What’s up, fam? In today’s blog, we’re diving into the story behind “functional Taekwondo” – that unique blend of traditional martial arts and practical combat sports that we rock at our school.
Let me take you back to when I was a kid. I was all about traditional Taekwondo, learning the forms, Olympic-style sparring, and one-step self-defense moves. It was dope, but when I hit 20, I wanted to put my skills to the real test. So, I joined a boxing gym, thinking I was hot stuff. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening! Those boxers weren’t playing games, and my fancy Taekwondo techniques didn’t cut it.
Not one to give up easily, I thought, “Maybe if I could kick, I’d have a better shot.” Enter: Muay Thai. Spoiler alert: same story. I was getting tagged with punches, kicks, and clinch work that left me dizzy. It was a harsh wake-up call that traditional martial arts might not always translate to the rough-and-tumble world of combat sports.
That’s when it hit me – combat sports were the ultimate way to pressure-test my skills without actually trying to hurt someone. It was as close to a real altercation as I could get while keeping things safe and legal.
So, I got to work, taking the best of Taekwondo and adapting it for the world of mixed martial arts and kickboxing. That’s why, when you walk into our school, you’ll see students rocking uniforms and belts (gotta keep those Taekwondo traditions alive), but they’re also strapped up with boxing gloves and shin guards.
We’re blending the structure and discipline of traditional martial arts with the practicality of combat sports. That’s what “functional Taekwondo” is all about. We only practice Taekwondo techniques that work in sparring, and over the years, I’ve developed methods to help students build functional flexibility, strength, and legit self-defense skills.
If you’re down to give it a try, hit up our website or fill out one of those nifty forms below. We’ll have you kicking butt and taking names in no time! Stay awesome, fam.