Karate and Tae Kwon Do: The Differences

Karate and Tae Kwon Do are the martial arts most common in North America. They wear the same type of uniform and belts.

In the islands of Okinawa, Japan Karate was developed with influences from Chinese martial arts. Japanese martial arts are in fact different styles of karate. Karate practitioners are represented by various ranks indicated by a colored belt system. White represents novices and black is for instructor level or higher. When Korea was occupied by Japan it was influenced by Japanese Karate and which is why it is referred to as Korean Karate. Tae Kwon Do Federation and World Tae Kwon Do are the 2 main styles of Tae Kwon Do. To distinguish between the 2 a v-neck top belongs to the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Red, Black and blue are the other colors used by Americans in karate and Tae Kwon Do.

In karate arms and hands are used for 60% and 40% for kicking. Tae Kwon Do used 40% for for arms and hands and 60% for kicking and in addition to this there is more emphasis on higher kicks. The forms are generally shorter less complex and use more jumping or flying kicks.

The martial arts tournaments all over the world have separate competitions for karate and Tae Kwon Do. The larger events have separate divisions for Japanese karate and Korean Tae Kwon Do. Because Tae Kwon Do has become an Olympic it has received more publicity. The World Tae Kwon Do Federation uses styles and rules designed for the Olympics. In North America karate and Tae Kwon Do are considered hard style martial arts (the Chinese King Fu are soft styles).