Why Taekwondo?

[Sorekara]

I work at a place with a little over 100 people. I've found out there's 3 people there that took Taekwondo. On person too Hapkido. (which, I probably foolishly, aquaint with taekwondo). One guy tells me he's a 3rd degree BB, another tells me he has his BB and his hands are registered lethal weapons. My cousin started Taekwondo, and his sons started Taekwondo. Why is there so much interest in Taekwondo? I would add more, but for some reason my enter button doesn't work.

[battlefields]

It is an olympic sport, family friendly and purports to teach teh deadly self defence. What's not to like (if you're oblivious)?

[Krijgsman]

When I did TKD, I really enjoyed the part where we kicked each other in interesting and creative ways. Plus it feels very Martial Arts-y to learn forms and break boards and do spinning jump kicks.

I did quickly figure out that forms were mostly just good for practicing not falling over while kicking, and that sparring was the fun part.

Its like fighting lite - you get to learn "moves" but without any real risk of injury (assuming you don't get unlucky or fall over). Understandably appealing.

[Vieux Normand]

Why is there so much interest in Taekwondo?

Why is there so much interest in tennis? Rugby? Chocolate?

Is this a "why do people still do these sorts of MA?"-type question? (One hears this, from time to time, from individuals who think "these sorts of MA" should have been driven out of business after 1993.)

I don't know. The place where I currently practise Karate (old-school traditional) has just moved to a new location with twice the floor space of the previous place. Lots of newbs, as well as LEOs (and one bouncer who--full disclosure--also regularly crosstrains). More space was definitely needed. To many, this seems a counterintuitive development.

Why the continued success, despite "krotty"'s reputation? Dunno. No revolving-door here: people just tend to stay, and 1993 doesn't seem to have put much of a dent in matters.

Go figure.

[slamdunc]

I work at a place with a little over 100 people. I've found out there's 3 people there that took Taekwondo. On person too Hapkido. (which, I probably foolishly, aquaint with taekwondo).

A bit of difference yet they are both Korean, so the glass is half full.

One guy tells me he's a 3rd degree BB, another tells me he has his BB and his hands are registered lethal weapons.

Ask him where he registered his hands as weapons. Ask him to see the registration form; this could be fun.

Why is there so much interest in Taekwondo?

It is a great sport, has structure and you can compete. It is kind of like bowling in an abstract sort of way.

[Cuddles]

Well if they're younger, I'd assume it's for the same reasons my friend went to TKD; because it's quick and easy to get a black belt there, which in turn allows you to instruct with or without pay (i.e. volunteer hours) and looks somewhat decent on a college app. Of course, we're high school students. I have no idea why any adult would choose that art.

[Volya]

Because it's manlier than ballet...

[Justin C]

The main reason has to have something to do with how many schools there are.TaeKwonDo is a marketing succes story.Every town has a school.Also as some one else answered it looks fun lots of jump kicks board breaking and sparring so padded up its hard to get hurt.

[goodlun]

Cause it looks fucking awesome in movies. But hey now that the flying armbar is an obligatory move in every new fighting movie maybe all those places will start teaching that as well.

[Permalost]

I think a big part of it is most TKD places aren't at all intimidating if you go in, quite the opposite in fact. Pretty much anyone can see people doing forms and slapping a kidney paddle and think "I can do that". A hard sparring striking dojo, or grappling dojo, can be offputting to a lot of people at first glance, or at first liver shot.