Tae Kwon Do

Strengths & Weaknesses of Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do is the most popular martial art in the world, according to the American Tae Kwon Do Association. The name of this martial art translates loosely to mean “the way of the hand and the foot,” as Tae Kwon Do places a strong emphasis on kicking technique. This competitive combat sport offers a myriad of benefits and strengths, such as enhancing physical fitness and honing self-awareness. However, Tae Kwon Do lacks depth in a few areas of martial combat, which may constitute as weaknesses of the sport.

All About Tae Kwon Do

The Pros & Cons of Tae Kwon Do

The practice of hand-to-hand combat and weapons-based combat originating from the Pacific Rim region involves learning techniques to protect yourself from harm while inflicting harm on others. Different types of martial arts fo...

What Does the L-Stance Look Like for Tae Kwon Do?

Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art practiced widely around the globe. Every tae kwon do movement begins with a proper stance, and as you spar, you adjust your stance based on whether you are defending or attacking. The niuncha...

Does Tae Kwon Do Give You Bad Knees?

Tae kwon do is a mixed martial art that originated in ancient Korea and evolved to incorporate Chinese and Japanese self-defense techniques. Tae kwon do translates to "the way of the hand and foot." To protect your kn...

How to Teach the Basics of Tae Kwon Do

On your way to a black belt in tae kwon do, it's more than likely that you'll be asked to help teach less-experienced students. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about your art, since explaining how the basics work g...

Exercise Plan With Tae Kwon Do

Nearly all martial arts include physical conditioning as part of their training regimen. But tae kwon do is recognized even among the most demanding martial arts for having grueling workouts. If you're serious about tae kwon do...

Requirements for Teaching Tae Kwon Do

The core duties of a tae kwon do instructor are to teach children and adults the skills of this Korean martial art. Tae kwon do teachers also advise their students about personal development, health and fitness, and personal ch...

Different Belts in Tae Kwon Do

Drawing inspiration from Japanese karate, Korean martial artists officially created taekwondo -- sometimes written as "tae kwon do" -- in 1957, incorporating quick hand strikes and spinning kicks into a fearsome self...

Requirements for a Purple Belt in Tae Kwon Do

In the Korean martial art of tae kwon do, rank is indicated by the color of the belt. The beginning student starts at the rank of 10th gup, or white belt rank. Each new gup rank is represented by a different colored belt, until...

Meniscus Tear from Tae Kwon Do

Knee injuries are especially common in tae kwon do, a popular form of the martial arts. One reason is because this fighting method emphasizes spinning kicks, which can put a lot of strain on your knees. A typical injury suffere...

Orange Belt Requirements in Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art that focuses on high kicks, often to the head, punches, strikes and blocks. While belt colors vary from system to system, the orange belt generally is the third or fourth belt color achieved ...

Karate vs. Tae Kwon Do

In truth, there is no superior martial art -- just superior teachers, students and training methods. Karate and tae kwon do are different styles of fighting, with different cultures. Though neither art is clearly superior, the ...

Types of Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is an ancient Korean martial art. The word tae kwon do can be loosely translated to mean "the art of kicking and punching." While numerous ideologies and teaching styles of tae kwon do have developed, two main style...

How to Spinkick Hardcore

Spinning kicks, while impressive, take skill and practice to implement. The two basic types of spin kicks -- the spinning back kick and the spinning heel kick -- are often used as counters to other techniques, particularly the ...

Tae Kwon Do & Child Development

Involving your child in tae kwon do at a young age has several developmental benefits. A healthy body image, increased concentration abilities and a level of comfort in social situations are positives that some children experie...

What Are the Five Tenets of Tae Kwon Do?

One of the things that sets traditional martial arts like tae kwon do apart from other fighting forms is that they include a philosophy, proposing an entire way of living. Therefore, they generally will include some form of ten...

List of Tae Kwon Do One-Steps

In martial arts, one-step techniques simulate an attack on the practitioner to allow him to demonstrate mastery of the techniques being taught. They are performed by having one student step forward in an exaggerated step –...

Tae Kwon Do Exercises

Tae kwon do is an ancient Korean martial art form based on blocks, strikes and kicks. As an Olympic sport, tae kwon do requires speed, flexibility, power and mental acuity. Warming up and flexibility work is essential for any p...

Which Is Better for Children: Karate or Tae Kwon Do?

However, the common wisdom has little to say about what kind of martial art is a better choice. In truth, no martial art is really "better" or "better for children" than another. However, you may find that t...

The Objectives of Tae Kwon Do

Taekwondo is the fastest growing form of martial art in the world, according to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Taekwondo originated in Korea with influences in Japanese Karate emphasizing fast, spinning kicks. "Tae" m...

Tae Kwon Do Requirements for a Single Orange Stripe Belt

Like most Asian martial arts, tae kwon do uses colored rank belts to indicate the skill, time of study and dedication of a student to the art. As the study of tae kwon do and other martial arts adapt to the realities of the mod...

How to Score in Tae Kwon Do Sparring

The Korean art of tae kwon do began as a form of fighting that relied heavily on strikes using the lower part of the body. By striking with the leg and foot, the practitioners protected their hands. Since these martial artists ...

How Long to Get a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do?

Tae kwon do is a system of unarmed self-defense that originated in Korea. Like many martial arts, tae kwon do uses a system of colored belts to denote the skill and rank of participants. The black belt signifies the highest ran...

Tae Kwon Do Sparring Techniques

The Korean martial art of tae kwon do trains the mind and body, enhancing the spirit through disciplined training. Tae kwon do features dynamic movements involving both fist and foot strikes, with competitors honing their skill...

How to Fight in Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do, a Korean martial art whose name translates to "foot fist way of life," is a highly athletic style of fighting, and one of only two Asian martial arts included in the Olympics. Tae kwon do looks like most ...

Tae Kwon Do Junior Yellow Belt Requirements

In tae kwon do, it doesn't really matter whether you're a junior student or an adult when being considered for promotion. The yellow belt is the first for which you must perform certain requirements. These requirements are usua...

Tae Kwon Do Kicking Exercises

The martial art of tae kwon do is known internationally for its devastating kicking techniques that can be focused anywhere from your hips to your head. These kicks have explosive power and speed, often making you wonder how yo...

Differences Between Kung Fu & Tae Kwon Do

Martial arts are sometimes known as fighting arts. Both Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do fit into this category. However, they have distinctive origins and employ differing techniques, and flow and movement change between the two s...

The Meanings of the Forms of Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art practiced across the world. It is known for its elaborate kicking techniques. Training includes the use of forms similar to the kata of karate, which incorporates the techniques and movements...

Tae Kwon Do Sparring Drills

Tae kwon do is an ancient martial art form developed in Korea. This form of martial arts employs heavy use of strikes and kicks. Students of tae kwon do must practice and master patterns, strikes and kicks to advance their belt...

What Do Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, & Aikido Have in Common?

Tai Chi is a Chinese internal martial art. Its slow-motion movement promotes health. Tae Kwon Do is a Korean external martial art. Its lightning fast kicks are central to its athletic sparring matches. Aikido is a Japanese grap...

Tae Kwon Do & Weight Loss

If your goal is to get in better shape while simultaneously getting rid of stress, martial arts may be the right exercise program for you. Tae kwon do stands alone in the martial arts world because of its focus on kicks to the ...

The Belt System of Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do, like karate and most other forms of martial arts, relies on a belt system to signify your growth in the martial arts system. Although many schools add or take away belt colors or internal rankings within a belt col...

Tae Kwon Do Stretching Techniques

Tae kwon do is a popular martial art form that originated in Korea. Today, tae kwon do is practiced by young and old alike around the world. Because tae kwon do uses many different types of kicks, ankle, knee and hip joint flex...

Advanced Tae Kwon Do Sparring Techniques

Depending on the type of sparring you’re doing, tae kwon do sparring techniques include blocks, hand strikes and punches, kicks to the body and head, and techniques designed to throw your opponent off his game. Tae kwon d...

What Do You Need to Do to Get a Yellow Belt?

Because yellow belt is generally a beginner belt in martial arts, required techniques and knowledge are also at the basic level. There are a typical series of expectations at a World Taekwondo Federation, or WTF, school.

Tae Kwon Do Speed Training

Most martial artists work to develop fast reflexes, but this is especially true in Tae Kwon Do. With its emphasis on kicks, Tae Kwon Do stressed the development of speedy strikes when you are using the largest muscles in your b...

Fighting Styles by Country

The various martial arts of the world often have similar roots, born of the need for self-defense and discipline as well as art and meditation. Some countries' fighting styles have branched off from earlier styles, while others...

Tae Kwon Do Vs. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Tae kwon do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are widely practiced martial arts. Worldwide television viewers saw tae kwon do when it was fist demonstrated at the Summer Olympic Games in South Korea in 1988. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s p...

What Are the Tae Kwon Do Belt Colors?

Tae kwon do is a martial art form developed in Korea. The art form offers different belt colors that distinguish skill levels among students. If you're a tae kwon do student, you'll be required to know these belt colors as well...

How to Train for Tae Kwon Do at Home

Tae kwon do is one of the most widespread martial arts in the world. Created from traditional Korean martial arts after the end of Japanese occupation in 1945, it focuses heavily on elaborate kicking techniques. Along with judo...

The History of Korean Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art that means "the way of the foot and hand," or "the way of kicking and punching." Like many martial arts, tae kwon do began in ancient times as a way to defend oneself while avoiding the wides...

Basics of a Yellow Belt in Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is a martial art developed in Korea and practiced around the world. Different organizations and associations of tae kwon use varying criteria for advancing through belts and skills for the art, though there also are...

Tae Kwon Do Pattern Meanings

Tae Kwon Do, or TKD, is a Korean martial art that is famous for its elaborate kicking techniques. TKD is split into two major branches. One is governed by the International Taekwon-do Federation, or ITF. The other branch is run...

Black Belt Laws in Tae Kwon Do

Law may be a strong word when referring to the requirements surrounding black belts in tae kwon do. No legal authority governs these requirements, and no legal sanctions exist for those who break them. However, the organization...

Hand Techniques for Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art that translates as a way or method for using techniques with open hands and feet. Tae kwon do typically is known for its high, spinning and jumping kicks, but the system has many hand techniq...

BJJ Vs. Tae Kwon Do

There are many disciplines of martial arts in the world, some of which are very well known and others barely heard of. Two of the most popular are Brazilian Jui-Jitsu, or BJJ, and Taekwondo. Both martial arts have found great ...

What Are the Differences in Karate, Kung Fu & Tae Kwon Do?

If you are considering taking up a martial art, you might be overwhelmed by the hundreds of options available. The art of war has been practiced by most cultures for thousands of years. East Asian martial arts are some of the m...

Korean Tae Kwon Do Exercises

The emphasis on kicks is one of the ways tae kwon do is different from other martial arts forms. "Tae" means foot, "kwon" means the fist or the hand and "do" means the path of. Exercises to enhance your tae kwon do performance ...

What Is the Difference Between Tae Kwon Do, Karate & Judo?

While judo, karate and tae kwon do (or taekwondo) are all martial arts, they differ in many significant ways, starting with their disparate origins in Japan, China and Korea, respectively. The three martial arts differ as well ...

Bending Fighting Styles

"Hard" martial arts such as tae kwon do and Shotokan karate tend to meet force with force. They will greet an oncoming attack with a block from a limb conditioned to accept the incoming force and overcome it. Other martial arts...

How to Jump Higher in Tae Kwon Do

The impressive high aerial kicks of tae kwon do may be the most visible aspect of what separates it from other Asian martial arts. It's also one of the elements that attracts more Westerners to tae kwon do than any other fighti...

Tae Kwon Do Pushups

Tae kwon do is one of the martial arts styles with the most rigorous fitness elements, second only to competitive fight sports such as MMA and muay Thai. Although no specific pushup type is exclusive to tae kwon do, pushups are...

How to Wear a Tae Kwon Do Uniform

A tae kwon do uniform -- known in Korean as a dobok -- is, above all, a functional garment meant to allow freedom of movement and withstand the abuse of sparring and repeated, intense workouts. A tae kwon do uniform also indica...

The History of Tae Kwon Do

The ancient martial art now designated Tae Kwon Do continues to grapple with the modern imagination, gripping a reputed 30 million practitioners in upwards of 150 countries. Not known as Tae Kwon Do in ancient times, this comba...

How to Prepare for My Black Belt

The black belt grade is the most intensive examination of all martial arts levels. A black belt test evaluates your proficiency at demonstrating kick/punch combinations and grappling techniques that have been practiced over the...

Information on Full Equipment for Tae Kwon Do

Protective equipment has evolved significantly over several decades of taekwondo practice. During sparring, you'll try to land a variety of kicks and punches over most of your opponent's body, and he'll be doing the same to you...

How to Lose Weight with Tae Kwon Do

There are many martial arts, some of which burn more calories during practice than others. Although there are some exceptions, Tae Kwon Do traditionally includes a great deal of physical training. Simply showing up for class ca...

Tai Chi vs. Tae Kwon Do

Tai chi and tae kwon do are at opposite ends of the martial arts spectrum: Tai chi largely has evolved into an exercise system which de-emphasizes its historical roots as a fighting technique in favor of developing balance and ...

Calories Burned During Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon do is from three Korean words: tae means kick or jump; kwon means fist or hand; and do means the way. The name of the sport essentially means the way of the hand and foot. More than just self-defense, tae kwon do requi...

Tae Kwon Do Self-Defense Techniques

Tae kwon do, which originated in Korea, is one of the world's most popular martial arts. This fighting style is well-known for its kicking techniques. Tae kwon do practitioners sometimes seem to defy gravity with impressive jum...

How Does a Punch to the Jaw Cause a Knockout?

A punch to the jaw causes the head to suddenly spin around. This can be to the left, to the right, or to the back. This quick motion of the skull causes trauma to the brain that leads to a knockout. Points on the jaw that are e...

How to Iron on Tae Kwon Do Patches

Many tae kwon do schools require students to wear iron-on tae kwon do patches on their uniforms. These must be positioned in the correct places for the sake of tradition and propriety. The tae kwon do patches must also be secur...