Taekwondo and karate are two of the most popular martial arts in existence today. They have grown in popularity to the extent they’re featured in the Olympics. Despite being effective martial arts in their own way, the debate on whether taekwondo is harder than karate doesn’t seem to go away, with conflicting answers emerging from students of both disciplines.
As a whole, karate and taekwondo are both tough to learn and master and require a lot of discipline and determination; one is not necessarily more complicated than the other. Whereas taekwondo focuses on kicks with punches as a supplement, karate focuses more on punches with kicks as a supplement. However, they’re both very effective self-defense techniques.
This article will examine whether taekwondo is better than karate, whether one can train in both, and the fundamental differences between the two, which you will learn if you read on.
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Is Taekwondo Harder to Learn than Karate?
A lot of new students are torn between choosing taekwondo and karate as their main martial art. While comparing the two, some students tend to look at how effective each martial art is and how hard it is to learn. While there is no definite answer to whether taekwondo is harder than karate, several factors determine the two martial arts and why students choose them. They include:
The Reason for Training
The primary reason for taking any martial art class is for self-defense. Taekwondo and karate are great for fending off attacks, and the training will come in handy to your overall fitness. Students of both disciplines are capable of handling themselves in a physical confrontation with much ease. Both martial arts are also applied in tournaments, but students are only allowed to compete with those from their discipline, and crossover matches are not allowed.
Way of Training
Both martial arts require a lot of dedication and discipline to master. The type of training subjected to each martial art determines their difficulty. However, it’s also important to know that each student is different, and what one student might perceive as hard, another might think of as easy.
For instance, kicking, which forms the base of taekwondo, might be difficult for some students to execute, while chopping and punching, which is mainly used in karate, might be too much for other students. The bottom line is that the intensity of the training and the students’ ability to adapt make all the difference.
Is Taekwondo Better Than Karate?
Taekwondo and karate are both very effective in self-defense. Taekwondo emphasizes speed and flexibility through kicking, while karate focuses on full-body movement and balance. However, each martial art teaches students discipline and patience.
Choosing between the two forms of martial art is a matter of preference rather than effectiveness, as both are deadly if executed well. Although taekwondo might be deadly for someone who is comfortable kicking, karate is effective for close combat. In taekwondo, students are taught to use different kick combinations, and the technique is based chiefly on counter-attacking, and that’s why speed is paramount.
In karate, students are taught how to use full-body movements in attacking and defending. This puts a lot of pressure on a trainee, as you have to ‘read’ the opponent’s movements to determine whether you should attack or defend.
Can You Train in Both Taekwondo and Karate?
Usually, it’s possible to take taekwondo and karate classes at the same time. Students who’ve taken both classes are more equipped to execute both styles efficiently. However, taking two different martial art classes at once is tasking and would require tremendous dedication and discipline.
If you decide to take taekwondo and karate classes, there are several things that you must keep in mind, and they include:
- The styles are different, and you need to be alert.
- You cannot skip any class, as this would mean you get left behind.
- Understand the rules of both martial arts.
- Both martial arts have different applications, with taekwondo suited for tournaments and karate for street fighting.
Make sure you talk to the instructors and make them aware of your arrangements. Not only will doing so help you schedule your classes, but it will also give you enough time for body recovery. The intensity involved in training in both could take a toll on your body and health, with fatigue and muscle injury more likely to occur.
It’s not ideal for new students to combine both classes as their learning progress would be slower than taking one class at a time. Make sure you make significant progress in one form of martial art before deciding to take another. It’s also straightforward for students of one martial art to transition to the other as they both share a basic foundation that involves discipline and hard work.
What Are the Basic Differences Between Taekwondo and Karate?
Taekwondo and karate don’t just have different origins, but they’re also different in terms of fighting, stances, training, and application. Students use different combinations, and the rules of the tournaments are also different.
To an outsider, the two might look alike, given that the attires look almost the same. However, you start to realize the differences once you start training. Here are common differences between taekwondo and karate:
- Fighting styles – Taekwondo focuses more on kicks, whereas karate focuses on using your hands and less kicking. Taekwondo relies on speed and flexibility, while karate relies on strength and precision.
- Offense and defense – In taekwondo, students are taught to counter-attack, but not how to block. In karate, students learn both attacking and defending.
- Standing stance – In taekwondo, students take a fighting stance where feet are in line with each other and maintain a shoulder-width space. In karate, students keep their feet shoulder-width apart, knees tense, and the toes at least 45 degrees facing inwards.
- Rules – Both martial arts are governed by a set of rules, especially during tournaments. In taekwondo, a kick to the face awards you two points and a point to the middle part of the body. In karate, three points are awarded for hitting the face and two to the middle part of the body.
- Fighting distance – Taekwondo is suited for distant fighting, while karate is great for close combat fighting.
Final Thoughts
Taekwondo and karate are very effective forms of self-defense martial arts. They both focus on making one a better fighter and instilling self-discipline. They both offer challenges to students, thus making them equally hard to learn. While taekwondo focuses on kicks, karate is more of a full-body movement martial art.
A student can train in both martial arts but would be required to have proper discipline and determination. The two martial arts are also different in terms of fighting stance, fighting styles, rules, and the distance between fighters.