Main Difference
Karate and taekwondo are two types of martial arts. There are many differences between karate and taekwondo. The main difference between karate and taekwondo is that Karate is a Japanese martial art that equally emphasis on punching, kicking, elbow strikes, knife hands, spear hands, palm heel strikes and knee strikes. While taekwondo is a Korean martial art that that is combination of Shotokan karate and Chinese martial arts and mainly focus on kicks.
Karate
Karate is a Japanese martial art that was introduced in Ryukyu Islands present Japan. It was introduced in competition with Chinese martial arts, especially Fujian White Crane. It mainly emphasis on punching, elbow strikes, knife-hands, spear-hands, kicking, knee-strikes, and palm-heel strikes. In modern karate, more styles has been introduced that are: grappling, throws, joint locks, vital point strikes, and restraints. A karate practitioner is known as karateka. According to Web Japan there are over fifty million karate practitioners in world while World Karate Federation claims the figure of 100 million. But the fact is that besides lots of efforts, karate is not still listed in Olympic sport.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that was developed during 1940s and 1950s by various many Korean martial artists. It is influenced from various other martial arts like Shotokan karate, Shudokan karate, and Chinese martial arts. It mainly emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping & spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The main international governing bodies of taekwondo are International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). Taekwondo is an Olympic sport since 2000. It is also known as taekwon-do, tae kwon-do and tae kwon do.
Key Differences
- Karate is a Japanese martial art while taekwondo is a Korean martial art.
- Japanese martial art mainly emphasis on punching, elbow strikes, knife-hands, spear-hands, kicking, knee-strikes, and palm-heel strikes. While taekwondo It mainly emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping & spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.
- Parenthood of karate are indigenous martial arts of Ryukyu Islands and Chinese martial arts. While parenthood of Shotokan, Shudokan, Shito-ryu, Chinese martial arts, Taekkyeon, and Subak.
- Karate has more practitioners as compare to taekwondo.
- Taekwondo is an Olympic sport while karate is not an Olympic sport.
- Organizations of karate are Japan Karate Federation (JKF), World Karate Foundation (WKF), International Karate Association, etc. The main international governing bodies of taekwondo are International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).