Where is TKD heading?

[Manny]

I'm glad cause TKD is the most popular MA practiced around the world, for example in my city there are more TKD dojans than other MA, in my Country (Mexico) is the same, and thanks to WTF, Olimpics and all the media (t.v.,internet,etc.) TKD ocupes the tip of the pyramid.

However I have to ask... Where is TKD Heading? Now TKD is going to use electronic hogus to score in the game, what's next? Were are those glory days where TKD was an espectacular show, where the use of nice and powerfull kicks ...and punches were used? I remeber the days in competition where only shin pads and groing protectors were used and the matches were fierce. What happened to the SD aplications in TKD? Did TKD evolved into a sport leaving the MA beside?

What's next afther the electronic Hogu and the new scoring sistem? I ask you this cause what the people know about TKD is what they see on TV.

I remeber when TKD classes were with respect and truly martial, nowdays the dojangs seems a nursery or kindergarden full of kids doing nothing but MA and the moms just drop the kids early afthernoon to come and pick them afther sunset? or the moms chating loud like they were in the coffe shop in the mall?

Where is TKD heading? Wht's next?? electronic shoes to aid score? or maybe kevlar or aramid full body armor to make TKD sparring easier?

Manny

 

[padre]

The electronic stuff is insanely expensive, and can only really lower in price just so far. So I don't expect to see that sort of thing penetrate the local dojang market very far. It's just too specialized a training tool.

Beyond that, it's hard to guess.

 

[terryl965]

For me it is going the same way, good strong S.D. principle first, next well practice poomsae's and finally the sport for those wishing it. I will not change anything because I am to set in my way.

 

[Omar B]

It's becoming fencing. It looks like a combat sport but the swords are dull and it has very little real world application. Hands down, chest and face open, bouncing around like a jack rabbit.

 

[terryl965]

I guess I am confused by some, they ask where is TKD going. No where did the op ask where the sport of TKD was going. I guess alot of people do not know how to seperate the two and this is one reason why alot people go wrong with the Art of TKD. Manny was you asking abpout the sport of the Art?

 

[terryl965]

I'm glad cause TKD is the most popular MA practiced around the world, for example in my city there are more TKD dojans than other MA, in my Country (Mexico) is the same, and thanks to WTF, Olimpics and all the media (t.v.,internet,etc.) TKD ocupes the tip of the pyramid.

However I have to ask... Where is TKD Heading? Now TKD is going to use electronic hogus to score in the game, what's next? Were are those glory days where TKD was an espectacular show, where the use of nice and powerfull kicks ...and punches were used? I remeber the days in competition where only shin pads and groing protectors were used and the matches were fierce. What happened to the SD aplications in TKD? Did TKD evolved into a sport leaving the MA beside?

What's next afther the electronic Hogu and the new scoring sistem? I ask you this cause what the people know about TKD is what they see on TV.

I remeber when TKD classes were with respect and truly martial, nowdays the dojangs seems a nursery or kindergarden full of kids doing nothing but MA and the moms just drop the kids early afthernoon to come and pick them afther sunset? or the moms chating loud like they were in the coffe shop in the mall?

Where is TKD heading? Wht's next?? electronic shoes to aid score? or maybe kevlar or aramid full body armor to make TKD sparring easier?

Manny

Manny TKD is not going to use the electric hogu's the sport of TKD is.

 

[granfire]

It's becoming fencing. It looks like a combat sport but the swords are dull and it has very little real world application. Hands down, chest and face open, bouncing around like a jack rabbit.

LOL, don't knock fencing. there have been people stabbed to death by broken weapons (had one break on me after a ligt ab to the opponent's weapon, in the middle of a match) and it does not bill itself as MA, just as sport.

My guess, it's going the same way that it has been going since the term Taekwondo was coined. Driven by lots of ego and money, the 2 things that make the headlines.

But you can only the direction you are taking yourself, where everybody else is going is their problem.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

Where is TKD heading?

Look at modern sport fencing and you will have your answer.

Taekwondo is rapidly shifting to the sport side and the traditional taekwondo schools will eventually be marginalized by the athletes in the same way that classical fencers are by the sport fencing athletes.

Whether this is good or bad depends upon one's perspective, but that is where I see it heading.

Daniel

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

It's becoming fencing. It looks like a combat sport but the swords are dull and it has very little real world application. Hands down, chest and face open, bouncing around like a jack rabbit.

I agree to a point. Being a fencer, I can say that the major difference is that the sport fencing athletes at heart still have all of the tools to fight a real duel, epee in particular.

Sport TKD has little real world application and is markedly different from the martial art, which is essentially karate.

Daniel

 

[goingd]

Taekwondo is heading wherever we take it. We cannot hold back the negative aspects some have already put in place, but we can maintain the positive aspects in our own respect. Not all of us teach like a nursery school, and there will always be those of us that continue to teach with the dignity of the martial arts. As long as we continue to stand out there will always be more people taking notice of the quality.

Greg L. ^~^

 

[Manny]

I guess I am confused by some, they ask where is TKD going. No where did the op ask where the sport of TKD was going. I guess alot of people do not know how to seperate the two and this is one reason why alot people go wrong with the Art of TKD. Manny was you asking abpout the sport of the Art?

.

Sport, because with electronic devices who knows torrow can bring to the sport.

MA I think that maybe TKD as MA will fade away cause the old masters are very old and the new masters are focus on olimpic/wtf teaching.

Manny

 

[Manny]

Look at modern sport fencing and you will have your answer.

Taekwondo is rapidly shifting to the sport side and the traditional taekwondo schools will eventually be marginalized by the athletes in the same way that classical fencers are by the sport fencing athletes.

Whether this is good or bad depends upon one's perspective, but that is where I see it heading.

Daniel

Daniel sadly you are right! traditional TKD dojangs will be marginalized.

Manny

 

[sadantkd]

I strongly dissagree. I think the traditional and self defense aspects of taekwondo will actually become more popular. Kukkiwon is taking more control over taekwondo as a whole. Also, the sport has been differentiating itself from the self defense so much more that I think a lot of Masters are motivated to prove there's much more to our art.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

I strongly dissagree. I think the traditional and self defense aspects of taekwondo will actually become more popular.

I truly wish that the traditional and SD aspects would actually become more popular, but traditional SD has never been as popular as its sport counterpart.

While this may be the case...

Kukkiwon is taking more control over taekwondo as a whole.

...it is the Kukkiwon that drives the promotion of the sport to a great degree, so further control on their part is not likely to tip the ballance back to the traditional.

There is no money in traditional TKD, and tons of money in the sport, which is why the sport has been promoted by the kukkiwon/WTF to such a great degree. Not to mention that Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea.

Also, the sport has been differentiating itself from the self defense so much more that I think a lot of Masters are motivated to prove there's much more to our art.

Yes, the sport has differentiated itself to a huge degree. And the sport is the public face of Taekwondo, not self defense. Mom and dad are much more drawn to the sport than to the traditional. They can relate to it and connect with it much more easily.

No, the traditional master and school will not disappear, but it will most likely become the TKD counterpart of classical fencing.

Having said all of that, I sincerly hope that I wind up being wrong and that you turn out to be correct.

Daniel