As a Tae Kwon Do school instructor, I am often asked what makes Tae Kwon Do different from other styles of martial arts.   This is a very important question and one that I wish more people thought of when considering training.  The average person assumes that it is all "karate" with perhaps slight differences.

As instructors, it is our responsibility to educate people.  Informed consumers will make smarter decisions that will often be in our favor as Tae Kwon Do school owners, but we need to help ourselves by pointing out to them that which is obvious to us as practitioners.

Tae Kwon Do may not  be for everyone, and that is fine, but it is important that we communicate that it is distinguished by the speed, power and precision of its kicking techniques.  Parents need to know that sparring participants are fully padded.  This is not true in all styles.  Parents will also want to know that punches to the face are not allowed at any age.  We forget that our prospective students watch MMA on television and may assume that is what they will experience in our schools.  To a person who wants to learn grappling and assorted ground techniques, Tae Kwon Do should not be their first choice.

One of Tae Kwon Do's greatest distinctions from other martial arts, in my opinion, is that it is both a traditional Eastern martial art, rich with culture and discipline.  Yet, it is also a modern-day Olympic sport.  Most students who begin training in our art form do not seek to compete seriously (let alone Olympic glory).  However, the opportunity is there.  Tae Kwon Do is the only martial art aside from Judo that can take that rare student to international competition including the Olympic Games.

Grandmaster Joon P. Choi, President of the Martial Arts Commission, offers his vision and mission for Tae Kwon Do:

Vision: "Kids grow up happy and healthy, 
Young become wise and strong, 
Old enjoy peace and harmony."

Mission: "To provide education and training system 
to enhance mental, physical, spiritual 
and emotional strength of individuals."

See you "In the Dojang."

Robert Fox

Chief Executive Officer, LUPO TKD