Why is Tae Kwon Do an olympic sport and Karate is not?

Question

Also, why do they use all that protective gear? I know they don't use any in Karate tournaments.

Answer 1

the reasons why TKD and judo are olympic sports are because they are the two most widely practiced martial arts in the world.



And the reason why The tae-kwon-do people wear all that gear, is because unlike in karate, punching doesn't score you any points in olympic tkd (the exception is if you land a punch that does obvious physical jarring, like if you knock them down), and your also not allowed to punch to the head. This leads to my reason why the wear the gear. Now, since there isn't much punching going on, that means it is almost all kicks in the tkd matches. This is why we wear the gear, becuae your legs are some of the most powerful parts of your body, and can cause serious injury without protective padding, especially head gear.

Answer 2

I think they should have all forms of martial arts in the Olympics. Whether they pit the different styles against each other is up to them.

And I don't know what kind of Karate you have been exposed to, but every karate tournament I have competed in, local and in 3 other countries including a couple in the US, protective gear is a must or else you would be ejected from fights.

Answer 3

Karate kid dominates it so why even try. Tae Kwon Do doesnt have Tae Kwon Do kid. Yes they have to wear protective gear.

Answer 4

taekwondo is a widely used sport...

karate mmmm .. not so much



and tkd uses protective gear... well ... to protect your body.

'cause tkd is a brutal sport and you only get about two times to rest .unless its sudden death .then you get three

Answer 5

i don't know, but do you know why ping pong is and not soft ball??