| The two most common martial arts practiced in | | | | do schools have added a black lining to their |
| North America are karate and tae kwon do. | | | | white uniforms for black belt levels. A |
| Many wonder what the difference between these | | | | V-neck top is often seen in schools |
| two martial arts is. This is especially the | | | | affiliated with the World Tae Kwon Do |
| case for those who are just starting to look | | | | Federation. There are also older Korean |
| around for a martial arts studio. After all, | | | | styles including tang soo do and moo duk |
| most practitioners in both karate and tae | | | | kwan. Some of the more Americanized karate |
| kwon do seem to wear the same type of white | | | | and tae kwon do schools also use uniforms |
| gi uniforms with various colored belts. | | | | with other colors such as red, black and blue |
| | | | in addition to the traditional white. |
| Modern traditional karate was developed in | | | | |
| the islands of Okinawa in Japan after some | | | | It can be generalized that in karate, one |
| influences from Chinese martial arts. There | | | | would use their arms or hands for 60% of the |
| are actually different styles of karate but | | | | time for strikes or blocks while the use of |
| they are all commonly considered as Japanese | | | | legs for kicking will be about 40%. This |
| martial arts today. The colored belt system | | | | breakdown is seen in the many forms or katas |
| was developed to show the various ranks of | | | | of karate which are set routines which |
| karate practitioners with white depicting | | | | simulate fighting against imaginary opponents |
| novices and black belts (with various | | | | using martial arts techniques. The forms from |
| degrees) representing instructor levels and | | | | tae kwon do would have the opposite |
| higher. There is a whole range of other | | | | percentage breakdown with 40% hands and 60% |
| different colors in between. Modern tae kwon | | | | legs. In tae kwon do, there is also more |
| do was developed in Korea after much | | | | emphasis on higher kicks to the head level |
| influence from Japanese karate during the | | | | than in karate. Tae kwon do practitioners |
| occupation by Japan. Indeed, tae kwon do is | | | | also utilize more jumping or flying kicks |
| sometimes referred to as Korean karate. The | | | | where one is airborne while executing kicking |
| Koreans adopted similar white uniforms along | | | | techniques. The tae kwon do forms or patterns |
| with a colored belt ranking system for tae | | | | are generally a bit shorter and less complex |
| kwon do. Today, there are two main styles of | | | | than the karate forms. Some tae kwon do |
| tae kwon do, one under the International Tae | | | | schools have been known to use the odd karate |
| Kwon Do Federation and the other under the | | | | form in its curriculum as well. |
| World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Many tae kwon | | | | |