Is taekwondo very common in the UK?

[Jacky Zuki]

Lol, I've never even said that there are not many different styles. I just said they all train after the same structure.

That isn't my experience of training in Wado Ryu in Germany from time to time, nor is it what I hear from German students visiting my own club. The DKV might run the show regarding gradings but individual training regimes can vary from club to club from what I have seen.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

That isn't my experience of training in Wado Ryu in Germany from time to time, nor is it what I hear from German students visiting my own club. The DKV might run the show regarding gradings but individual training regimes can vary from club to club from what I have seen.

Then you must have been in special clubs. As I've already been saying, I lived in Germany for about 20 years, and in this time I have seen many many martial art clubs, the structure was always the same. They might vary a bit, but you will find a balance between sparring and traditional training in all clubs.

 

[Gnarlie]

I find the generalisations JohnnyEnglish has made about training in Germany in this thread to be incorrect.

I live in Germany, and even within the boundaries of the city where I live, nevermind the state or the country, I could name a list of Taekwondo and or other martial arts clubs with completely different focus points, syllabi and methods of teaching.

You can find whatever you want, just like you can in the UK.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

I find the generalisations JohnnyEnglish has made about training in Germany in this thread to be incorrect.

I live in Germany, and even within the boundaries of the city where I live, nevermind the state or the country, I could name a list of Taekwondo and or other martial arts clubs with completely different focus points, syllabi and methods of teaching.

You can find whatever you want, just like you can in the UK.

What county do you live in ?

 

[Gnarlie]

What county do you live in ?

It doesn't matter, it is the same in every area. It is easy enough to find what you are looking for, unless what you are looking for is good Hapkido :/

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

It doesn't matter, it is the same in every area. It is easy enough to find what you are looking for, unless what you are looking for is good Hapkido :/

It does matter, because where I lived and also in some other parts in Germany, I always found what I was looking for since all clubs I know had a good balance between sparring and tradition. For example, I've never seen a Karate club in Germany, that does NOT practice any sparring, all of these clubs had sparring involved. Same way around, I've never seen a Shotokan Style Karate club which does not practice the traditional part of this martial art.

As I've already been saying, I lived in Germany for about 20 years, and by now nearly 4 years in the UK, I think I am in the position to make such comparisons. It's a fact that this is a strong difference between finding martial art clubs in Germany and finding martial art clubs in the UK. Why would I lie about it ?

 

[Gnarlie]

It does matter, because where I lived and also in some other parts in Germany, I always found what I was looking for since all clubs I know had a good balance between sparring and tradition. For example, I've never seen a Karate club in Germany, that does NOT practice any sparring, all of these clubs had sparring involved. Same way around, I've never seen a Shotokan Style Karate club which does not practice the traditional part of this martial art.

As I've already been saying, I lived in Germany for about 20 years, and by now nearly 4 years in the UK, I think I am in the position to make such comparisons. It's a fact that this is a strong difference between finding martial art clubs in Germany and finding martial art clubs in the UK. Why would I lie about it ?

I am not suggesting that you are lying. I am saying that the generalised conclusions that you draw based on your experiences in the UK and Germany are incorrect according to my experience in both of those countries.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

I am not suggesting that you are lying. I am saying that the generalised conclusions that you draw based on your experiences in the UK and Germany are incorrect according to my experience in both of those countries.

How long did you live in the UK ? How many different martial art clubs did you actually visit more than once ? What type of martial arts did you practice in the UK and what martial arts did you practice in Germany ? What were your goals when joining certain clubs ?

Since you are not even able to tell me what German county you were practising in, I can't take really serious.

I DO believe you that you made other experience than me, but the question here is, WHAT for experience in what martial arts and where ? Just a week for tournaments in some British kickboxing club, does not count as " knowing many martial art clubs and their structure in the UK ".

 

[Gnarlie]

How long did you live in the UK ? How many different martial art clubs did you actually visit more than once ? What type of martial arts did you practice in the UK and what martial arts did you practice in Germany ? What were your goals when joining certain clubs ?

Since you are not even able to tell me what German county you were practising in, I can't take really serious.

I DO believe you that you made other experience than me, but the question here is, WHAT for experience in what martial arts and where ? Just a week for tournaments in some British kickboxing club, does not count as " knowing many martial art clubs and their structure in the UK ".

I am British. I have been practicing various martial arts for a couple of decades, primarily Taekwondo as a base but others too. I have visited and trained at a lot of different places in multiple countries in that time.

I would call myself an all rounder, but I look for specialist clubs when I want to train specific skills. I have never had a problem finding those specialist clubs in the UK or in Germany.

I don't believe in revealing my identity or location in online forums, especially MA forums, which sometimes seem to attract a special kind of person. Good self defence begins with avoidance

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

I am British. I have been practicing various martial arts for a couple of decades, primarily Taekwondo as a base but others too. I have visited and trained at a lot of different places in multiple countries in that time.

I would call myself an all rounder, but I look for specialist clubs when I want to train specific skills. I have never had a problem finding those specialist clubs in the UK or in Germany.

I don't believe in revealing my identity or location in online forums, especially MA forums, which sometimes seem to attract a special kind of person. Good self defence begins with avoidance

So, do I get this right. You claim I am wrong because you've visited some " specialist clubs " how you call it, and I the person who lived in German for 20 years and trained at least 11 years in about 100 different martial art schools and styles is definitely wrong ?

Come on, you might have seen some special martial art clubs in big cities, but you don't know the common german martial art clubs spread over germany at all, even by a couple of visits you would not get the whole training-structure straight away, how could you know what they train for months over months if you are just a visiter from the UK ?

As I already told you, I believe you made this experience, there is no doubt you didn't, but I think you've been to exceptions, not to the common martial art clubs you were in + I don't know what type of clubs you are actually talking about. I know there are some martial art clubs in cities like Berlin which train far more advanced than any other type of martial art club in German does, but in this case, a few exceptions do NOT confirm the rule.


However! Since I am still visiting Germany rarely, I still would like to know what clubs you've actually trained with, and what martial art. If it was something like MMA or BJJ, I understand the confusion, because these types of martial arts are pretty " new " in Germany and have no clear structure. But Kickboxing,Karate,Kung-Fu,Boxing,Judo,Muay-Thai/Thaiboxing,Wrestling definitely has, these martial arts are the most common one, but if I would have to pick one out of them, I would definitely say that you are going to find a Kickboxing club in every city with more than 1000 habitants.

 

[Gnarlie]

So, do I get this right. You claim I am wrong because you've visited some " specialist clubs " how you call it, and I the person who lived in German for 20 years and trained at least 11 years in about 100 different martial art schools and styles is definitely wrong ?

That's not what I said. You make a false assumption. I said I look for specialist places when I want to train a specific skill. Otherwise, a general school will do.

Come on, you might have seen some special martial art clubs in big cities, but you don't know the common german martial art clubs spread over germany at all, even by a couple of visits you would not get the whole training-structure straight away, how could you know what they train for months over months if you are just a visiter from the UK ?

I've lived here for over 5 years, training at multiple clubs in multiple locations. Again, you make an incorrect assumption. I think I am beginning to see how you came to those incorrect generalised conclusions about Germany and the UK.

As I already told you, I believe you made this experience, there is no doubt you didn't, but I think you've been to exceptions, not to the common martial art clubs you were in + I don't know what type of clubs you are actually talking about. I know there are some martial art clubs in cities like Berlin which train far more advanced than any other type of martial art club in German does, but in this case, a few exceptions do NOT confirm the rule.

As you say, you don't know.

However! Since I am still visiting Germany rarely, I still would like to know what clubs you've actually trained with, and what martial art. If it was something like MMA or BJJ, I understand the confusion, because these types of martial arts are pretty " new " in Germany and have no clear structure. But Kickboxing,Karate,Kung-Fu,Boxing,Judo,Muay-Thai/Thaiboxing,Wrestling definitely has, these martial arts are the most common one, but if I would have to pick one out of them, I would definitely say that you are going to find a Kickboxing club in every city with more than 1000 habitants.

You name it, I've tried it. When I moved here, I was looking for something new, so I tried a LOT of places.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

That's not what I said. You make a false assumption. I said I look for specialist places when I want to train a specific skill. Otherwise, a general school will do.



I've lived here for over 5 years, training at multiple clubs in multiple locations. Again, you make an incorrect assumption. I think I am beginning to see how you came to those incorrect generalised conclusions about Germany and the UK.


As you say, you don't know.


You name it, I've tried it. When I moved here, I was looking for something new, so I tried a LOT of places.

I understand you very well, but you are not specific enough. All you claim is you would have been/and living in Germany for a while and you've seen and trained in many different martial art clubs, and also claim you've trained in " specialist places for specific skills " which does not make any sense at all, because we don't really have so called "specialist places " in Germany, we have martial art schools with high ranked instructors though, maybe that's what you mean. You can not tell me the area you usually train in, which is weird, because somebody who lives in Germany since 5 years would not drive 8 hours to have his weekly training, maybe only to visit certain courses which again, is NOT a martial art school as it is spread everywhere over there.

What makes your statements kind of WRONG, is simply that 1. You can't backup anything by giving proper details about what you train, what you've trained and what clubs you've trained in. 2. You can't tell me what area you are usually train in, I don't think you are switching martial art school every week, this sounds very unusual. 3. You can't tell me what exactly you mean by specialist places, since you live in Germany I ask you to use the original terminology for this type of school or place you are talking about. 4. What is the difference between your so called specialist place and a general school ? 5. If you was looking for something new, do you mean something new you did not have had in the UK or something new for German standards ? MMA for example is not too new in the UK and pretty common, but is something new in Germany.

If you claim you can not agree with what I was saying, please come up with some more details and not just with a plain negative claim.

Here are the clubs I've trained in, maybe this helps you a bit to understand.

Home - TV-Ortenberg-Kickboxen

Kampfsport-Muay-Thai-Thaiboxen-BJJ-Frankfurt - MainGym - Kampfsport in Frankfurt

startseite 1. Ju-Jutsu-Verein Bernau

Home

 

[Gnarlie]

I understand you very well, but you are not specific enough. All you claim is you would have been/and living in Germany for a while and you've seen and trained in many different martial art clubs, and also claim you've trained in " specialist places for specific skills " which does not make any sense at all, because we don't really have so called "specialist places " in Germany, we have martial art schools with high ranked instructors though, maybe that's what you mean. You can not tell me the area you usually train in, which is weird, because somebody who lives in Germany since 5 years would not drive 8 hours to have his weekly training, maybe only to visit certain courses which again, is NOT a martial art school as it is spread everywhere over there.

I mean, with a base as a dan grade in Taekwondo, if I want to train for self protection, I take a self protection course. If I want to train groundwork, I go to a BJJ class. If I want to train demonstration techniques, I go to a place that has demonstration techniques as its strong point, and if I want to train pure sparring of whatever kind, I go to a club that just does sparring work. And so on. All of these places are pretty easy to find if you know where to look and have some connections.

What makes your statements kind of WRONG, is simply that 1. You can't backup anything by giving proper details about what you train, what you've trained and what clubs you've trained in.

I can. I am choosing not to do so. I have nothing to prove, and frankly I find your posting style impolite and confrontational so I have little to no desire to help you understand.

2. You can't tell me what area you are usually train in, I don't think you are switching martial art school every week, this sounds very unusual.

I have a lot of knowledgeable contacts and agreements with different places for different skillsets, and bring in guest instructors for specific skills as required.

3. You can't tell me what exactly you mean by specialist places, since you live in Germany I ask you to use the original terminology for this type of school or place you are talking about.

Already answered this above. I tend to make agreements with people rather than organisations. I find someone who exemplifies the skills I want, and learn from them.

4. What is the difference between your so called specialist place and a general school ?

Example: there are plenty schools in Germany that have their focus purely on groundwork for self defence purposes, or purely on Korean style Hoshinsool and wrist locking techniques. As opposed to a school practicing a more rounded syllabus.

5. If you was looking for something new, do you mean something new you did not have had in the UK or something new for German standards ? MMA for example is not too new in the UK and pretty common, but is something new in Germany.

New to me, not new to Germany.

If you claim you can not agree with what I was saying, please come up with some more details and not just with a plain negative claim.

Here are the clubs I've trained in, maybe this helps you a bit to understand.

Home - TV-Ortenberg-Kickboxen

Kampfsport-Muay-Thai-Thaiboxen-BJJ-Frankfurt - MainGym - Kampfsport in Frankfurt

startseite 1. Ju-Jutsu-Verein Bernau

Home

And how is any of this relevant to a thread about Taekwondo in the UK??

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

I mean, with a base as a dan grade in Taekwondo, if I want to train for self protection, I take a self protection course. If I want to train groundwork, I go to a BJJ class. If I want to train demonstration techniques, I go to a place that has demonstration techniques as its strong point, and if I want to train pure sparring of whatever kind, I go to a club that just does sparring work. And so on. All of these places are pretty easy to find if you know where to look and have some connections.



I can. I am choosing not to do so. I have nothing to prove, and frankly I find your posting style impolite and confrontational so I have little to no desire to help you understand.


I have a lot of knowledgeable contacts and agreements with different places for different skillsets, and bring in guest instructors for specific skills as required.


Already answered this above. I tend to make agreements with people rather than organisations. I find someone who exemplifies the skills I want, and learn from them.


Example: there are plenty schools in Germany that have their focus purely on groundwork for self defence purposes, or purely on Korean style Hoshinsool and wrist locking techniques. As opposed to a school practicing a more rounded syllabus.

New to me, not new to Germany.


And how is any of this relevant to a thread about Taekwondo in the UK??

Absolute right, this discussion has nothing to do with my thread and is totally meaningless to me, or how you would maybe call it " A waste of time ".

 

[Gnarlie]

Absolute right, this discussion has nothing to do with my thread and is totally meaningless to me, or how you would maybe call it " A waste of time ".

How about this then: on topic, in answer to your original question - Taekwondo in the UK is plenty diverse and you can pretty much find whatever type of class you personally prefer in most cities and towns if you have the right contacts.

I could help you, but I don't see why I should.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

How about this then: on topic, in answer to your original question - Taekwondo in the UK is plenty diverse and you can pretty much find whatever type of class you personally prefer in most cities and towns if you have the right contacts.

I could help you, but I don't see why I should.

Don't worry, I don't need your help. I am already in a Taekwondo-class and I can use google myself. The question was not really dependent from what I am doing, it was more a common question.

 

[Gnarlie]

Don't worry, I don't need your help. I am already in a Taekwondo-class and I can use google myself. The question was not really dependent from what I am doing, it was more a common question.

So, what you might call a waste of time then?

Not everything is available via Google. In fact, some of the best clubs in the UK have little to no online presence.

Anyway, enjoy your sandbags.

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

So, what you might call a waste of time then?

Not everything is available via Google. In fact, some of the best clubs in the UK have little to no online presence.

Anyway, enjoy your sandbags.

A martial art club without any online presence ? Kind of weird!

Thank's I will !

 

[TrueJim]

A martial art club without any online presence? Kind of weird!

In my experience, it's not uncommon. A lot of the schools I see have a Facebook page and not much more. Unless somebody in the club feels like maintaining a website, it's probably not going to have a website. (So that means you have to have at least one geek in the club! I can say that, since I'm a geek.) Larger schools, of course, are likely to have pretty good websites, developed by a professional.

The school my son and I attend has a pretty good web page (it's a big school), a Facebook page, and we just created our own YouTube channel. I'm the volunteer / stuckee who's in charge of the Facebook page and the YouTube channel...but if it wasn't for me volunteering, I doubt we'd have those things. Speaking of YouTube, we just uploaded some instructional videos for the Taegeuk forms on our channel, if anybody is interested. Majest Martial Arts - YouTube

 

[JohnnyEnglish]

In my experience, it's not uncommon. A lot of the schools I see have a Facebook page and not much more. Unless somebody in the club feels like maintaining a website, it's probably not going to have a website. (So that means you have to have at least one geek in the club! I can say that, since I'm a geek.) Larger schools, of course, are likely to have pretty good websites, developed by a professional.

The school my son and I attend has a pretty good web page (it's a big school), a Facebook page, and we just created our own YouTube channel. I'm the volunteer / stuckee who's in charge of the Facebook page and the YouTube channel...but if it wasn't for me volunteering, I doubt we'd have those things. Speaking of YouTube, we just uploaded some instructional videos for the Taegeuk forms on our channel, if anybody is interested. Majest Martial Arts - YouTube

Ah, and a Facebook page does not count as " Online-Presence " ?