Shotokan Karate Vs.Taekwondo

Table of Contents

What do you think of when you hear the words “karate” and “taekwondo?”

Do they conjure different images for you?

Some people might see karate as a martial art involving a lot of punching and kicking, while others might see taekwondo as involving more jumping and spinning kicks. In reality, there is a lot of overlap between these two styles – both are Korean martial arts, after all. But which one should you choose if you’re interested in learning self-defense? Let’s look at the key differences between Shotokan karate and taekwondo.

Shotokan Karate Vs Taekwondo

First up is shotokan karate. This style traces its origins back to Japan, where it was developed by Gichin Funakoshi in the early 20th century. Shotokan karate is characterized by its linear movements and a strong focus on physical conditioning. In contrast, taekwondo is a newer style that originated in Korea in the 1940s. It emphasizes powerful kicks and quick jumps, making it ideal for close-quarters combat. So, which one should you choose? If you want to learn a traditional Japanese style of karate that will help you get into great shape, then Shotokan may be the right choice for you. If you want to study a more contemporary Korean martial art with an emphasis on power kicks, then taekwondo may be better suited to your needs. Whichever style you choose, make sure to find a qualified instructor who can teach you the basics properly!

Shotokan Karate does more with self-defense than Taekwondo.

So the first thing Is essential to know. I have put this first fact in the Shotokan Karate Vs. Taekwondo post.

Shotokan Karatedo has been practiced since the late 1800s. It was one of the first modern martial arts introduced into the United States.

Today, several organizations teach Shotokan karate throughout the world. These organizations often use the term “karate” as a generic name for any style of Japanese martial arts.

However, Shotokan karate differs from other forms of karate because it emphasizes kicks and punches rather than blocks and strikes.

Shotokan Karatedo is a Japanese martial art that originated in Okinawa in the late 1800s. The style emphasizes speed, power, precision, and balance.

Shotokan karate has been around since the early 1900s and is one of the most popular forms of karate today. Over 100 million people are practicing Shotokan karate worldwide.

Shotokan Karate is practiced with bare hands, while Taekwondo uses weapons such as swords and spears.

On the second fact in Shotokan Karate Vs. Taekwondo is vast too.

While both styles of karate emphasize kicking and punching, Shotokan karate gives more emphasis on these techniques.

This is because Shotokan karate originated in Japan, where the environment is very aggressive. Therefore, it is common for people to practice Shotokan karate by striking an opponent with their fists.

The two styles differ in many ways. For example, Shotokan karate has five basic kicks (front kick, roundhouse kick, side kick, back kick, and hook kick).

While Taekwondo has seven (front punch, front kick, roundhouse kick/side kick, back kick, spinning heel kick, jumping knee strike, and flying knee strike), I had no idea about that.

I have a friend in Taekwondo who has said that they do a lot more kicks than punches, unlike Shotokan, who mostly do punches in sparing or even kihon.

In addition, Shotokan Karatedo is practiced with bare hands, while Taekwondo requires the use of weapons such as swords and spears.

But wait a quick thing about the weapons part above. At tournaments, we have gone to some Shotokan dojos that use weapons, but ours don’t, so you use weapons at certain dojos.

I find it fun to watch the weapons at the tournament to see what they do; we do (Sparing Real fighting with gloves and shin guards), and we do Kata; if you don’t know what Kata is, check the link below to learn about it.

Related Article. This video will help explain more about the difference between Shotokan Karate and Taekwondo.

Everything you need to know about karate kata.

Would we try out Taekwondo sometime?

Abby has said she would like to try that style of karate out sometime, but I am more of that person who doesn’t change much in her life, so I will stick with Shotokan. I am used to what they do in that style and not as much with Taekwondo.

Which one is better for kids?

I would say that Shotokan is better because they focus more on self-defense, and Taekwondo has more skills for tournaments. I love doing tournaments, but I want to learn more about how to fight off someone who can hurt me, and Shotokan does just that!

But know that your child can learn from both of these styles, and they help the kids with their mental and physical focus.

Which is better for self-defense?

That is a great question; I would say that if you want to keep yourself safe like on the street. Then Shotokan is for just that. Taekwondo Is mainly for Tournaments, and Shotokan is more about protecting yourself.

But Abby and I are learning just because it’s something we wanted to try when our brother and sister went to karate years ago.

Conclusion. Shotokan Karate Vs.Taekwondo

We hope you enjoyed learning about Shotokan Karate Vs. Taekwondo.

We Would love to hear what you think about this post. And Follow our socials above for more updates and quizzes and updates about our upcoming tournaments like Seaside Karate Classic, Oct 1st!

Abby and I are excited to tell you that we will be going to this tournament with our home dojo, SKF, and we are pleased to go to our third tournament. We will update you on our Instagram and Facebook.