isshinryuronin
Senior Master
It seems you're saying that BJJ submissions are better as that art specializes in it. If so, I agree. TKD's direct ancestor, karate, has a number of joint locks, but they weren't designed as on the ground (or standup) "finishing submissions" as HighKick called them.If a bjj adjusts your TKD submission. He is probably going to ajust it for the better
Submissions finish a sport match, but in serious combat they are not valuable as after "submitting" the opponent can get up and continue the fight. So, karate doesn't teach much in the way of finishing submissions, but rather finishing breaks or dislocates sometimes in conjunction with strikes. Yes, BJJ submissions can (and accidentally do) have this result (or a lesser disabling one), but it is not I think the prime goal as popularly practiced.
Pain compliance (submission) is not a main concept in karate, nor is extended grappling leading to a submission. It's too much work for us lazy karate guys. Grappling for us lasts only a few seconds at the most (usually in a stand-up position), just enough time to get a joint into position for a quick strike or wrenching designed to quickly end the opponent's ability to fight for the foreseeable future.
This is, at least, the foundational doctrine of early karate. How much it is taught and practiced is another matter. When engaged on the ground, BJJ is very effective, so I'm not knocking it. I'm only discussing the different approaches and views re: submissions.