The Gap Between Taekwondo And Muay Thai - ITF TKD challenges Muay Thai

Extreme props to this TKD practitioner for putting himself out there. He goes by ITF Sama, so we'll continue with that nickname. In this style vs style sparring commentary, ITF Sama goes up against three different Muay Thai guys to test out his ITF Taekwondo. Let's see how the Muay Thai guys best him in various striking distances. There is something amazing about his TKD kicks, but he is unable to couple them with the correct punches and distance management. Lots more lessons in the video.

Please watch full match here on Bilibili:
猛男天萌QwQ is the channel
And these are the direct video ids of the sparring matches
BV1Zb41187TB
BV15b411v73L
BV1A4411J7VX

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Timecodes:
0:00 TKD vs chill muay thai guy
3:06 TKD vs serious muay thai guy
7:59 Shoutout to ITF Sama
8:15 TKD vs Muay Thai champion
14:42 Final analysis

[FightCommentary]

The original videos and the channel are all in the description if you want to search for them later on Bilibili.

[idleeidolon]

Muay Thai's "slow start" is more than just them testing the waters and feeling you out. Although it is majorly that too. A lot of it is caused by cultural pressure. Because it is in the early rounds where bets are placed by the audience at the stadium.

[sephytcd]

I loved watching this dude. Out of all the TKD people you've put I honestly think this dudes the best one. His TKD had like no slop, and while he was having trouble, he seems to have like actual theory and an idea of how to use his TKD effectively. Usually something that annoys me about traditional martial artists is that they want to test it, but you can tell they lose faith and confidence in it REALLY quickly, but this kid not only keeps at it, but maintains the form the whole time, he makes it look like how you'd like to think it looks. The holes are still their obviously in terms of practicality but this kid has talent and the muay thai guys are being nice, but you can tell he loves the martial art and really takes it and what he's doing seriously. It's a special little thing you don't get to see too often. Thanks for showing this

[neththeobnoxioussponge]

This kid actually has great potential though, I reckon if he isnt too flashy and if he set up his spinning kicks much better he could catch opponents off guard with it

[CoolComics]

As someone who did karate and specialized in kicks, I really appreciated being taught by Muay Thai guys to put knees and teeps into the mix. It allows me to be flashy and have fun, but to also not feel lost close range and control space (i.e in a clinch or they pass your optimal range). Now I can use all aspects of the leg. Shoutouts to both styles in this vid.

[Bendesho]

I like this TKD guy, it seems like he's really there to have fun. He's putting on a good entertaining show for the viewers... seems like some of his high kicks aren't even trying to hit the head, just meant to show off his high kicking skills :)

[johnathanl]

I think the Muay Thai guys know the skill difference is huge & they make it seem effortless… all that flash seems completely ineffective & they’re just standing there swaying with no real offense or reason for an offense…

It’s crazy how vast the skill gap is….

[nickdavis]

You can actually see him learning as he goes which is neat .

[qestuvb]

When I first crossed over from TKD to Muay Thai I’ll never forget realizing I’ve never been kicked in my thigh that way before, same with the first time checking a kick without shin guards. It unlocked so much! I think blending TKD and Muay Thai is good as they compliment what the other lacks.

[Jeffjutzu]

Yeah this looks like a good time, I love this type of sportsmanship.
That being said this TKD guy is great mentally and physically to be able to get in and test his tools. The MT guy is awesome for not exposing and destroying when he had a chance, he did a good job controlling and teaching him. TKD has potential to be a fun effective fighter to watch

[ykb]

Most TKD critics say TKD has no fists, elbows, knees and leg kicks.
But this is like saying that TKD players have no intelligence.
Such restrictions exist only in competitions.
And groin and eye attacks are prohibited in all official matches.
But if there are no restrictions, more than 50% of matches will end up with groin or eye attacks.
The MMA also has a large ban on hitting.
It's not that you can't use a skill, it's that you don't use it to prevent major injuries.

And the reason why TKD trainees seems weak is that TKD has many trainees and does not have a fessional league.
Also, many TKD trainees do TKD for physical and mantal training and fun, not just for fighting.
On the other hand, the reason why MT trainees seems strong is that there is a rough professional league, but not all martial arts trainees want such a match.
There is a wide gap between professionals and amateurs in any field.

TKD Master Kwan-young Lee won the battle against 13 knife-wielding gangsters in France.
The incident was also reported in French newspapers, and he was recruited by the French Interior Ministry in 1981
and served as a bodyguard instructor for the Special Crime Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency.
Any martial art is ultimately similar and is governed by a martial artist.

[legion]

All 3 muay thai fighters showed great respect and restraint.
Rd1 the Thai was throwing punches soooo slow, with almost zero power and they were still landing.
Rd2 Thai fighter didn't throw a single knee to the face, twd guy just didn't have an answer to the clinches and would have been lights out
Rd3 Thai fighter just let tkd guy burn himself out.

Thai fighters are so conditioned they could eat those kicks to the legs and body all day long, even if they didn't check them, they would just walk the fighter down to a range where twd guy couldn't even throw any kicks.
All in all, the fighters were just having fun with no real intention of either hurting or humiliating their opponent 👍

[genshin]

The TKD guy is actually great despite the age, height and weight gap. He actually knows how to land the kicks without wasting any movement.

[runakobannister]

The biggest problem i see with ITF in these situations is that they dont actually commit to those kicks. They throw them as if its still point fighting

[ALE-fvqd]

The problem with tkd guys is that usually they only train to fight other taekwondo guys with their specific set of rules. So they don't know what to do against fighters who practice mma or muay thai. If they used to train to fight muay thai guys with muay thai's rules, we would see better results.

[thejapanarchocommunist]

Honestly if the TKD guy learns how to box a bit and better respond to punches I could see him being a formidable opponent.

[thewanderer]

If TKD guy were to cross-train and learn some boxing, he'd be deadly. He has a good sense of timing and distance.

[Skidouche]

i love how much it looks like the tkd is just having fun and enjoying himself- you can really feel the energy from him

[justinwallace]

I really gotta give him props for having a good fighting spirit. And his form is really good. He's lacking in power and speed, but his cardio is really impressive. To be fair, it's really hard to throw spin kicks with any power in such a small ring. When you're this boxed in, usually it's better to pound them with fast double kicks and sneak in a head kick or leg kick if you're a rebel. But yeah, gotta work in the clinch. Mad respect to both fighters here for being great sports

[darrenryding]

Remember ITF sparring is a tatami sport not a ring sport. Usually they compete on 8x8 metre mats or even 10 x 10 so its a big area. Athletes can exit the mat and accept a warning so they don't get overwhelmed. Punches are only worth one point, while kicks to the body are two and kicks to the head are three. Cardio is a big issue because ITF matches are just two two minute rounds so it's extremely high tempo. Typically when they spar muay thai or full contact fighters they have success for the first couple of rounds because of their movement and unusual striking patterns. They'll throw hook kicks and ax kicks because it's worth three points but its not for damage. But then they gas out later. Check out Cage Warriors fighters Adam and Ryan Shelley because they successfully transitioned from an ITF background to professional MMA.