Boxing vs. Taekwondo

If you’re looking for a way to stay fit and learn self-defense, you may be considering either boxing or Taekwondo. Both are martial arts that have been around for centuries and offer great physical benefits. But how do they differ?

Boxing is an ancient form of combat sport where two opponents fight each other using their fists in a series of rounds. It focuses on hand speed, power, agility, and accuracy to score points against the opponent.

On the other hand, Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that combines kicks with punches and open-hand strikes as well as blocks to defend yourself from attacks. It emphasizes balance control, coordination in movement, and body awareness while moving through various stances and techniques.

In this article, we’ll compare and contrast boxing and Taekwondo to help you decide which might be the best choice for you.

Table of Contents

boxing vs taekwondo

What’s The Difference Between Boxing and Taekwondo?

Taekwondo, also known as Tae Kwon Do, is a traditional Korean martial art and form of self-defense. It is characterized by the use of a wide variety of kicks, punches, blocks, joint locks, and throws. It is practiced by both men and women and is a popular form of exercise among middle-aged and older adults.

On the other hand, boxing is a combat sport in which two people throw punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring, usually while wearing protective boxing gloves and other protective boxing gear such as hand wraps and mouth guards.

The punches increase in speed and accuracy as rounds go by, and the fighters wear down through jabs, hooks, and uppercuts. The first boxer to score a knockout by knocking his opponent down or throwing a single clean punch is declared the winner.

Which Is Better for Self-Defense?

Boxing is a well-known martial art, but it is well known for its lack of self-defense for beginners. In reality, boxing does not teach you how to protect yourself against knife attacks, strangulation, and other common street assaults. Bottom line, you need to be highly trained and experienced in boxing to really be able to defend yourself.

Taekwondo is different, as it’s more diverse in terms of the techniques and blows you can use, but even in this martial art, you must be very experienced and skilled in order to successfully defend yourself ​while in taekwondo the emphasis is on “sporting combat” and less on self-defense against common street attacks.

Which Is Better For Cardio?

When it comes to cardio, most people think of running, walking, or biking as a healthy way of burning fat and staying in shape. However, this is changing as more and more people realize that the most effective cardio workout for a healthy body is a boxing workout.

If you’re looking for a workout that can help you build muscle, burn fat, develop your cardio, and stay in shape, then boxing is the best route to take! Not only does it have great cardiovascular benefits, but it also helps to build muscle in the arms, shoulders, and abdominal area.

Can a Taekwondo Beat A Boxer?

In a given situation, yes. A skilled taekwondo fighter can defeat a skilled boxer while a taekwondo fighter can use a variety of kicks that give him the ability to hit the boxer from a distance and powerfully.

It is true that for years, boxing has been considered the ultimate martial art in terms of physical demands. Sport is an intense test of speed, strength, agility, and endurance, making it one of the most demanding sports there is.

Also in relation to taekwondo, the average boxer is stronger, faster, and has stronger punches. But as mentioned in the previous paragraph, the kicking advantage of a taekwondo fighter gives him a very significant advantage over the boxer.

Which Is Easy To Learn?

Learning a new skill or knowledge can be a challenge in a world where everything is available online. There are so many different choices from which to pick that it can be easy to get overwhelmed.

Each discipline is very different, so there is no right or wrong answer, but, personally, I think boxing is easier to learn because you can specialize in one of its key components and that is improving your boxing speed, strength, and technique and that is through a lot of training on a punching bag.

It is true that only working on a punching bag, even if for months, still will not make your punch perfect, but the improvement you will see in strength, speed, and technique will be noticeably noticeable.

Also, there will still be many aspects to improve like evasion, footwork, the reaction in front of an opponent, etc., and should be practiced in sparring sessions and training fights.

Which Is More Popular?

It’s a well-known fact that boxing and taekwondo (also known as TKD) are two of the world’s most popular martial arts. However, the two sports differ in their fans, as boxing is more popular globally, while taekwondo is the most popular in South Korea and Asia.

When judging the popularity of sports, the competition between boxing and taekwondo can get a little heated.

While boxing has a number of famous fighters that have earned the admiration of the public (Ali, Tyson, Mayweather, etc.) taekwondo boasts a number of famous names of its own.

In recent years, taekwondo has managed to dominate the headlines and become one of the most popular sports in the US. Boxing has always been number one, but the gap is getting smaller.

Equipment Differences

So, are you thinking of starting boxing or doing taekwondo? It’s great. It is important that you know at a basic level the equipment required for each of these martial arts.

Recommended boxing gear includes some basics such as boxing gloves, some basic training equipment like a jump rope or a speed ladder, hand wraps or gauze, a mouth guard, boxing shoes, some form of pads or bags, and clothes you’re comfortable boxing with.

In taekwondo equipment, some pieces are needed like Chest pads, Headgear, Mouthguards, Groin pads and cups, Shin guards, Forearm guards, and Gloves or hand wraps.

The main difference in equipment between taekwondo and boxing is that taekwondo fighters use chest pads to protect their middle body from kicks, while professional boxing does not require such wearing. In addition, boxers wear dedicated boxing shoes while taekwondo fighters are barefoot (except for a foot guard).

In terms of clothing: boxers wear sporty and short boxing shorts and taekwondo fighters should wear a full suit called Dobok.

So, Which Is Better?

Both boxing and Taekwondo offer great physical benefits, but they are different martial arts. When it comes to which one is better for self-defense, Taekwondo has the advantage due to its emphasis on kicks and open-hand strikes. This makes it more practical in a real-world setting where you’re likely to face multiple attackers.

When it comes to fitness, boxing offers more cardio-vascular benefits than Taekwondo as it requires you to be constantly moving and on your toes. However, Taekwondo does offer great aerobic exercise for your entire body, including the core muscles of the abdomen and lower back.

In terms of safety, both boxing and Taekwondo should be practiced with caution. Make sure you use the proper protective gear for sparring in either martial art and practice with a qualified instructor to ensure you don’t injure yourself or your partner.

At the end of the day, it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a martial art that’s more practical and is better for self-defense, Taekwondo may be the right choice for you. However, if your main goal is to get fit and have fun, boxing might be a better option. Whichever one you choose, make sure to practice with caution and always wear the right protective gear. Good luck!