Tae Kwon Do is a very popular martial art and one that many people choose for themselves or their children as a way to improve fitness and build flexibility, strength and coordination. As a self-defense technique, however, Tae Kwon Do moves are ineffective in many practical modern situations. If you want to learn martial arts for practical self-defense, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – like what we teach at New Mexico Jiu-Jitsu Academy – is a much better choice.
What is Tae Kwon Do?
The national sport of Korea, Tae Kwon Do is an ancient martial art, tracing its roots back more than 2,000 years. Today, it is an Olympic sport and is one of the most well-known fighting styles in America.
The name roughly translates to “way of the foot and hand,” and Tae Kwon Do moves rely primarily on punching, blocking and especially kicking. The style is visually impressive, and adapted techniques routinely appear in choreographed fights in TV shows and movies.
What’s the Difference Between Tae Kwon Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Because it is a striking art, Tae Kwon Do is most useful between opponents at striking distance. The point of the technique is to stay far enough from the opponent that you can deliver a powerful and incapacitating kick. The problem is that many people are not strong enough to incapacitate an attacker with such a blow, especially if there is a significant size or strength difference between them.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu counteracts this problem by taking the fight to the ground. By focusing primarily on throws and grappling techniques, Jiu-Jitsu allows even smaller, weaker combatants to gain the upper hand in a fight. This is why BJJ is taught in modern military combat training and why it is such an effective technique for children, women and others with small stature.
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If you’re interested in seeing whether Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is right for you, come try it yourself with our FREE 10-day trial. There’s no obligation to sign up, and you can attend unlimited classes during the trial period to decide for yourself whether our program is right for you.
