I start GKR tommorow and was wondering, would it be good to do GKR and TKD?

Depends, really. From what I've seen, TKD focuses a lot more on kicks and flexibility than GKR does.

I've been warned not to train in two styles that may have some similarities, because you may get confused over techniques and using those techniques in the other style, only to be told off from a sensei about not using non-GKR techniques.

I think the two compliment each other nicely. There are different ways of approaching things such as GKRs emphasis on hips as opposed to TKD. Once you get the idea into your head that neither style is wrong, merely different you should find they benefit each other. As Brodius said theres a lot more leg work in TKD, which is something I miss in a way

I try and throw some non GKR techniques in occassionally just for fun.

It's always fun to throw in a few non-GKR moves to totally confuse you're opponent.

I think the younger you are the easier it is too learn more than one style, Victoria and Sam have had no problems adapting to the two different styles they do.However i on the other hand am all at sea,and i only watch them.
Nigel

And in the end, if you know more from more than one style, then you're going to be more diverse in your fighting when it comes to defending yourself.

Unless there's a conflict between two styles with different ways of doing things and you end up confused.


Mick

confused?

i think one style confused me enough let alone learning two at the same time

O_O;;

To be honest, I wouldn't waste my time with TKD.

I can not see any real benefit in TKD, other than if you wish to impress your friends by being able to kick the ceiling (without any power).

I don't like to rubbish other styles, but from my experience TKD is designed to look impressive, but it's not as hard or as disciplined as Karate.

Many TKD clubs are after quantity, not quality, and the students seem to make black belt in 12 months. Really, how much are you going to learn in that time?

As with any style, it depends on the club. Some clubs exist only to make money and students can grade as high and as quickly as they can afford.

It's like some clubs you can look at the black belts and think "Wow!", others you can look and wonder....


Mick

Breathe, Deano, breathe.

As stated depending on your school you would learn things differently as much as if you did a different form of karate. I didnt do Rhee Tae Kwon Do but I'm fairly sure Ozlinks experiences would be vastly different from mine. I believe it is a very disciplined traditional style. My experience of TKD is it is much more real self defence oriented, the sort of thing you would like your kids to know, as opposed to what some might consider an overemphasis on technique. This is why I think the two together make for a well balanced martial artist.

TKD can look impressive, as can any martial art when done well. I have never heard anywhere of a black belt in 12 months. 4 years was the time in the guidelines. I certainly wouldnt join any such club.

Although I have never actually trained in TKD, I have known many people who have, and without exception, each of them belonged to TKD clubs that didn't give a rats about training, or standards.

It was about attracting belt hunters, and the result was not pretty.

Having said that, the people I have known who did TKD didn't stay in those clubs, seeing the light! Many of them went on to Shotokan.

I wouldn't recommend cross training. But if you feel compelled to cross train, remember to empty your cup first.

cross-training?
I prefer to call it concurrent training!

kids do it all the time with life skills and with studies.

would students encounter difficulties when swapping from one style to another? and if you did change, would you be 'unlearning' previous technique?

i switched to tkd because i was frustrated with the level of teaching in gkr. one thing i can tell valour is their kicks are full of power (the power in my kicks has improved ten fold since i joined them). although my new style isn't teally tkd it is more a fighting system it is tkd base.

i think you can train in two different styles np it depends on the person, i might be lucky but i asked and was given permission to do some of my blocks in gkr style.

How did you improve the power of your kicks? Was it just because they focus more on flexibility and improving kicking power, as compared to GKR? A simple way to improve kicking power, without joining other styles, is simply to train yourself at home as well. I know myself that GKR classes don't usually focus on kicks as a whole, but just for 20 minutes per class, and that's just for the drill.

I agree with you on that point Brodius if you want to improve anything you have to practice at home. But practice at home for everything it will benefit you in the long run.

KIM

i practise at home well what i call practise, i don't fall over as much now :thumbwink:. they kick bags i'v found not just kicking air has helped a heap, and also kicking the focus mitts is good to.

A bag to focus on does help considerably with power.

Also I've found that using a really big bag and getting my kids to hold it results in hours of family fun. Okay we're not normal, but they get a giggle out of it

Hi, yes the young ones can add extra dimensions to punching and kick bag work. When they work together and time a bag push just as I'm doing a round kick. Suddenly no bag at the point of impact and I spin round and fall over. Or the bag suddenly swings forward so my knee makes contact while the bottom of the bag continues its upward swing into my groin.

Another game is for one of them to wrap arms and legs around the bag and I have to kick and punch the bag making it swing, change directions or suddenly stop with the aim of shaking them off.

Fun games aside, moving bag work is very good for developing timing, co-ordination, correct stance and kick/punch/strike technique. It also conditions muscles, shins, knuckles, feet etc. for full contact use of strikes and blocks. I practice all blocks on the bag, in fact all techniques at slow medium and full speed and power. Then combinations of blocks and strikes to go with the movement of the bag with the aim of keeping the swing of the bag small.

Using the bag has highlighted strong and weak techniques, stances and sides of the body. Thus training emphasis can be tailored to improve the stance, timing and body movements for the weak technique.

Another training application for bags is to do full powered techniques which do not or only just touch the bag while it is moving. This brings in the element of control needed for kumite.

There is a lot of focus on stretching and flexibility. That and the fact that almost all of the bag/mit work is kick oriented. This is probably because there are just so many kicks theres not a lot of time for anything much else . You can train yourself at home true, well some can but I cant, need the drive of an instructor. There's also no substitute for good instruction in proper technique, especially for the trickier kicks which if practiced incorrectly become all that much harder.

I like the idea of bag and mitt kicking, and GKR in Tasmania is finally introducing it into a few dojos which I attend. When you're actually hit something you know your strength, and can work up from there. Hitting air doesn't really give you much to go with.

If you want to cross train/concurrent train, You might aswell do a ground art or stand up grappling art.

BJJ is the bomb! lol only using my ground from 6months in BJJ i have been able to state team shodan on the ground.

stand up is good, but u NEED to know the ground. You dont have to stay there as it is unrealistic to roll around on a bar floor! But to know positioning to submit/defeat your opponent or to know HOW to get up off the floor safely is a huge asset!

GKRBJJboy

I wish I actually had time to do 2 styles! would be fun guess I"ll concentrate on GKR for now