why are people always knocking TKD?

[Deadman2002]

I think this mcdojo problem seems to have infected America worse than here in the UK. Im at uni in Nottingham and there are a number of clubs that have some complete headcases in them, very hard guys basically who dedicate themselves to a lot of conditioning as part of their training. Also my instructor tends to spend as much time on punching drills as kicking drills to keep it rounded. We all know that sparring is sparring and not a real street fight and a high section kick is unlikely to be useful, especially as its bloody difficult in jeans!

[Tiger Claw]

Ma is just something that ya cannot capitalize on. That is what america is about so makes sense that uk would have less mcdojos.

[Satashi]

well someone at my highschool

was takling crap becuz i take a martail art so i asked him if he would have a simple plain 1 on 1 sparring match he laughed and said sure... so we got everyone after school and went to the neighborhood basket ball court and sparred... well he came running at me to spear me soo..... i did a jump spin side kick to his head and he stoped rather quickly (i didn't hit him to hard ^^) then i helped him up and said "did that hurt?" he made some face remark and then left and thats that lol but then again if i would have missed my ass would have been toast lol

[MADDOG]

Goodbye TKD I once knew you well.

Once respected.

Once a fighting art.

Now just a memory of once what was.

I tried my best to defend you but yet it was oh so hard.

Why defend something that has given up on its self.

Sold its reputation.

Sold its respect.

All for what?

Goodbye TKD I once knew you well.

Goodbye TKD you once knew me, now no more.

Ed Barton
An American Martial Artist

[Satashi]

you should not quit...

just use it to hone your skills an art is an art and every art has mistakes in it there is not perfect picture you must draw it yourself to make it perfect

[Maxx]

I personally have found that there are still small circles of Taekwon-do left that focus on teaching it as a true fighting art and a means for a person to not only grow physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually while at the same time developing considerable fighting skills.

Granted that these schools are few and far between and rarely are associated with the larger governing bodies such as the ITF, WTF, ATA or the ITA. They tend to be small with few students due to the severity of the training and the instructors who run these schools tend to do it for a love of their art rather than as a means of generating income. The hard part is that you have to find them.

If you want to find a TKD school that has upheld the hard and agressive nature of the original founders and pioneers of the art you've gotta look HARD, just like you've always had to for the best there is. Schools of that nature have never been big and successful and can probably now be classified as a dying breed. Just do your research and I think with a little effort, you'll find what you're looking for.