Caught between two styles

[Piston]

Thats just goddamn awful. 100 different belts? Shameful.

Having to recruit a new member in order to gain a black belt, sounds suspiciously like some sort of pyramid scheme.

[Eddie_Boston]

I'm from across the atlantic, the UK, I've heard many horror stories of the shallow and those who run mcdojangs in in the U.S, yours seems to register among those.

My Karate is good. Very traditional. My TKD is very commercialized. I was told that there are like 100 colored belts in TKD in order to keep students interested. Some dojos are in it only for the money. In one dojo I visited, in order to recieve your black belt, you had to recruit one student.

[seth]

If you want to add some really good hand techniques to your TKD, try a Kung-Fu Style, like Hung Gar or even Shaolin. I think it will really improve your fight style.

[Piston]

I'm from across the atlantic, the UK, I've heard many horror stories of the shallow and those who run mcdojangs in in the U.S, yours seems to register among those.

[Eddie_Boston]

Are you stateside then? Cuz I'm from across the pond.

[Piston]

Gah, thats despicable. I do compete and yes as there would be in any competitive sport there are rivalries, but its not as shallow as that. Are you stateside then? Cuz I'm from across the pond.

[Eddie_Boston]

They just gave you a blue belt? I mean you've clearly got experience, but thats a little..... Well when you start a new MA your supposed to start from the bottom up like everyone else.

I agree. They're using me to fight. The quicker he gets me the black the quicker I can make him "look good". He hasnt said this but, im no idiot. Im not sure how long you've been in Martial Arts but, when you start competing, the politics are insane.

[Piston]

They just gave you a blue belt? I mean you've clearly got experience, but thats a little..... Well when you start a new MA your supposed to start from the bottom up like everyone else.

[Eddie_Boston]

What style of karate do you do? I'm really in it for the punching techniques, as whilst TKD has some useful punches its all about the kicks!

Im 25. Ive been doing Uechi Ryu Karate for 19 years and TKD for about two years. They started me off with a blue belt in TKD. Ive also done Jujitsu & kickboxing and have been a Karate instructor for about 13 years now. Ive competed & trained with Jeet Kun do artist along with Eclectic artist. Currently im competing nationally.

[Piston]

What style of karate do you do? I'm really in it for the punching techniques, as whilst TKD has some useful punches its all about the kicks! Edit: D'oh just read your sig! So whats that style like and how does it differ from TKD?

[Eddie_Boston]

I know they're different but they do employ some of the same mechanics, such as use of the hips and reaction hands in order to generate power.

Hi Buddy!

Im doing both TKD and Karate. You'll eventaully see for yourself. I had to drop ALL my Karate techniques for TKD. I was able to incorporate 'some' of my TKD into karate.

[Piston]

I know they're different but they do employ some of the same mechanics, such as use of the hips and reaction hands in order to generate power.

[Eddie_Boston]

Karate and Taekwondo is like Baseball and football.

[Hardball]

Do a search there are some great old threads here on Shotokan. Hint--look in the japanese forum

[Piston]

I did try boxing, I attended a seminar with Commonwealth middleweight champion Herol "Bomber" Graham, but I found that the footwork is quite incompatible with TKD, and some techniques are a little too ring specific. With this in mind I thought a similar MA to TKD like Karate might be the way to go.