Olympic Taekwondo
Discussion
Just watched a few minutes of this and came to the conclusion it's total garbage!
I always thought there was something mystical about these ancient arts but in reality there is no skill, flair, panache or anything. It's just two people wearing a load of protection kicking out wildly and at each other. They dont even kick very well either, a Muai Thai fighter would waste all of them.
I always thought there was something mystical about these ancient arts but in reality there is no skill, flair, panache or anything. It's just two people wearing a load of protection kicking out wildly and at each other. They dont even kick very well either, a Muai Thai fighter would waste all of them.
FUBAR said:
Kaye- what a legendAs an ex martial artist, I was stunned by the poor quality of fighters.
Taekwondo was only entered into the olympics as they are the only Martial arts discipline that have their "house in order" so to speak.
(The big organisations are run by shady "mafia like" men parading as martial artists while ripping off their fighters at every level)
As a short example while representing GB you'd be expected to pay ridiculous amounts for your own trip and accomodation, after winning the qualifiers (£700 for a week in Germany, if you dont travel with them, you dont fight!!) Poor accomodation on arrival while the organisers stay in the penthouse suites!
It might seem unbeliavable to some but 99% of those taekwondo fighters would get their asses kicked in an open tournament.
For those unaware of the difference an open tournament (as seen in many a sports centre nationwide) you get fighters together from the main three disciplines, Karate, Taekwondo and kung fu, competeing to a common set of rules. (No elbows, eye gouging, groin kicks but mostly straight forward punches and kicks shared among the 3)
This means you fight different styles and have to adapt your strengths to beat your opponent. In my time I've come up against some great fighters from all disciplines but you can only really consider yourself an all rounder if you can compete and perform in this type of arena.
Local club champions to national champions mean little (ok you're the big fish in a small pond) but when you fight in "Opens" your exposed to a wealth of different fighters with varying skill levels.
Also this protective belly warmer clothing that taekwondo fighters wear?? WTF.
As a part of the training, body conditioning is essential. Strength, endurance and stamina are all reduced when you take a heavy blow so we train for the event. If a blackbelt got dropped by a punch or kick to the abdomen then more sit ups are needed, in a real fight you cant take a timeout while you catch your breath.
Freestyle martial arts should've been at the olympics instead! 100 times better quality, very exciting to watch and they also do team events.
It would've made a much better spectator sport.
Oh well.
Covert.
Taekwondo was only entered into the olympics as they are the only Martial arts discipline that have their "house in order" so to speak.
(The big organisations are run by shady "mafia like" men parading as martial artists while ripping off their fighters at every level)
As a short example while representing GB you'd be expected to pay ridiculous amounts for your own trip and accomodation, after winning the qualifiers (£700 for a week in Germany, if you dont travel with them, you dont fight!!) Poor accomodation on arrival while the organisers stay in the penthouse suites!
It might seem unbeliavable to some but 99% of those taekwondo fighters would get their asses kicked in an open tournament.
For those unaware of the difference an open tournament (as seen in many a sports centre nationwide) you get fighters together from the main three disciplines, Karate, Taekwondo and kung fu, competeing to a common set of rules. (No elbows, eye gouging, groin kicks but mostly straight forward punches and kicks shared among the 3)
This means you fight different styles and have to adapt your strengths to beat your opponent. In my time I've come up against some great fighters from all disciplines but you can only really consider yourself an all rounder if you can compete and perform in this type of arena.
Local club champions to national champions mean little (ok you're the big fish in a small pond) but when you fight in "Opens" your exposed to a wealth of different fighters with varying skill levels.
Also this protective belly warmer clothing that taekwondo fighters wear?? WTF.
As a part of the training, body conditioning is essential. Strength, endurance and stamina are all reduced when you take a heavy blow so we train for the event. If a blackbelt got dropped by a punch or kick to the abdomen then more sit ups are needed, in a real fight you cant take a timeout while you catch your breath.
Freestyle martial arts should've been at the olympics instead! 100 times better quality, very exciting to watch and they also do team events.
It would've made a much better spectator sport.
Oh well.
Covert.
Edited by covert ops on Monday 1st September 05:04
covert ops said:
As an ex martial artist, I was stunned by the poor quality of fighters.
Taekwondo was only entered into the olympics as they are the only Martial arts discipline that have their "house in order" so to speak.
(The big organisations are run by shady "mafia like" men parading as martial artists while ripping off their fighters at every level)
As a short example while representing GB you'd be expected to pay ridiculous amounts for your own trip and accomodation, after winning the qualifiers (£700 for a week in Germany, if you dont travel with them, you dont fight!!) Poor accomodation on arrival while the organisers stay in the penthouse suites!
It might seem unbeliavable to some but 99% of those taekwondo fighters would get their asses kicked in an open tournament.
For those unaware of the difference an open tournament (as seen in many a sports centre nationwide) you get fighters together from the main three disciplines, Karate, Taekwondo and kung fu, competeing to a common set of rules. (No elbows, eye gouging, groin kicks but mostly straight forward punches and kicks shared among the 3)
This means you fight different styles and have to adapt your strengths to beat your opponent. In my time I've come up against some great fighters from all disciplines but you can only really consider yourself an all rounder if you can compete and perform in this type of arena.
Local club champions to national champions mean little (ok you're the big fish in a small pond) but when you fight in "Opens" your exposed to a wealth of different fighters with varying skill levels.
Also this protective belly warmer clothing that taekwondo fighters wear?? WTF.
As a part of the training, body conditioning is essential. Strength, endurance and stamina are all reduced when you take a heavy blow so we train for the event. If a blackbelt got dropped by a punch or kick to the abdomen then more sit ups are needed, in a real fight you cant take a timeout while you catch your breath.
Freestyle martial arts should've been at the olympics instead! 100 times better quality, very exciting to watch and they also do team events.
It would've made a much better spectator sport.
Oh well.
Covert.
Having trained in taekwondo for 16 years I have to agree with your statement.Taekwondo was only entered into the olympics as they are the only Martial arts discipline that have their "house in order" so to speak.
(The big organisations are run by shady "mafia like" men parading as martial artists while ripping off their fighters at every level)
As a short example while representing GB you'd be expected to pay ridiculous amounts for your own trip and accomodation, after winning the qualifiers (£700 for a week in Germany, if you dont travel with them, you dont fight!!) Poor accomodation on arrival while the organisers stay in the penthouse suites!
It might seem unbeliavable to some but 99% of those taekwondo fighters would get their asses kicked in an open tournament.
For those unaware of the difference an open tournament (as seen in many a sports centre nationwide) you get fighters together from the main three disciplines, Karate, Taekwondo and kung fu, competeing to a common set of rules. (No elbows, eye gouging, groin kicks but mostly straight forward punches and kicks shared among the 3)
This means you fight different styles and have to adapt your strengths to beat your opponent. In my time I've come up against some great fighters from all disciplines but you can only really consider yourself an all rounder if you can compete and perform in this type of arena.
Local club champions to national champions mean little (ok you're the big fish in a small pond) but when you fight in "Opens" your exposed to a wealth of different fighters with varying skill levels.
Also this protective belly warmer clothing that taekwondo fighters wear?? WTF.
As a part of the training, body conditioning is essential. Strength, endurance and stamina are all reduced when you take a heavy blow so we train for the event. If a blackbelt got dropped by a punch or kick to the abdomen then more sit ups are needed, in a real fight you cant take a timeout while you catch your breath.
Freestyle martial arts should've been at the olympics instead! 100 times better quality, very exciting to watch and they also do team events.
It would've made a much better spectator sport.
Oh well.
Covert.
Edited by covert ops on Monday 1st September 05:04
Some elements of taekwondo are useful, and it has helped me in certain situations, but I am undder no illusion as to what it is.
As for being an olympic sport????... As a practitioner i can aprecitate watching it, but for general viewing I'd say no
cheers
chris
Hi Chris
Didnt mean to make it sound like I dont appreciate taekwondo, I really do.
I have fought some truly amazing kickers on the open circuit (Some of my favourite fighters were from welsh TAGB ) (Also fought Tony Sykes and Mark Weir before his UFC days!) I just couldn't believe the standard at the olympics!
Personally it was well below the standard you can find at tournaments here, so I think it painted Taekwondo in a negative light.
I respect all the arts as I know the how much hard work it takes to master your said discipline.
Covert.
Didnt mean to make it sound like I dont appreciate taekwondo, I really do.
I have fought some truly amazing kickers on the open circuit (Some of my favourite fighters were from welsh TAGB ) (Also fought Tony Sykes and Mark Weir before his UFC days!) I just couldn't believe the standard at the olympics!
Personally it was well below the standard you can find at tournaments here, so I think it painted Taekwondo in a negative light.
I respect all the arts as I know the how much hard work it takes to master your said discipline.
Covert.
Just found some clips on youtube of ITF taekwondo and it definitely looks better than the s
te at the olympics, take a look at this about 1 minute in
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jJINTL2dGRA
te at the olympics, take a look at this about 1 minute inhttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jJINTL2dGRA
I've been training for around 2 1/2 years, originally I started doing ITF but for the last year I've been training with WTF. The only reason I did this was I moved, and there were only WTF classes nearby!
I'm currently 5th kup, and as yet have yet to enter a competion, watching the olympics didn't really me inspire me to do so, it was slow and dreary to watch.
What the hell was that British girl doing that won the bronze?! She seemed to go in for a kick and then intentionally drop to the floor to stop the opponent countering her! Shocking and unprofessional!
I will however be entering my first competition around Oct/Nov, and I'm quite looking forward to it, hopefully it will be a lot more entertaining watching other competitors from around the country.
Olympic TKD definitely needs the rules revising.
I'm currently 5th kup, and as yet have yet to enter a competion, watching the olympics didn't really me inspire me to do so, it was slow and dreary to watch.
What the hell was that British girl doing that won the bronze?! She seemed to go in for a kick and then intentionally drop to the floor to stop the opponent countering her! Shocking and unprofessional!
I will however be entering my first competition around Oct/Nov, and I'm quite looking forward to it, hopefully it will be a lot more entertaining watching other competitors from around the country.
Olympic TKD definitely needs the rules revising.
alman said:
Just found some clips on youtube of ITF taekwondo and it definitely looks better than the ste at the olympics, take a look at this about 1 minute in
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jJINTL2dGRA
Olympic stuff is sheeite....^^^that's more like it.te at the olympics, take a look at this about 1 minute inhttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jJINTL2dGRA
I've sparred with TKD guys when I was good at Muay Thai and gotta say, I kicked there @rses
There's nowt like getting cracked in the face with a leg/foot though, my god it hurts!!
Yugguy said:
Good luck in your competition mate, my thread was not meant to have a go at TKD in general, just the rather silly implementation of it at the Olympics.
Totally agree with you, it was poorly represented in the Olympics, least of all by the bell end that kicked the referee in the head!Watching the Olympics probably didn't seem it but it is genuinely is an enjoyable sport, and a lot more fun way of keeping fit than going to the gym or running, both of which I find extremely dull!
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