WTF Taekwondo Self Defense?
I want to take up taekwondo for self defense and the only school near me is a wtf one, now I've heard from some it's mainly for sport and worthless for defending yourself but others have said the full contact aspect of it makes it useful. Seeing as I don't know much about martial arts I thought I'd ask here.
Thanks guys.
Comments
Depending on the school, it could be taught as a martial art for self defense, a sport, or simply just a workout.
Taekwondo has many close techniques. The long range ones can be adapted to fit your surroundings. Taekwondo can taught as a sport, or a self defense method. All traditional martial arts were designed for self defense. If you have a good instructor in traditional Taekwondo, there is nothing stopping you from learning. My former Taekwondo instructor was most dangerous at close range. The assumption that Taekwondo is only long range is just that, an assumption. There is far more too it than people want to realize.
I was always told "if you can't go into a phone booth with the other guy and fight in there, your martial art is worthless". Point being, if you have a medium range martial art that only really works when there's space to move, it's not very good for fighting. The fight strategy of mid-range kicks works great until they get taken down or backed into a wall. WTF also bars common techniques like punches to the face and has a very limited curriculum. I would never, unless I knew the teacher well, recommend Taekwondo for someone looking to learn self-defense. It's better than nothing, and I've known some good Taekwondo guys, but if your concern is self defense, WTF Taekwondo is not the best way to go.
Tae kwonda is a form of martial arts that does teach you self defence and can make you fexible and quick and strong. It doea have punching techniques but it mainly focuses on using the legs for strikes because the legs are the strongest part of your body so they help you use it properly. Taekwondo isnt just a sport it was a type of martial arts before it became a sport. Try to find obe that actually teaches you it properly. Many martial arts schools now a days dont teach you it properly because they want you to get to the next belt fast. Mainly for the money your going to pay for the belt. Try and find one that takes a while until you reach black belt so tht way your sure you are being taught it right. Hope you find a good instructor!
Okay just trust me that it depends on the instructor. Talk to the instructor(s) and talk about the curriculum. Yes, I know, the techniques in the WTF Olympic sport are useless in a fight, but though the endurance, balance, reflexes, and stamina you develop help, that doesn't mean it is the only thing you may learn.
All I'll say is, I go a school that puts out WTF sport champions, but I personally only spend 5% of my training sparring with gear. I train in self defense full contact, and learn efficient kicks, low kicks, knees, punches, elbows, and how to react in an "anything goes, kill your attacker" situation. Though we do practice forms and flashy kicks, I also learn ground fighting and getting out of chokes and clinches and attacks from several people as well.
Depends on the school and instructors. Keep in mind that there are no useless martial arts, only useless martial artists. Even if the school only trains in sport WTF Taekwondo, give it a try. Its actually pretty fun and a hell of a workout.
As soon as i read this question i said Oh god because i already know so many people are gonna come and talk trash about it but i dont care, half of them themselves probably dont even do WTF Taekwondo. WTF Taekwondo is indeed more of the sport and olympic style of taekwondo. It's MAIN focus may not be on self-defense but it definitely does teach that. Well it actually depends on the school. My taekwondo is pure WTF Taekwondo. We learn kicks, punches, elbows, knees, we grapple, forms, spar every class and even have a tournament team. Not every WTF Taekwondo school is legit which is why its so hard to find a really WTF taekwondo school which is why so many people bash it all the time but ill tell you now, I'm a 4th degree black belt in WTF Taekwondo and have even been in situations where ive had to use to save myself and it works. I compete in tournaments EVERY TIME im told there's one and right now ive recorded all my wins and losses in tournaments and im currently 59-3. Ive been competing for years. It's so many because at some championships i have to spar about 4 or 5 times in order to win. So no it's not bad for self defense it depends on the person and the school
Though tkd has a huge emphasis on sport, most schools also spend time on self-defense. This includes defense from grabs, punches, chokes, etc. Sparring develops reaction time and muscle memory. This offers experience that fighting air simply can not provide. Along with this, most schools teach basic self defense against grabs and such. This is good because it equates to this = you get grabbed or swung at, you defend using the self defense they taught you. After this initial attack, your counter or escape probably created space between you and your attacker. You can then utilize this space with the kicks and punches of taekwondo.
I do ITF taekwondo which is another style of taekwondo, except in sparring, we have no chest protecter and head punches are allowed. It looks very much like taekwondo kickboxing. In my opinion, itf is more realistic than wtf, but wtf can still be a good style.
People who dont believe in taekwondo is useful on street have never received a double round kick to the nuts.
Learning wtf taekwondo is better than having no knowledge of self-defense or fighting. you should try it out and if you feel like this is a good school, stick with it. Many skilled fighters have come out of the wtf system. If this is a good school, you will definitely have good knowledge of self defense soon.
Hey,
Try following this online program http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=563. It teaches how to win and dominate violent situations with simple moves and tecniques.
Regards
I train in ITF style TKD. Over the years, I have met many students, who transferred in from WTF schools. Every one I met had terrible, sloppy, imprecise, and weak techniques. These students came from different schools, around the country. I'd be very leery of any WTF program.