sport or martial art ?

when we fight in our hall we use about 40% hand and 60% foot techniques..we are taught to throw multiple combos of hands and feet..we dont go to competitions very often so the way we fight is a little more street savy.. we learn to use alot of elbows and knees, but not in sparring..we dont use hogus, but do thousands of crunches to build up good abs..now about the combos--i like to start with a left thrust kick followed by a quick left and right hand technique to the head, ending with a round house or spinning back kick..now i know that some tkd is taught with mostly 45 kicks and no punching, or sparring with your hands down ( some competition )..what i want to know is where is the line drawn between tkd being more of a sport or more of a martial art..i am NOT trying to put down anyones style of tkd and i dont want this to turn into a bashing..i just would like to hear thoughts from our tkd community...

--------------------------------------------------------------
Traditional TKD

There is a thin line between sport and art with TKD. With older more experience teachers, the art is just as important as the sport. However, younger instructors are only interested in sport tkd.They often fail to teach their students the difference between a fight and sparring. Fighting is serious business and involves everything except the kichen sink. Sparring is a game, one that is won with timing, execution, and agression. 
Although the olympics has been great for TKD, it has also been the cause of the loss of fundamental TKD. Everyone is so obsessed with the olympics and competition that techniques like punching, knees and elbows are forgotten. On the street nobody is going to fight the way sport TKD is played.
As a former USA team member I'm glad I started my training at a time when TKD was more fundamental. When technique meant as much as the point scored. A time when Self defense and step attacks were important to the art. As a true TKD enthusiast I hope the we get back to the fundamentals soon.

--------------------------------------------------------------
You can keep your MMA... I'm TKD all day!!!!

Olympic Style WTF Tae Kwon Do Sparring is most definitely a sport, but that doesn't have to and shouldn't be the only and/or main focus of one's Tae Kwon Do training. Tae Kwon Do should encompass all apects: Sparring, Self-Defense, Poomsae, and Breaking (Boards/Bricks). That way you are learning a complete Martial Art and you should be prepared to defend yourself if the situation arises, as well as compete in Sparring or Forms if you so wish. 

--------------------------------------------------------------
NL TKD Academy "Home of the Champions"

depends

I beliave that tkd has no line between what is the art and what is the sport. As in most things the two keep each other in balance and in check. Sparring is important to the art as well as the sport. It shows your style and what you learned at the same time you are going against some one else.

Master Sung Yu (my master froom Champ TaeKwon Do in Anchorage, Ak) says that when you sparr it is not between you and your opponent but between you and yourself. Will you show the spirit of tkd by going on when there is liquid fire in your legs(metaphor). Will you throw that kick when gravity hugs it to the earth. Will you continue when there is no more energy.

So as you can see any part of tkd CAN be looked at as a part of the art and the sport. What you must ask is what is must important to you?

Well that is my oppinion, Not mush for a 14 year old.
Sorry if the metaphors are confusing

--------------------------------------------------------------
Taekwondoist should stand united!!