Best TKD players of all time?

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TheStrikingGuy

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Hey guys,

As most of you know, I love the study of fight film. I started when I was young with boxers, then when youtube came to the fore I got to watch a lot of karateka, kickboxers and MMA fighters and the study of their games has greatly improved my personal game and has helped many of the guys I've taught techniques to.

A martial art I know a woefully little about, however, is taekwondo. Now I know the lack of respect for TKD nowadays, but occasionally I'll see a TKD player do something that really impresses me for more than just the speed and flexibility.

What I'd really like to know if there are any TKD experts on here is, who are some of the all time greats - old school and modern - to have a look at?
 
He's not really a TKD guy, but if you're going to look at TMA greats, "Superfoot" is great. Also, depending on the timing, you have a nice opportunity to do an Olympic themed article.

Also, Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson both come to mind as TKD black belts who've enjoyed success in MMA.
 
WTF TKD : well, you have Steven Lopez, Son Tae Jin, Hadi Saei, Pascal Gentil, Steve Vick (fought in Kickboxing as well), Raymond Daniels (fought in kickboxing as well)

ITF TKD: Tomas Barada, Pierre Guenette, Hwang Su Il, Jaroslav Suska, Stephen Tapilatu, David Kerr,

Probably both styles / different organisation: Serkan Yilmaz, Keiji Ozaki (ITF offshoot),

In MMA: Anderson Silva (WTF 5th dan), Anthony Pettis (ATA) , Benson Henderson (WTF), Edson Barboza (WTF), Dennis Siver, Zelg Galesic (ITF)

By the way, these are Barada's accomplishments
3 x ITF World Champion
6 x ITF European Champion
3 x King of Taekwon-Do (Japan Open)
6 x W.A.K.O European Champion
5 x WAKO World Champion
Holds WAKO record of 84 fights without a loss Retired Undefeated in WAKO

He not only fought in ITF TKD events, he also competed under kickboxing (WAKO) rules, and had an amazing record as well. Take a look.

 
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Superfoot wasn't TKD, was he? I just suggested him because he's one of the only genuine TMA superstars.
 
What about Raymond Real Deal Daniels?

Herbert Perez comes to mind. Remember that show where these TMA fought in a tekken esque tournament against each other from the mid 90s.

Wasnt Dennis Alexio TKD?

Branko Cikatic was TKD

Zelg Galesic
 
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td82394 said:
Superfoot wasn't TKD, was he? I just suggested him because he's one of the only genuine TMA superstars.
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Not quite sure as well. That is why I edited my last post. He kicks like TKD, but I have no idea if the trained TKD or "Korean Karate" (as they used to call TKD and the disciplines taught by Korean masters who had learned Karate in occupied Korea and later united to form the ITF and WTF)
 
MadSquabbles500 said:
I forget Gary Daniels

Pat Smith,

And Maurice Smith
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Maurice Smith is a TKD guy? Honestly, I don't know much about him, but I assumed he was a nak muay. He sure seemed clinch saavy for a striker against Mark Coleman.
 
You know, a lot of people credit Superfoot as a 'Taekwondo/Karate' guy, but the only thing that is really listed on his bio is his time training in Shorin-Ryu (an older style, a lot more natural and upright than Shotokan)... his Taekwondo training, if any, most likely came just in side training with other TKD artists who went into point karate and/or American Kickboxing, rather than actually going to a dojo
 
Steve Vick was a great Taekwondo fighter in both TKD and kickboxing competition.
 
td82394 said:
Maurice Smith is a TKD guy? Honestly, I don't know much about him, but I assumed he was a nak muay. He sure seemed clinch saavy for a striker against Mark Coleman.
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That is what says his wiki page. I not think access to muy thai they had generation of his

No seriously, a lot of the old school kickboxers have TMA backgrounds. They moved onto to full contact stuff to make a living.
 
Jukai said:
You know, a lot of people credit Superfoot as a 'Taekwondo/Karate' guy, but the only thing that is really listed on his bio is his time training in Shorin-Ryu...
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IMU, Bill Wallace base art was Okinawan karate style.... as you mentioned.

I also understand, as you've intimated, and IMO, Bill Wallace morphed into American Kickboxing much like Chuck Norris did post his karate championships.

KarateStylist
 
TheStrikingGuy said:
Hey guys,

As most of you know, I love the study of fight film....

A martial art I know a woefully little about... is taekwondo. Now I know the lack of respect for TKD nowadays....

What I'd really like to know if there are any TKD experts on here is, who are some of the all time greats - old school and modern - to have a look at?
Click to expand...

Sherdog is very MMA-centric. That' why you [posters] have overlooked Loren Avedon. Here's a clip re no return, no surrender 3, showing him along with co-star Keith Vitali.... Enjoy....


Once in a while, someone really puts together a movie scene of true art... this is one of those martial arts scenes.

KarateStylist
 
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Jhoon Ree
Ka Sa Fa Wong
Hwang Jiang Lee
John Liu
Tan Tao Liang
 
Jukai said:
You know, a lot of people credit Superfoot as a 'Taekwondo/Karate' guy, but the only thing that is really listed on his bio is his time training in Shorin-Ryu (an older style, a lot more natural and upright than Shotokan)... his Taekwondo training, if any, most likely came just in side training with other TKD artists who went into point karate and/or American Kickboxing, rather than actually going to a dojo
Click to expand...


Jukai, I don
 
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