Taekwondo (also written as "tae kwon do", "taekwon-do" or "t'aegwondo") is a modern martial art from Korea that is characterised by its fast, high and spinning kicks.
by I like Taekwondo very much. ^^ September 4, 2003
A martial art, that when practiced correctly, requires vigorous and brutal exercise, dedication, and physical well-being. It not only teaches a high concentration of kicks and blocks with a few hand attacks, but it focuses incredibly on respect, honor, sacrifice, honesty, compassion, focus, and many other philosophies that should be remembered every day. Taekwondo is a martial art that could eliminate most others not only because of it's technique, but the physical condition and mental well-being it requires.
I have practiced Taekwondo for years, and am physically and mentally well. I know how to fight, and also when to fight. My combat skills are surpassed only by my respect for my fellow men and women.
by TKDteacher December 5, 2010
a martial art that has the highest concentration of kicks compared to any other martial arts available today (over 100). it destroys kickboxing and muay thai and teaches you self discipline and respect not only in your training but in everyday life. it is extremely fitness orientated, and requires immense amounts of dedication to succeed. it is for all races and religions as well as sex and age. once you reach your higher belts you are trained so well you can punch through a brick wall in one single blow (or 9 bricks piled on top of each other). its worth trying it out because most people get fucked up by taekwondo students and have to bad mouth it by saying its weak. if its so weak then how am i able to stop a mans heart by throwing a single punch??
*KICKBOXER*: IM GOING TO BEAT YOU...
*Taekwondo Guy*: <tornado kicks him in the head>
*KICKBOXER*: <out cold and dragged to hospital>
*Taekwondo Guy*: <tornado kicks him in the head>
*KICKBOXER*: <out cold and dragged to hospital>
by TKDSTudEnt March 27, 2008
A korean modern (ie last 200 years) martial art created for military combat.
Unfortunately the martial art has become so popular that it has suffered from a severe case of McDojos & huge increase of the sport version over the traditional art, 10 year old black-belts are far too common & the McDojos are everywhere. The sport version is split into two branches
WTF & ITF where the latter allows boxing methods to be employed. Unfortunately the sport is nearly completely useless for self-defence due to its point-system emphasising high kicks over strategic attack, penalty on aggressiveness in combat & not allowing grappling/clinching which all other sport-arts allow on some level + in WTFs scenario restarts after contact.
There is then the even worse branch ATA which is scam-artists at its best, ATA isn't recognised by the Koreans as a real branch of Taekwondo & ATA refuse to compete in ITF/WTF competitions alongside charging high prices for training.
Traditional Taekwondo is like any other art, a complete system in all aspects with grappling/locks/takedowns & strikes + weapon combat. Unfortunately it is far & few between to come across, Taekwondo is a prime example of what can potentially happen when a martial art is turned into a sport, though this hasn't been the case for many sport-arts such as Judo which is a highly effective system adapted to many police forces.
Unfortunately the martial art has become so popular that it has suffered from a severe case of McDojos & huge increase of the sport version over the traditional art, 10 year old black-belts are far too common & the McDojos are everywhere. The sport version is split into two branches
WTF & ITF where the latter allows boxing methods to be employed. Unfortunately the sport is nearly completely useless for self-defence due to its point-system emphasising high kicks over strategic attack, penalty on aggressiveness in combat & not allowing grappling/clinching which all other sport-arts allow on some level + in WTFs scenario restarts after contact.
There is then the even worse branch ATA which is scam-artists at its best, ATA isn't recognised by the Koreans as a real branch of Taekwondo & ATA refuse to compete in ITF/WTF competitions alongside charging high prices for training.
Traditional Taekwondo is like any other art, a complete system in all aspects with grappling/locks/takedowns & strikes + weapon combat. Unfortunately it is far & few between to come across, Taekwondo is a prime example of what can potentially happen when a martial art is turned into a sport, though this hasn't been the case for many sport-arts such as Judo which is a highly effective system adapted to many police forces.
John: I started ITF Taekwondo, now if anybody tries to beat me up i'll kick them in the face
Jack: You're aware that the high kicks are in most cases NOT the best option especially where you will most likely get attacked ie alleys & crowded clubs? Let alone Taekwondo doesn't prepare you for multiple attackers & the potential for weapons being involved OR escaping if your kick is grappled.
Oh and they also hand out belts like candy in many cases. Do the sport if you want but don't fool yourself John into thinking it will be reliable to use fully in a fight.
Jack: You're aware that the high kicks are in most cases NOT the best option especially where you will most likely get attacked ie alleys & crowded clubs? Let alone Taekwondo doesn't prepare you for multiple attackers & the potential for weapons being involved OR escaping if your kick is grappled.
Oh and they also hand out belts like candy in many cases. Do the sport if you want but don't fool yourself John into thinking it will be reliable to use fully in a fight.
by dum1anddum2 March 20, 2011
Taekwondo, I will contest, was at one point a brutal, effective martial art whose practitioners were basically unmatched in their execution of brutal flying kicks. Now, however, it's a sissified, pathetic group of fools prancing about in white pajamas, not sparring, barely breaking, and practicing it on the air, in predictable forms. Sure you can kick through a centimeter thick piece of wood. Can you hit a moving target? Can you hit a moving target that's hitting you back? (Here's a tip. It's different.) So switch MAs (boxing, MT, even jiujitsu) or start making taekwondo work. Additionally, before you say something like "You box, LOLOLOLOL boxars have no leg defense!!11! YOU BE DOWN IN 5". To that, I say this. Boxers don't have leg defense. We have pain defense. If you kick me in the face, be quick, because I'm going to grab your leg. And then you'll be Mr. supreme martial artist hopping on one foot wondering what to do.
Taekwondo Guy: HEY WANNA FITE I SEE U THINK UR DECENT!
Decent Martial Artist: I am, and I really don't like fighting.
Taekwondo Guy: LOLOLOL SUCK IT UP!111 *kicks*
Decent Martial Artist: *ducks under, grabs standing leg, grapples*
Taekwondo Guy: WHUT'S THIS? THA GUARD I HEAR ABOUT? LOOKS QUEER!!11 ohgodmyarmletgoletgomakeitstoppleaseplease
*snap*
Decent Martial Artist: I am, and I really don't like fighting.
Taekwondo Guy: LOLOLOL SUCK IT UP!111 *kicks*
Decent Martial Artist: *ducks under, grabs standing leg, grapples*
Taekwondo Guy: WHUT'S THIS? THA GUARD I HEAR ABOUT? LOOKS QUEER!!11 ohgodmyarmletgoletgomakeitstoppleaseplease
*snap*
by Anonymous+a bunch of numbers August 4, 2008
by wildpannda February 25, 2022
Taekwondo is a South Korean form of Martial Arts with fighting styles from over 2,000 years ago consisting of mostly high kicks and lower kicks. It also consists of punches, takedowns, and submissions (depending on the style of Taekwondo you learn including WTF, ITF, Kukkiwon, or ATA
by Taekwondo lover August 9, 2019