Has Taekwondo run its course as an Olympic sport?
After the boredom of Athens 2004, then the disappointment of Beijing 2008, did London 2012 really showcase Taekwondo as a long-term future Olympic sport?
Many Taekwondo Instructors we spoke to all agreed that the Taekwondo was boring to watch, with no real quality sparring, more bouncing up and down wafting the odd leg in the air.
After Athens 2004, Taekwondo was told to up the ante and make it more 'spectacular', but did it succeed? In Beijing Sarah Stevenson won a bronze after a poor referee decision was overturned. In London, Jade Jones won Britain's first ever gold, but did the performances really match the expectation of Taekwondo as a whole?
Taekwondo is an explosive martial art, and can be spectacular to watch, but have we lost site of the martial art in the pursuit of medals?
Without taking anything away from medal winners, is that the issue? More concerned with the medal than actually going out to spar properly? Fear of losing?
Referees are penalising negativity, but should more be done to get fighters thrashing it out like they actually want the win?
Is it time to give another martial art a chance at the Olympics?
Interesting topic. I remember this being discussed when I did TKD back in the 80's and early 90's; much as the discussions about Karate being included in the Olympics is today. The general feeling back then ( in my circles anyway) was that although mass media exposure to the art would be welcomed, it would likely eventually be modified to suit the TV audience. The "Olympic TKD" is nothing like what I used to do and many other former TKD fighters I speak to feel the same. From that perspective it does nothing to progress the art - unless kicking foam filled bin liners is your thing. Electronic touch scoring (a la fencing) has changed the way the fighters perform beyond the curriculum of TKD. A bit like Karate in the competitive days of Enoeda, Sherry, Brennan, Higgins et all, TKD used to be a messy affair pre foam protection. Those wanting Karate in the Olympics should beware what they wish for. Well done to those guys that trained hard for the squad and who got medals but I felt frustrated watching many of the rounds. Still, sometimes it is the taking part that matters. Squad members have little say in the rules or the way the art is represented. They train hard, they follow the "rules" and as we saw won medals. Don't blame the squad, blame TV.
ReplyDeleteTAEKWANDO ISNT WHAT IT USED TO BE TO MANY POLITICS IM KARATEKA MYSELF AND I MUST ADMIT TAEKWANDO CAN BE GREAT IF IT GOT OUT OF THE OLYMPICS AND TRAINED MORE FOR SELF DEFENCE BECAUSE ON THE STREET THERE IS NO WAITING TO GET YOUR MITS ON AND BODY ARMOUR AND GET A MEDAL AT THE END OF IT. IN THE COMPETATIVE DAYS OF SHOTOKAN KARATE AND SOME NOWDAYS THERE IS NONE OF THAT AND IT MADE AND NOW MAKES YOU TOUGH THATS WHAT KARATE DOSE NOW AND THATS HOW TAEKWANDO SHOULD BE TOUGH WITH NO BODY ARMOUR AND IT WILL BE A TRUE GREAT ART LIKE KARATE.
ReplyDeleteTAEKWONDO SHOULD BE TOUGH LIKE SHOTOKAN KARATE BECAUSE ALL THEM FLASHY KICKS AND NO PUNCHES ARE NO GOOD WHEN YOU ARE ON STREETS.
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