What is the difference between Taekwon-do and other martial arts?
Taekwon-do is considered a hard, direct boxing style of martial arts. That means the primary objective is to stay upright and defend oneself by dodging, blocking and striking with hands and feet, as well as other body parts. Other martial arts that share these characteristics are traditional karate, many forms of Kung Fu, Wu Shu and Muay Thai kickboxing. What differentiates Taekwon-do from these other arts is the emphasis on fast and powerful kicks, although the other styles have adopted more kicking over the years as Taekwon-do became more popular. Certainly from a self-defense standpoint, using the legs can be more effective against a larger person than using arm and hand strikes. Hard styles generate speed and power from basic body mechanics, such as twisting hips, as well as elemental physics. Some other boxing style martial arts are considered “soft” and use circular motions, such as T’ai Chi. Training emphasizes rooting, connecting one’s chi (ki, internal energy) with the earth;
