Style to complement TKD?

If you were required to cross train in another martial art which would you choose? What do you think would be the perfect style to complement your TKD?

For myself, I think it would have to be grappling based. I think that Judo, Jujitsu or Sambo would all complement TKD. I personally would not pick another striking style as I feel it would prove too similar and perhaps effect muscle memory and end up muddling my movement. Plus TKD striking is devastatingly effective so I would not feel the need to train another striking style.

Hmmm. I never really thought about this as i like to see myself as a bit of a purist haha!

If i had to pick another style to train in, it would probably be Ninjutsu. Purely for the excellent joint locks, restraints and take downs. I would also love to practice the different weapon styles they use and mostly take the balance training etc.

After passing my 1st Dan i thought it would be the perfect time to cross train. I chose to join a local Wing Chun club and though i enjoyed the experience, i did not enjoy it in the same way as TKD, so was unable to commit after two months of training.
I think with work and family and TKD it would be difficult for me to give the required time and effort.
Would like oportunity to learn Krav Maga and expect i will give this a go in the future.

Time is definitely a factor. If you think that a minimum requirement of most arts is to attend two sessions a week to progress at a decent rate. That is without the time spent at home practicing patterns and stretching to keep up in the classes! I personally think that when cross training it is important to have one main art that you focus on and the other to just enhance what you already have in your main art. This is what I do. I generally train one night jujutsu and 3 nights TKD. I do grade in the JJ but it is with the understanding that I progress through the syllabus a lot slower due to my once a week attendance. I don't mind this as I am merely using it to flesh out what I already have with TKD.

Jugular,
I admire your attitude towards your training. I tried to go into Wing Chun with the same ethic as yours i.e. it being secondary and to compliment my TKD training, but i find it very hard not to give 100 % and realised that combining both TKD and Wing Chun was going to be very difficult for me.
Two other points which made me choose to concentrate just on TKD are that when i started to learn Wing Chun forms i just didn't get the same feeling and understanding that i get from performing our patterns.
This is not to be disrespectful to Wing Chun, infact it probably stems from my lack of understanding, but even from the start i enjoyed the punches and blocks from four directional punching and understood their use.
Secondly, i found some of the students i trained with condersending and sometimes down right rude.
All i know is when my TKD instructor asks me to help out, or when i'm training with some one of a lower grade, i try my best to help that person and repay the time the time my instructors have invested in me.
That is just my experience and i think cross training is still a good idea and something i will continue to explore.

Jujitsu would be my choice for a cross train, once I hit first dan with TAGB, il look at this in more detail as time at the moment is hard enough to commit as much as I would want too. TKD for distance and power strikes, JJ for close and technical.

I know TKD has its methods of take downs etc, unfortunately the syllabus doesnt support it a lot

dajack9 wrote:After passing my 1st Dan i thought it would be the perfect time to cross train. I chose to join a local Wing Chun club and though i enjoyed the experience, i did not enjoy it in the same way as TKD, so was unable to commit after two months of training.
I think with work and family and TKD it would be difficult for me to give the required time and effort.
Would like oportunity to learn Krav Maga and expect i will give this a go in the future.

I've just passed my 1st Dan and I'm considering starting a new martial art along side TKD. I'm looking at either Ju Jitsu or Judo. I was thinking more for my job in the police, I'm sure TKD would get me out of trouble though if need be.
I'm not sure if I can concentrate on two different arts at the same time though, we'll see ;-) Any suggestions people?

Regards

Nik

After I reached my Black Belt in TAGB TKD I decided to cross train! I chose Ninjutsu better known as Tai Jutsu.
it proved very difficult to cross train, and almost impossible to meld the two into one,
but I stuck it out through those little plateau's, i too had those rude people who claimed that TJS was simply the best and TKD was not worth bothering with!
( I asked them what others they had tried? " None Why change when i had found the best") ( A PURIST!!!!)
I eventually held my own and gained their respect as an artist!
It took me twice as long to gain my Black Belt in TJS as I had to un write some of the training i had undergone with TKD
after i had reached BB I was able to start to combine the two arts and it has trully helped me to become a better ARTIST not a purist
I dont believe in Purists anymore ( its just my opinion. Each to there own) I find them lazy, but please lets not confuse TKD the sport with TKD the Martial Art
I am only talking about TKD the Martial Art

As for the Advice bit....
Well look around and dont settle for the first you see!
try a few
Try bujinkan Tai Jutsu like i did! you will be amazed! you will be shocked
but dont expect it to be like TKD cos it isnt ( thats why you are going! isnt it?)

GOOD LUCK
and enjoy
HHH

I feel that Muay Thai is a rather easy transition for TKD practitoner and to be honest I enjoyed it slightly more as the classes I did were more combat/self-defense orientated and less emphasis placed on the traditional side of things.

Has anyone tried Hapkido? From what I can tell its got both the kicks and strikes as well as joint locks etc that could be pretty complementary to tkd.