Taekwondo and Muay Thai are amongst the most powerful and influential martial arts on this globe. Both of them are prevalent and have many trainees practicing their art worldwide. So naturally, we want to know which one is the better fighting style.
I hope you’re ready to dive into the magnificent worlds of Taekwondo and Muay Thai. Because if you are, we’re going to compare the two of them while diving in as deeply as possible to each one. Eventually, you’ll have an answer regarding which one is better.
A disclaimer for this article is that I’m a Muay Thai practitioner. I love the art of Thai Boxing and I think it’s amongst the best fighting styles worldwide, as I practice it almost daily.
However, Taekwondo has definitely impressed me and is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary martial arts globally. So researching this article was definitely enjoyable and eye-opening. My perspective might or might not have changed from my initial one, which you’ll have to read this article to find out!
Table of Contents
- Taekwondo vs. Muay Thai (Differences)
- Taekwondo vs. Muay Thai (Similarities)
- Which Is Better for Self-Defense, Taekwondo or Muay Thai?
- Taekwondo vs. Muay Thai, Which One Should I Learn?
- Can I do Muay Thai and Taekwondo
- Testimonials
- Final Words
Taekwondo vs. Muay Thai (Differences)
The first part of this article is going to dive into the primary differences between Taekwondo and Muay Thai. This section is the most important one to understand if you’re trying to choose which one you want to learn.
Regardless of why you’re reading this article, the importance of this section doesn’t lower. So open your eyes and ears and pay close attention, as we’re about to dive into the first one.
Difference #1 – Rules
The first difference we’ll review is the rules each martial art has. The rules each one has defined what this fighting style is going to look like in tournaments and competitions. It’s also going to define what it’s going to look like in self-defense and street fighting.
The point I’m trying to make is that the rules of martial art are the most important set of characteristics they have. If you can’t punch in a competition, you won’t practice it in training, and you also won’t use it in a real fight.
Taekwondo
The following rules apply to World Taekwondo’s rules. So if you’re an ITF or GTF practitioner, this doesn’t apply to you, although most of the rules are the same in all styles.
So here are World Taekwondo’s rules:
- The ring will be 8-meter in diameter
- The bout starts with two of the fighters bowing to the opponent and to the referee
- When the referee tells you to start, the fight begins
- The object is to win by either (A) points or (B) knockout
- To score points, you must hit your opponent with a clean blow
- If the clean blow isn’t delivered with force, it’ll not count as a point
- A punch to the torso scores one point
- A straight kick to the torso scores two points
- Spinning or turning kick to the torso amount to three points
- Head kick amounts to three points
- Any spinning or turning kick to the head will be worth four points
- Punches to the face aren’t allowed
- There are 3 rounds, each lasting two minutes
- There’s a one-minute break between rounds
These are the basic rules of Taekwondo. To recap, here are some key points you want to remember.
First, there are no punches to the head. Punching is only allowed in the chest-plate area. As a guideline, you can’t kick below the belt. Therefore, strive to hit the head, as that’ll amount to the most points and will cause the most damage.
Let’s dive into the rules of Muay Thai.
Muay Thai
Here are the rules of Muay Thai:
- The object is to win the bout by either (A) knockout or (B) points
- The maximum size of a ring will be 24ft by 24ft
- Ropes will surround the ring
- The fighters can either wear rope gloves or Muay Thai gloves, depending on the tournament
- You’re allowed to punch, kick, elbow, and knee
- You’re allowed to throw and sweep your opponent
- The objective is to hit the opponent while avoiding getting hit
- If you knock out your opponent, he has 10 seconds to recover
- You win the fight if your opponent can’t continue to fight due to knockout
- Judges decide the winner by who was the superior fighter in the fight (if no knockout)
- Each round is three minutes in length
- There are either three or five rounds in a bout
- You’re allowed to clinch
Difference #2 – Fighting Techniques
So the first difference is the rules. The second difference we’ll review now is the fighting techniques taught in the martial arts themselves.
This is, as you can imagine, influenced by the rules. And still, it’s important to clarify this difference because Taekwondo and Muay Thai teach many similar techniques, like the roundhouse kick and the spinning kick.
As a result, it’s important to understand this difference before you begin practicing either one of them.
So let’s dive into what Taekwondo teaches!
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is mostly about kicks. You’ll also see some grappling and punching, but you’ll mostly see kicks.
Let’s begin with punches. Some of the punches you’ll see are:
- Forefist
- Hammerfist
- Flying punch
- Elbow strike
Here are some of the kicks you’ll learn in Taekwondo:
- Front Kick
- Push Kick
- Roundhouse Kick
- Side Kick
- Reverse Side Kick
- Hook Kick
- Axe Kick
- Fly Kick
- Spinning Kick
- Turning Kick
- Monkey Kick
- Crescent Kick
- Lower Kick
And now, let’s get into some defensive moves Taekwondo teaches:
- Single forearm block
- Rising block
- Palm block
- Low block
- Upper block
- Nine Block
Muay Thai
Now that you know some of the fighting techniques you learn in Taekwondo, let’s get straight into Muay Thai.
It’s also called “The Art of Eight Limbs” for a reason. You’ll learn to use your knees, elbows, shins, and fists to inflict tons of damage on your opponent. It’s one of the most powerful martial arts for a reason. You’ll learn to cause tons of damage.
However, you’ll also learn to get hit straight in the body or face and not move a single inch. This is called conditioning, which some martial arts forget to include. However, Muay Thai doesn’t forget to condition its trainees, and thus, make them extremely effective fighters.
Here are the punches you’ll learn in Muay Thai
- Jab
- Cross
- Hook
- Uppercut
- Overhand punch
And here are some of the kicks you’ll learn:
- Teep
- Low Kick
- Roundhouse Kick
- Diagonal Kick
- Switch Kick
Here are the types of knee strikes you’ll master:
- Straight Knee
- Diagonal Knee
- Curving Knee
- Jumping Knee
- Step-In Knee
And lastly, here are the elbows:
- Horizontal Elbow
- Spinning Elbow
- Uppercut Elbow
- Downward Elbow
- Poking Elbow
All of these are extremely effective. And again, it’s called “The Art of Eight Limbs” for a reason.
Difference #3 – Origin
The third difference is the origin of these two martial arts. To be frank, this shouldn’t bother you as much as the previous two differences if you’re just trying to choose one to learn. However, it’s important to know the origins of the fighting style you do because it’ll allow you to strengthen your connection with it, which is important for going through hard times and overcoming certain obstacles.
Taekwondo
The origin of Taekwondo is Korea. Indeed, it’s a Korean martial art that emphasizes head-height kicks. I won’t dive into too much detail regarding its history, but you can read more about it by following this link.
Muay Thai
The origin of Muay Thai is, as you can guess from the name, Thailand. It’s their national sport because it has attracted so many tourists and has been such a major part of the area. Throughout the years, The Art of Eight Limbs has kept on developing into what it is today, which is one of the most powerful fighting styles.
Read more about its history by following this link.
Difference #4 – Styles
The last difference we’ll review is the styles you’ll see in both martial arts. There are a few ways you can go about choosing your style, but it’ll mostly come from experience. So as of right now, you don’t want to pick your future style, but simply understand there are different ones.
Let’s begin with Taekwondo.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo has three primary styles. They’re different in the way they use various fighting techniques. For instance, one of the styles is more similar to Kickboxing, as it utilizes punches and kicks. However, one style is known for using only kicking movements. Let’s examine them.
- ITF
- WT
- ATA
The WT (World Taekwondo) is the one most people are familiar with. More people know of it because it’s in the Olympics. The ATA (American Taekwondo Association) combines the two other styles. And lastly, the ITF is the most traditional style of Taekwondo, which is known for its effectiveness and overall personal development of the disciple.
Muay Thai
Now that you understand the styles of Taekwondo, know that Muay Thai has a few prominent styles as well. Each style takes one fighting technique and focuses on it. Then, what you’re left with is a fighter that is so competent in using this particular technique—it’s incredible to watch.
So here are the styles of Muay Thai:
- Muay Mat
- Muay Khao
- Muay Sok
- Muay Femur
- Muay Dtae
Read more about the styles of Muay Thai and how each one differentiates itself by following this link.
Taekwondo vs. Muay Thai (Similarities)
Let’s now go over the similarities between Taekwondo and Muay Thai.
I always say that the differences are more important than the similarities. And still, understanding how they’re alike can be critical, and let me tell you why.
If you haven’t started your fighting journey yet, you might find it difficult to step out of your comfort zone and attend your first class. Knowing how they’re alike and what good they bring to the world will push you toward starting your journey more than know.
You can say that this section is more for motivation purposes. Reading this section will help beginners and experienced fighters as one. So let’s dive in!
Similarity #1 – Purpose
The first similar trait is their purpose. Both of these fighting styles are self-defense and self-development platforms. While some martial arts today aren’t as geared toward fighting and self-defense, they are few.
The purpose of most martial arts is to teach people how to fight, and do so effectively. As a result, if you want to become a great fighter, so you can protect yourself and your loved ones, you can learn both Muay Thai and Taekwondo.
Similarity #2 – Effectiveness
The second similar trait, which is almost identical to the last one is their effectiveness. Although I mentioned that they’re both suitable for self-defense, I still want to go over this point.
Both Muay Thai and Taekwondo are extremely effective. You’ll be able to beat almost all non-martial arts trainees by learning and mastering these martial arts. By mastering them I don’t mean being the best fighter in the world, but having a solid basis and knowing more advanced techniques.
If you know to use what you learn comfortably and effectively, you’ll be an amazing fighter.
Similarity #3 – Focus on Kicks
The third and last similarity we’ll review is the focus on kicks. Although Taekwondo focuses much more on the kicks, Muay Thai prioritizes it as well. In my eyes, knowing only to kick is not as effective as knowing to use elbows, punches, knees, and kicks as one.
But again, I’ve never fought a Taekwondo practitioner who only kicks. And yet, I’m sure it’ll be difficult to win against someone who knows even just a little bit about fighting. When you kick, I can easily off-balance you and begin attacking. So assuming you don’t knock out your opponent unconscious in the first few kicks, you’ll be in deep trouble if you can only kick.
Which Is Better for Self-Defense, Taekwondo or Muay Thai?
When it comes to self-defense, what really counts is how conditioned you are to get punched in the face. Really, if you can get hit in the face numerous times without caring at all, which comes through a lot of spars and fights, you’ll be an effective fighter. When comparing Taekwondo and Muay Thai for self-defense, I have a clear answer as to which one is better.
Muay Thai is better than Taekwondo for self-defense because it’ll make you a more dynamic fighter while it increases your pain tolerance. Taekwondo primarily focuses on kicks, which might not be as effective in self-defense if you’re facing someone with a martial arts background, as you’re off-balanced when kicking.
I’ve watched dozens of Taekwondo and Muay Thai fights, as you can see in the video at the start of this article. I’ve watched some Taekwondo fighters knock out their Muay Thai opponents. However, the Taekwondo guys always seem to be less conditioned, which heavily favors the Muay Thai fighters.
Taekwondo vs. Muay Thai, Which One Should I Learn?
Answering this question is difficult, and let me tell you. I don’t really know, although I really want to so I urge you to leave a comment below and tell your story. I’ll make sure to read each and every single one.
Anyways, every fighting style is suitable for one group more than the other. The only way I can help you is by telling you what each teaches and urging you to choose one as soon as possible. And if the worst-case scenario occurs and you hate it, you can always switch.
Muay Thai is more suitable for people who want to learn an aggressive martial art that teaches you to knee, elbow, kick, and punches. On the other hand. you should learn Taekwondo if you’re interested in learning a worldwide kicking-based martial art that’s in the Olympics.
You decide.
Can I Do Muay Thai and Taekwondo?
Doing Muay Thai and Taekwondo at the same time isn’t a wise choice because learning two martial arts simultaneously isn’t practical. Instead, investing your time in a single fighting style and mastering it will be the better choice, unless you’re a professional MMA fighter and you need to learn a few martial arts.
Testimonials
What we’ll do in this section is show off the good sides of Taekwondo and Muay Thai. I’ve asked numerous of my friends who participate in these fighting styles to give their take. I also took some quotes from the Internet (the ones that aren’t trolls, of course.)
Basically, I want you to get amped up about starting your training, as this is one of my goals with this article. So let’s begin with Thai Boxing, aka The Art of Eight Limbs.
Muay Thai
there’s a dude at my gym who lost 70 pounds in three months (with Muay Thai), and now I’m pushing for him to compete
I started Muay Thai at 22 with no background besides a year of bjj. I love it!!! Hopefully you will too. No need to over think it. If you have solid coaches they should give you drills to work footwork and movement.
Speaking from experience, I’m 38 started a year back. At start I was 110kg no muscle, hardly ran. A COVID infested year later, things are better, 89kg, can run, kick and punch. Still a lot of ground to cover, my 8 years old kid also joined in, he’s doing much better than I am.
As far as the training and the art of Muay Thai, I love it. The discipline, the comradery among the people you train with, earning their respect as you progress. It’s great exercise and since it’s a skill, it’s quite addicting to want to constantly get better.
Taekwondo
I’m a pretty regular sized guy, a bit on the shorter side. A few years ago, I was 20 something years old, at my first tae kwon do tournament. For my sparring match, I was paired against a girl who goes to one of my school’s sister tkd schools. She she seemed like she was half my height, so probably even shorter than you are. But oh man, when we fought, boy did she have fire. She was one of the greatest fighter’s I’ve ever fought, and to this day, it was one of the greatest sparring matches I’ve ever fought. We both shock hands and had great things to say to each other after the match.
I started when I was 17! Taekwondo has no age limit, as long as you don’t have any healthy conditions that might be aggravated by physical work.
Highly recommend it! I started when I was 30 (now I’m 33), and it’s a wonderful way of life. The people are all truly fantastic and supportive. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy yourself and best of luck!
Everyone starts somewhere. Go for it.
Is Taekwondo Effective in a Street Fight?
Answering this question isn’t as easy as it sounds. It mostly depends on whether your coach knows what he’s doing. If he does, you’ll be able to use your skill set in the dirtiest spar you can participate in, a street fight, where rules don’t exist.
Taekwondo can be effective in a street fight if you keep your attacks simple and quick. Instead of going for 520 spinning back kicks, which are going to leave you off-balanced and ready to get punched, you want to keep it simple with roundhouse kicks, punches, and maintaining proper distance.
Do that and you’ll be able to tackle street fights with the beautiful art that is Taekwondo.
Let’s finally conclude this article; it has been fun, wasn’t it?
Final Words
This is it for this article. It has been a pleasure to research and write about Taekwondo and Muay Thai, as they’re both incredible martial arts that I love with all my heart.
I urge you to choose one martial art and go all-in on it. This will be the ideal way to learn, as it’ll optimize your progression rate. Likewise, starting as early as possible (today perhaps) is another thing I recommend because it’ll allow you to see results sooner, which will keep you motivated for longer.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and so it’ll take time until you’ll see real results. Keep working hard and you’ll get there.
Good luck!
Here are other articles you’ll benefit from reading:
Taekwondo vs. BJJ – Differences & Similarities
Karate vs. Taekwondo – Differences | Which Is Better?
Which Is Better Taekwondo or Kung Fu? Main Differences
BJJ vs. Muay Thai – Which Is the Better Martial Art?