tae kwon do vs. karate?

F

Fach

Cathlete
I am looking for an activity to get me out of the house. Something athletic would be great so I was considering taking tae kwon do or karate. I have no experience with either. I did however take "real" kickboxing from a mens gym and loved it some years ago. I cannot take that again as I have foot problems and think all the impact on my feet is not a good idea. So, having said that does this also mean tae kwon do and karate are out? Anyone ever taken these classes? I'm not even sure if they would have a beginer class for middle aged house wives with "almost" empty nest syndrom :) This sounds like a dumb question [and it most likely is ] but none the less I am looking for a fun sport and this was my first thought.
 
I'm interested in your responses! Hey what's wrong with being a middle aged house wife with almost empry nest syndrome! Last year my youngest dd had the coolest Kindergarten teacher. I'm not sure how old she was - maybe late 50's/early 60's? She had 5 grown kids and she was taking tae kwon do with her grandson. She had a picture proudly displayed in the classroom wearing her outfit and yellow belt. She also drove a motorcycle and did alot of other stuff (like going back to school to get her doctor's in teaching and also extensive quilting). Wish I could have some of that confidence! Marnie
 
I have been with National Karate for the past 5 years. They call our form "Americanized TKD" A lot depends on the school and the masters. We perform a whole variety of things from sparring, pad strikes, forms, weapons, defense, kickbox and more. Not sure what problem you have with your feet but these classes can be really intense. We must kick pads and perform spin & jumps kicks that could be troublesome however, you can modify or lower the intensity. It can take a toll on a mature body (I'm 46) no matter how fit you are. I completely tore my rotator cuff while sparring 2 weeks before I was to test for my black belt. After surgery and a year of rehab, I recently returned and was preparing to test again when I tore my hamstring. I have learned the hard way that as we age, our tendons, ligaments & muscles are less pliable and injury risks are greater especially when called upon to perfom in an explosive manner.

That said, I still love TKD and think it is the best workout around IMHO. We have a number of mature men and women (myself included) and I would say "go for it" Many places offer intro classes that let you get a feel for it and you could visit some schools and observe. I still plan to continue and get my black belt but I just need to tone down the intensity. I often push myself too hard and thats when the injuries happen. BTW, my DH, DS & DD are all black belts and they are very supportive.

JJ
 
Great info. Thanks all! I know I would love, love, love these sports. When kickboxing we plummeted the pads and heavy bags [spinning kicks and all]. It was the most difficult workout I have ever experienced. Major fun factor plus it was rewarding to accomplish a new skill. I am afraid however the feet are not up to the task. I had surgery in March and the impact of strikes would encourage more for the future. So, I guess the mature thing would be to find another sport. I just couldn't take the classes without working full out :)

Any ideas for another outlet????? Hiking is out as there are no areas here to hike.
 
Fach - Not sure where you live at, but I plan to start kayaking as a way of getting some exercise outside. My niece swears it is a really good core/arm workout. We live near a lake and my sister has several kayaks. We haven't set a date yet, but we are going to start doing that with the kids (my 2 nieces and nephew) soon.
 
I don't know if this would work, but I took a Krav Maga class for a while. Krav Maga is the official self defense system of the Israeli Defense Forces, and has been taught to hundreds of law enforcement agencies and thousands of civilians in the United States. It's a simple, effective self defense system that emphasizes instinctive movements, practical techniques, and realistic training scenarios.

Okay that was from the official website www.kravmaga.com. But, it is a fighting art and has a lot of the elements of a martial art, but it's real-world applicable. Now, there is kicking, but it's only part of the program (unlike Tae Kwon Do where kicking is the majority) and for the kicks, you wear shoes. Round houses are actually done with the shin, not to foot as the shin is a much more damaging weapon than a foot. So, it might work. That's if you're looking for something more like a martial art.

I really enjoyed the classes, but I went to a great studio. Some are too testosterone filled. Talk to the women in the classes before you decide. Plus, as this is real life stuff, you do gain real self defense skills, which I really liked. I like knowing that if a man grabbed me, I would know how to get away.
 
I have thought of that. It's a good idea. I don't seem as excited about it though. Hmmm, I suppose I'll think of something. I could take music lessons but wouldn't burn many calories :+
 
What about dance classes? Depending on the type of dance, it would likely be low-impact, plus it's a great calorie-burner, social, and a lot of fun! I've been wanting to try it out myself, but the rather high cost in my area has kept me from it so far.

Yoga or Pilates might also be options if you're looking for something out of the house, but still fitness-oriented. :)
 
Second vote for Krav Maga for same reasons that above poster stated. I would like to take it myself if funds were available. For now, I just stick to bellydance once a week. The Krav class at my dtr's TKD school looks like a nice mix of men and women from young adults to mature.
 
My son takes Okinawan Karate. In the dojo and at tournaments they follow AAU rules, limited strike, and they wear less padding. Correct me if I'm wrong (please) in TKD and Krav isn't it full strike?
 
Dave,

At my National Karate (TKD) school, sparring is full contact but we wear head gear, chest protectors, hand/foot/shin/elbow pads, and mouth guards. Once you become a black belt you have the option to fight with less gear. Most of the competitions I've been to are full contact to the body but limited/no head contact depending on your belt level.

JJ
 
Wow, thanks everyone for great info [once again]. I am interested in the self defense course and will check to see if anything is offered in my area. I have never heard of it before and it sounds like something I would enjoy. I have considered dance. Ballet to be specific. Just for the toning and strengthening work not so much for the dance aspect. I'm not sure if anyone watched Sienfeld but i have the smae dance potential as Elaine. Has anyone seen that episode? Hilarious :) Anyway, some great ideas. Thanks again!
 
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