Taekwondo vs Grappling

The purpose martial arts is to help build the body, mind and spirit of the practitioner.

The purpose of a Master or Instructor is to benefit the lives our fellow practitioners. As Instructors (사범님) we hope our Taekwondo (태권도) practitioners are able to train to be healthy, learn to defend themselves, and their loved ones, and join a great and respectful community. (sadly a rarity these days)

One reason we believe you’re going to love our dojang (training hall), is that we train Taekwondo as a ‘complete martial art.’

What does that mean? Complete martial art?

Well, Taekwondo involves many upper body striking, and blocking techniques. Taekwondo is renowned for it’s lower body focus, our leg power and kicking abilities. What Taekwondo would benefit from is more groundwork! More throws, joint locks, takedowns, and pins.

My Grand Master trained in old Taekwondo, Hapkido (합기도), judo (柔道), and more. The rolling, body defence, joint locks (and much more) have become an essential part my training!

I believe this makes our Taekwondo training, complete! Practitioners can learn to protect themselves from:

A) Themselves (bad habits and bad mindsets; improve discipline)

B) Harmful people (Bullies, Strangers, etc.)

C) Falling 

Admit it we all fall! In sports, ice, snow, tripping, not paying attention, upset spouse, ankle-biting child, etc…

Taekwondo was created by a combination of Korean martial arts Taekkyeon (태껸), Subak (手搏), the Japanese Karate, and Chinese martial arts in the early 1940s. General Choi (our founder) wanted to create a martial art that would be useful for defending oneself. This means he incorporated groundwork as well!

However, as Taekwondo became a ‘modern martial art’ in the 1950s.. grappling, rolling, and break falls fell off the main stream training regimen of many dojangs. Karate also experienced this drop-off of groundwork as they modernized. In order to spread these martial arts to the school curriculums and beyond, it was time to streamline the training.

Today you’ll be hard pressed to find a Taekwondo dojang that practices groundwork. Rolling, falling, and grappling are not used in sparring or Taekwondo Taeguk forms. So many masters don’t consider it useful to practice.

Imagine if you’re teacher said the test will cover chapter 5, would you read chapter 4 and 6?

No!

HOWEVER

If you’re going to learn a martial art to protect yourself, or your loved ones.. Learning to roll, fall, and grapple is incredibly important!

If a modern Taekwondo practitioner falls over, is it time to just give up? Surrender?

No!

The main thing we need to consider while training, as martial artists is:

Is this training; (and by extension) is this dojang providing practical knowledge that I can use in the real world?

If you’re training for health reasons or mobility, then it probably doesn’t matter if you practice groundwork.

If you’re training for the sport, for either Kyorugi or Poomsae competition–it doesn’t matter if you practice groundwork.

BUT

If you train for self defence, or to have tools to protect yourself–then it’s time to look carefully at what you’re training at your Dojang; and ask yourself:

Is this practical martial arts? Is this useful?

I hope so, otherwise it may be time to refer to our good friend ‘google maps!’😋

Train Hard, and see you on the mats. 👊