The martial arts are similar to a buffet. Everything is good to someone, but everything is not good to everyone. Some things people love, some things people hate. Some things people want all the time, some things people never want. Some things people want a lot of, some things they avoid. Some times people get too much of what they want, but not enough of what they need. Some things that are good, may not be good for you. So, just as in a buffet, in the martial arts there are a lot of choices and you will never know what you might like until you sample everything
What Taekwondo Is Not
Before explaining what Taekwondo is, lets examine what Taekwondo is not. There is nothing mystical or magical about Taekwondo, it is only one of many martial arts. Any claims made by Taekwondo are probably also made by other martial arts and vice versa. Some martial art styles claim to be the best, but when examined closely, all the empty hand martial arts are basically the same. Some may concentrate on different areas, such as arm locks or grappling, but underlying all martial arts are the same basic principles.
Is it the best martial art?
Students of a particular martial art tend to defend it and think it is the best martial art in the world. Just as college students defend the college they attend, martial students tend to defend the style in which they first started training. Taekwondo students are no different. Like other martial arts, Taekwondo is a physical and mental discipline. There are many other physical endeavors that require physical and mental discipline, such as body building, distance running, golf, auto racing, and even bowling. Some are more physical than mental and vice versa. Therefore, Taekwondo is not unique in what it does. Some sports are practiced for pure sport, while others, such as Taekwondo have an underlying purpose. The underlying purpose of Taekwondo is combat. Taekwondo may be practiced as a pure sport, as a pure fighting art, or as a combination of both.
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art, characterized by fast, high, jumping, spinning kicks, and quick footwork. It is an all-around program that offers self-defense training, physical exercise, and artistic expression; all taught by an experienced professional instructor.
Meaning of the term "Taekwondo"
Literally translated, Taekwondo breaks down to "tae" meaning to kick with the foot, "kwon" meaning to punch or strike with the hand, and "do" meaning art or way. Therefore, Taekwondo translates to "the art of kicking and punching." Its physical aspects come from the kicking and punching, while its spiritual aspects come from the art.
Many times the word Karate is used in the name of a Taekwondo school. This seems strange since karate is a Japanese word and Taekwondo is Korean. This occurs purely as a business decision. More people are familiar with the word Karate, so when they see it they will know what a Taekwondo school is about. Also, the word karate has fewer letters than Taekwondo. When putting up a sign on a school building for advertisement, the smaller word karate means the letters on the sign may be larger and possibly lighted for less cost than for the word Taekwondo.
to be continued....
What Taekwondo Is Not
Before explaining what Taekwondo is, lets examine what Taekwondo is not. There is nothing mystical or magical about Taekwondo, it is only one of many martial arts. Any claims made by Taekwondo are probably also made by other martial arts and vice versa. Some martial art styles claim to be the best, but when examined closely, all the empty hand martial arts are basically the same. Some may concentrate on different areas, such as arm locks or grappling, but underlying all martial arts are the same basic principles.
Is it the best martial art?
Students of a particular martial art tend to defend it and think it is the best martial art in the world. Just as college students defend the college they attend, martial students tend to defend the style in which they first started training. Taekwondo students are no different. Like other martial arts, Taekwondo is a physical and mental discipline. There are many other physical endeavors that require physical and mental discipline, such as body building, distance running, golf, auto racing, and even bowling. Some are more physical than mental and vice versa. Therefore, Taekwondo is not unique in what it does. Some sports are practiced for pure sport, while others, such as Taekwondo have an underlying purpose. The underlying purpose of Taekwondo is combat. Taekwondo may be practiced as a pure sport, as a pure fighting art, or as a combination of both.
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a modern Korean martial art, characterized by fast, high, jumping, spinning kicks, and quick footwork. It is an all-around program that offers self-defense training, physical exercise, and artistic expression; all taught by an experienced professional instructor.
Meaning of the term "Taekwondo"
Literally translated, Taekwondo breaks down to "tae" meaning to kick with the foot, "kwon" meaning to punch or strike with the hand, and "do" meaning art or way. Therefore, Taekwondo translates to "the art of kicking and punching." Its physical aspects come from the kicking and punching, while its spiritual aspects come from the art.
Many times the word Karate is used in the name of a Taekwondo school. This seems strange since karate is a Japanese word and Taekwondo is Korean. This occurs purely as a business decision. More people are familiar with the word Karate, so when they see it they will know what a Taekwondo school is about. Also, the word karate has fewer letters than Taekwondo. When putting up a sign on a school building for advertisement, the smaller word karate means the letters on the sign may be larger and possibly lighted for less cost than for the word Taekwondo.
to be continued....
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