Taekwon Do is not “a blend of Shotokan Karate with other Chinese and Korean martial arts.” It is a unique and independent martial art which draws base techniques in large part to the Founder’s experience with Shotokan Karate.

Mainstream Taekwon Do places a huge emphasis on legs and sport-oriented activities. However, there are still organisations and schools that practice Taekwon Do as a non-sport martial art. Some of these schools still show the influence of Karate, though others have evolved to embrace some of the evolution that TKD has developed over the last 50 years.

Also I disagree that “Taekwondo places great emphasis on fast, spectacular kicking techniques with very few hand strikes.” Most of the katas from white to black mainly have hand strikes, which I personally find fairly effective.

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