Muay Thai Versus Taekwondo
Muay Thai vs Taekwondo
The Korean national sport 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. Taekwondo, loosely translated as 'the way of hand and foot', is the most popular of the Korean martial arts. It is also one of the world's most commonly practiced martial arts and is one of only two Asian martial arts (Judo being the other) to make it to the Olympic Games. Taekwondo has four disciplinces
- Patterns
- Sparring
- Self-defence
- Breaktest
It is the combination of these four disciplines that makes the art called taekwondo. Taekwondo is a combination of combat technique, self-defense, sport, exercise, entertainment, and philosophy. Although there are differences among Taekwondo styles, the martial art in general emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, using the leg's greater reach and power to disable the opponent from a distance. This distinguishes it from martial arts such as Karate or certain southern styles of Kung Fu. The rationale is that the leg is the longest and strongest weapon a martial artist has, and kicks thus have the greatest potential to strike without retaliation. In sparring, turning, 45 degree, front, axe, and side kicks are most often used; advanced kicks include jump, spin, skip, and drop kicks, often in combination. Taekwondo training also includes a comprehensive system of hand strikes and blocks, but generally does not emphasize grappling.
As a sport and exercise Taekwondo is popular with people of both sexes of all ages. Physically, Taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and stamina. An example of the union of mental and physical discipline is the breaking of boards (breaktest), which requires both physical mastery of the technique and the concentration to focus one's energy.
The five tenets of Taekwondo (courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control, indomitable spirit) reflect that Taekwondo is a mental discipline as well as a physical one. Taekwondo helps students develop improved awareness, confidence, focus, discipline, memory, and respect. Some schools even have student creeds or oaths that describe Taekwondo's goals for personal improvement. Stretching during warm-ups is one way Taekwondo develops flexibility.
Belts
There are ten colour belt levels. Each colour of belt (white, yellow, green, blue, red, black) has a specific meaning; for instance, white signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do. There are no coloured belts in Muay Thai Boxing. Fighters are more interested in obtaining stadium champion belts.
Taekwondo on film
Despite martial arts movies being seemingly dominated by Chinese martial arts, Taekwondo is actually one of the more popular martial arts employed in film. This has a lot to do with impressive high kicking techniques used in Taekwondo. Among Hollywood films, one of the best depictions of Taekwondo can be found in the film Best of the Best and the sequels, although the art is referred to as Karate throughout. Possibly the most famous superkickers of martial arts cinema (e.g. Hwang Jang-Lee) are practitioners of Taekwondo. Lee and many other Korean Taekwondo practitioners have been in Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee films. Taekwondo is also seen in Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, as well as many Hong Kong action films. Most recently, Taekwondo has been effectively used in Thai action star Tony Jaa's blockbuster movie Ong Bak. Although Tony is a practitioner of Muay Thai, his opponents in the movie execute a number of spectacular Taekwondo kicks.
