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Karate vs Taekwondo

TaekwondoThe fastest legs in combat.

Since	19th century	1955
Origin	Japan	South Korea
What you learn	PunchesKicksForms (kata)	PunchesKicksForms (kata)
Olympic sport	Only at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021)	Yes, since 2000
Grading	Coloured belts and black-belt degrees	Coloured belts and black-belt degrees
How you win	Points	Points
Contact	Light / controlled	Medium: rule-based sparring with gear
Uniform	White karategi and belt	Dobok and belt
Weapons	No (weapons belong to kobudo)	No
Typical cost	Club membership (varies by city) + karategi; mitts and guards for kumite	Club membership (varies by city) + dobok; body protector, headgear and guards
Who it suits	Those after discipline, striking technique and kata	Kick lovers who want speed and Olympic competition

In short

Both teach punches, kicks and forms (kata). Karate is the older of the two. Both have been Olympic sports.

Karate

Karate grew on the island of Okinawa and spread across Japan. Straight punches, sharp kicks and kata — forms that store the techniques of old masters.

See the page of Karate →

📍 Karate clubs

Taekwondo

Taekwondo comes from Korea and is an Olympic sport. It is famous for high, spinning and jumping kicks, scored with electronic body protectors.

See the page of Taekwondo →

📍 Taekwondo clubs

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Sources: Karate — World Karate Federation ↗ · olympics.com ↗ | Taekwondo — World Taekwondo ↗ · olympics.com ↗

Summarised by Wabukan; rules and grading can vary by federation and school.

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