches, and spinning and head kicks score the most, which is why matches are dominated by footwork and kicking range.
Honestly, both of these martial arts styles will transform your body and get you fit fast. They’ll both teach you self-defense skills that you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones. And they’ll both teach you to keep going no matter what, respect yourself and others, and gain confidence like never before. So, is Karate and Taekwondo the same? Well, the best one for self-defense is the one you take the initiative to do. Doing nothing will result in nothing! So come and try adult American Jiu-Jitsu classes with our Egley Train staff here in Boise for yourself. You’ll love it!
Training in Boise or Mountain Home?
Egley Train Academy doesn’t teach taekwondo or karate. We teach American Jiu-Jitsu at both Academies, plus Muay Thai and Meditative Arts in Boise. If you’re open to something different, Muay Thai is our striking program, American Jiu-Jitsu is our grappling program for adults, and our kids training programs run from age 3 to 16. Every one of them starts with a Free Private Lesson: one coach, your pace, no pressure.