The Difference Between Karate and Tae Kwon Do

The two most common martial arts practiced inroutines which simulate fighting against imaginary
North America are karate and tae kwon do. Manyopponents using martial arts techniques. The
wonder what the difference between these twoforms from tae kwon do would have the
martial arts is. This is especially the case for thoseopposite percentage breakdown with 40% hands
who are just starting to look around for a martialand 60% legs. In tae kwon do, there is also more
arts studio. After all, most practitioners in bothemphasis on higher kicks to the head level than in
karate and tae kwon do seem to wear the samekarate. Tae kwon do practitioners also utilize
type of white gi uniforms with various coloredmore jumping or flying kicks where one is
belts.Modern traditional karate was developed inairborne while executing kicking techniques. The
the islands of Okinawa in Japan after sometae kwon do forms or patterns are generally a bit
influences from Chinese martial arts. There areshorter and less complex than the karate forms.
actually different styles of karate but they are allSome tae kwon do schools have been known to
commonly considered as Japanese martial artsuse the odd karate form in its curriculum as
today. The colored belt system was developed towell.In North America as well as other parts of
show the various ranks of karate practitionersthe world, there are separate traditional
with white depicting novices and black belts (withcompetitions for karate and tae kwon do.
various degrees) representing instructor levels andHowever, the open martial arts tournaments in
higher. There is a whole range of other differentNorth America often have competitors from both
colors in between. Modern tae kwon do waskarate and tae kwon do competing together.
developed in Korea after much influence fromSome of the larger open martial arts competition
Japanese karate during the occupation by Japan.events will have separate forms divisions for
Indeed, tae kwon do is sometimes referred to asJapanese karate and Korean tae kwon do
Korean karate. The Koreans adopted similar whitecompetitors but the fighting or sparring divisions
uniforms along with a colored belt ranking systemwill usually be combined. Many black belts in tae
for tae kwon do. Today, there are two mainkwon do end up studying karate as well and the
styles of tae kwon do, one under theopposite has been true too. Tae kwon do has
International Tae Kwon Do Federation and thereceived more publicity in recent years since its
other under the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.introduction as an Olympic sport. The style and
Many tae kwon do schools have added a blackrules used for the Olympic version of tae kwon
lining to their white uniforms for black belt levels.do fighting comes from the World Tae Kwon Do
A V-neck top is often seen in schools affiliatedFederation (WTF). Both karate and tae kwon do
with the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Thereare considered as hard style martial arts in North
are also older Korean styles including tang soo doAmerica today (as opposed to soft styles such
and moo duk kwan. Some of the moreas the many versions of Chinese kung fu).Clint
Americanized karate and tae kwon do schoolsLeung is a lifelong martial artist with over 32
also use uniforms with other colors such as red,years of training experience in kung fu, tae kwon
black and blue in addition to the traditional white.Itdo, karate, kickboxing and martial arts weaponry.
can be generalized that in karate, one would useHe has won Canadian and world championship
their arms or hands for 60% of the time fortitles (NASKA, NBL and WSKF). He is also owner
strikes or blocks while the use of legs for kickingof Free Spirit Activewear ( , an online retailer and
will be about 40%. This breakdown is seen in thedesigner of premium martial arts activewear.
many forms or katas of karate which are set