Beyond the Scorpion Kick: Taekwondo's Political Reality

"We're saying what everyone's thinking." These words from a military veteran to Coach Moreno capture the essence of what makes The Warehouse 15 podcast essential listening for the Taekwondo community. Coaches TJ, Moreno, and Young pull no punches as they dissect the uncomfortable realities facing modern Taekwondo.

The conversation weaves through multiple critical topics, beginning with a comparison of old versus new competition styles. While watching footage of past tournaments, the coaches acknowledge that rose-colored nostalgia often obscures the flaws of "old school" Taekwondo. This balanced perspective sets the tone for their nuanced analysis of today's sport landscape.

International competitions reveal troubling trends, with countries like Uzbekistan, Iran, and Kazakhstan demonstrating remarkable depth of talent that outpaces American competitors. The coaches identify several contributing factors: geographic proximity allowing more frequent competition between these nations, increased governmental support following Olympic success, and the economic realities of the World Taekwondo ranking system. This system, they argue, creates an unintended form of "economic racism" by disproportionately benefiting European countries whose athletes can easily attend numerous ranking events without excessive travel costs.

Perhaps most alarming is the skyrocketing cost of participation. Coach TJ shares his shock at paying $225 just to register his daughter for a basic local tournament. Such steep barriers contradict Taekwondo's original appeal as an accessible "sport for all" and limit growth at the grassroots level.

The podcast also tackles the effectiveness of national training centers, the politics of World Taekwondo governance, and parallels with collegiate athletics' evolving landscape. Throughout, the coaches demonstrate their deep love for the sport while refusing to shy away from its troubling challenges.

Subscribe to join these straight-shooting Taekwondo masters as they continue to address the issues others won't, including next week's philosophical debate with special guest Dr. Stephen Kaepner on the evolution of Taekwondo training and competition.