| Martial arts have existed in one form or another for | | | | for strikes and blocks (approximately 60% of the time), |
| thousands of years. Today, they are as popular as | | | | while legs are used primarily for kicking (about 40% of |
| ever and exist in a variety of methods and schools. | | | | the time). A practitioner must learn blocks to protect |
| The two most popular varieties of martial arts in | | | | themselves before they learn offensive moves. |
| Northern America are Karate and Tae Kwon Do. | | | | Our modern form of tae kwon do was developed in |
| While to the amateur eye, these two systems seem | | | | Korea using a great deal of influence from Japanese |
| extremely similar if not identical, to the trained martial | | | | karate. Because of this, it is frequently referred to as |
| arts enthusiast, there are notable differences between | | | | Korean Karate. Practitioners of this system use a |
| the two. | | | | similar belt system to show level of proficiency. There |
| The version of karate that we have come to know | | | | are two main styles of tae kwon do, one under the |
| was developed in Japan in the island of Okinawa. It | | | | International Tae Kwon Do Federation and the other |
| takes a great deal of influence from Chinese martial | | | | under the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. |
| arts. While there are quite a few different styles of | | | | Korean Karate differs from karate in the types of |
| karate, we view them all as Japanese martial arts. | | | | moves used for fighting and their frequency. Use of |
| Karate utilizes a colored belt system to show the | | | | hands and arms in tae kwon do is only about 40% |
| ranks of the karate practitioner. This system ranges | | | | where as legs are used 60% of the time. They also |
| from white (the novice) to black belts (instructor levels | | | | utilize much higher kicks, aiming to the head level. In |
| and above). Black belts come in different degrees | | | | order to do this, they utilize more jumping and flying |
| depending on the level of mastery you hold. Each time | | | | kicks. Tae Kwon Do forms are usually shorter and |
| that the practitioner tests and passes to reach the | | | | less complex than karate forms, though some schools |
| next level, they earn a new color belt. | | | | include karate forms as well. |
| The martial art of karate uses katas or set routines | | | | Whichever system of fighting you choose to learn, |
| that simulate fighting against an imaginary opponent. As | | | | they both have far reaching benefits. Either way, you |
| a general rule, your arms and hands are used mostly | | | | can't go wrong! |