As parents are looking for martial art classes for their child and themselves to pick the best option for them, they often wonder what the difference is between taekwondo and karate. Or, they wonder if one option is better than the other. While these are both very popular choices for martial arts classes, there are some key differences between these choices. The short answer is that that these are both amazing martial arts for kids and adults to learn, which each offering their own benefits. The core principles of both of these arts emphasize self-discipline and a high code of personal conduct. There are also competition aspects of this, though this is a very small portion of your curriculum. Read on to learn more about each of these different but excellent forms of martial arts.

Taekwondo has ancient roots in Korean history, where this martial art originates from. In fact, Taekwondo is broken down as “tae” (meaning kick), “kwon” (meaning punch or destroy), and “do” (meaning the way to do something). When Japan occupied Korea, they banned this art. This led Koreans to practice it in secret. The introduction of other martial arts, causing taekwondo to branch off into different styles due to other influences.

Karate originated approximately 500 years ago in Okinawa, Japan. The story is that King Shoha banned weapons to prevent war on the island, leading the people to learn hand-to-hand combat to defend themselves. Karate has influences from both the Chinese and Japanese culture, and it is constantly evolving as a martial art. There are several distinct styles of karate including gōju-ryū, shitō-ryū, Shotokan, and wadō-ryū. These are the most popular styles of karate practiced today.

There are more differences between taekwondo and karate than just their country of origin. One of the biggest differences that you will notice is in the techniques used. Taekwondo primarily uses kicking techniques. The idea with taekwondo is that the leg has the most power in your body, meaning that the kicks will have the greatest potential for landing strikes without having to deal with retaliation. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other techniques learned with taekwondo. While it does favor techniques of fast kicks, it is a well-rounded martial art that teaches blocks, punches, take-downs, open-handed strikes, joint locks, and throws. There are a lot of spinning and jumping kicks used in taekwondo.
Karate, on the other hand, is a martial art that is based on striking techniques. There is more of an emphasis on open-handed techniques, punches, locks, grappling, parries, throws, and knee and elbow strikes. Karate is actually loosely translated to mean “empty hands”. It was originally a form of self-defense, emphasizing blocking or thwarting attacks using your unarmed body while also counter-attacking.

 
Taekwondo is also an Olympic event. It was recognized as a medal sport back in 2000, during the Sydney Games. Karate is not an Olympic event.

You will notice that there are also significant differences when it comes to the stances, postures, and forms between these two martial arts. In taekwondo, the forms are known as poomsae while they are referred to as “kata” in karate. The stances are different because of the different techniques used for each martial art. Taekwondo uses a lot of leg stances, which gives the practitioner the ability to do fast kicks. Karate has stances where the legs are grounded, as this martial art uses more hand attacks.
There are differences with the competition side of these martial arts. At the traditional karate tournaments, punches and kicks will earn the same amount of points so participants will do the same amount of both movements. In taekwondo tournaments, you get significantly more points for kicks than you do punches which is why you will typically use kicks at tournaments.

Taekwondo plays a crucial role in the development of children's major muscles, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles. It heavily engages these muscle groups, making it essential for overall muscle development in children. Well-developed major muscles provide support for bones and joints and contribute to maintaining proper posture. Additionally, stronger major muscles enhance a child's performance in various sports and activities, allowing them to excel further. Furthermore, it improves metabolism, aiding in reducing body fat and promoting a balanced body composition, which contributes to the overall health of children. Well-developed major muscles also serve to protect joints and ligaments, reducing the risk of injuries caused by muscle imbalances.

Now that you understand the differences between these two options, you may be wondering which one is the best martial arts to choose. For the most part, the decision of which martial art is the best one for you and your child will depend on your own personal preference. You may decide that you prefer one style over another. However, there are some things to consider when deciding on which class to take:

Every instructor is different and you want to make sure that you are selecting a place that has knowledgeable and experienced instructors.

Many martial arts schools near your area offer a free trial program. Each martial art school has a different teaching style. Therefore, you and your child should visit the martial arts school near your area to get a feel for the karate or taekwondo school and the class.

It is important to find a class schedule that works for your busy lifestyle. Whether you are choosing a class for yourself or your kids, pick something that works with your busy schedule.

It is very important for you to pick something that not only works with your schedule but that is also conveniently located near where you live or work.

There are other factors that you should consider as well to make this decision. The facility that you attend makes a big difference. You could find one of the martial arts more appealing than the other, but if you choose the wrong place to take classes then you may be turned off from the practice. Then, you won’t get the great benefits of practicing karate or taekwondo for your child or yourself.
While it is important to consider these things, it can be even more important to visit the facility first. Visit a few schools to check out the facilities as well as meet the instructors. You don’t ever want to go to a place where the atmosphere is intimidating as this will turn you off from martial arts. You can visit websites and read reviews, but the only way to really get a feel for the practice is to see it for yourself. Both taekwondo and karate offer numerous benefits, but each of these martial arts are not made for everyone. There is no right answer; you just have to decide which one you enjoy more for yourself or your child.