Difference Table

Feature	Karate	Taekwondo (WT /Olympic)	Muay Thai	Arms often on the ground (handstands), or used for balance/swinging
Primary Focus	Power, precision, self-defense	Speed, height, point-scoring	Devastating power, clinch integration	Evasion, deception, rhythm, acrobatics
Combat Context	Self-defense, kata, point/full-contact sparring	Sport sparring (electronic scoring)	Ring fighting (8-limb striking)	Ritualized “game” (jogo), street defense
Stance	Low, rooted, stable	Upright, mobile, light on feet	Balanced, slightly crouched, ready to check kicks	Constantly moving, low ginga (sway), fluid
Kick Height	Mostly low-to-mid (below waist)	Very high (head kicks common)	Arms used to check kicks, clinch, or strike	Wide range: low sweeps to aerial kicks
Common Kicks	Mae Geri, Yoko Geri, Mawashi Geri	Dollyo Chagi (roundhouse), Ap Chagi, spinning kicks	Teep (push kick), Roundhouse (with shin), Low Kick, Switch Kick	Meia Lua de Compasso, Armada, Queixada, Martelo, Au Batido
Striking Surface	Ball of foot, heel, blade of foot	Instep or ball of foot	Shin(roundhouse), ball of foot (teep)	Top of foot, heel, sometimes hand-supported
Hip Usage	Direct thrust or controlled rotation	Fast rotational snap	Full hip turnover for maximum power	Circular, gyroscopic motion; hips drive momentum
Retraction	Fast retraction for defense	Moderate; often flows into combos	Often left extended or used to off-balance	Fluid transitions—kicks flow into dodges or flips
Use of Arms	Arms guard or strike simultaneously	Arms used for balance or light blocking	Arms often on the ground (handstands), or used for balance/swinging	Arms often on ground (handstands), or used for balance/swinging
Signature Trait	Economy of motion, kime (focus)	Speed + height + spin combos	Shin conditioning, leg kicks to disable	Ginga rhythm, unpredictability, dance-like flow
Training Emphasis	Kata, kihon, controlled kumite	Poomsae, Olympic sparring drills	Pad work, heavy bag, clinch, conditioning	Roda (circle), music, acrobatics, malícia (trickery)
Philosophy	Discipline, character development	Sport excellence, agility	Warrior toughness, fight efficiency	Freedom, expression, cultural resistance

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🔍 Key Insights by Art

Muay Thai

• “Art of Eight Limbs”: Uses fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
• Kicks are brutally powerful—the roundhouse is thrown like a baseball bat, rotating on the support foot and striking with the shin.
• Low kicks (to the thigh) are fight-enders—designed to cripple mobility.
• Teep (push kick) is used like a jab—to control distance or stop an advancing opponent.

Capoeira

• Kicks are embedded in continuous motion—never static.
• Emphasizes deception (malícia): a kick may look like a dodge, and a dodge may hide a kick.
• Many kicks are spinning or inverted (e.g., meia lua de compasso—a spinning heel kick from a low crouch).
• Hands often touch the ground for support during acrobatic kicks (e.g., au batido).
• It is not designed for confrontation; it focuses on evasion and counter-striking.

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🥋 Practical Takeaway

• Want power & simplicity? → Karate or Muay Thai
• Want speed & competition flair? → Taekwondo
• Want rhythm, evasion & creativity? → Capoeira

💡 Fun Fact: Many MMA fighters blend Muay Thai kicks (for damage) with Taekwondo mobility and Karate timing—showing how these arts complement each other!

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📺 Recommended Videos (Expanded)

• Muay Thai Kicks:
  ➤ Muay Thai Roundhouse Breakdown – Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu
• Capoeira Kicks in Context:
  ➤ Capoeira Kick Combinations – Mestre Bira
• Side-by-Side Kick Comparison:
  ➤ Karate vs TKD vs Muay Thai vs Capoeira – FightTIPS