The Olympics automatically conjure up the most common sports, Athletics, Gymnastics, Swimming etc agility. But Martial Arts will also be well represented, with Judo and Taekwondo firmly established as Olympic Sports. Judo gets the longest pedigree, making its debut at the Tokyo Olympics of 1964, as a guest sport of the host nation, a tradition still practised today. Taekwondo made its debut in 1998 at the Soeul Olympics (you can probably see a design here!). In 2016, at the Rio De Janeiro Games in Brazil, another martial sport will also get an opportunity to shine at the Olympics, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Taekwondo has fought well to retain its Olympic status, overcoming the threats to drop it from the last 2 Olympics in Athens and Beijing by promising to enhance the scoring and encourage greater 'explosive' action, which mean of the IOC felt it lacked.
In Athens in 2004, anyone who had the misfortune to witness the Taekwondo events were left feeling wondering exactly how it may survive. Those people that practise, past or present, Taekwondo know exactly how quick and powerful this martial art can be. Primarily a 'kicking' art, it is one of the few martial arts today that also practise full contact, which explains why you see Taekwondo athletes wearing an array of protection! Those kicks to the pinnacle and body are not pulled, they're real, full power, potentially lethal kicks.
It'd all of the makings to be the ultimate in Spectator sports......until Athens that is. What we finished up witnessing was top Taekwondo athletes standing off one another, bouncing around, trying to find the opportunity to strike, but too afraid to getting hit on the counter and losing. The 'glow' of a medal proved an excessive amount of, these were not merely afraid to reduce, these were afraid to even attack!! It sent shock waves around Taekwondo, and caused the IOC to question whether it could continue being an Olympic Sport. The World Taekwondo Federation did an incredible job of convincing the IOC that they may make Taekwondo more exciting, and at Beijing, they at the very least achieved a marked improvement over Athens.
In London in 2012, I really hope that Taekwondo can still take the next step, and develop a spectacle to offer this martial sport the credibility it deserves, and to encourage more individuals to once more take this sport up.
Of all the martial arts, one that generally seems to struggle to get in at every Olympics is Karate , which really is a shame. The World Karate Federation does an exceptional job of attempting to unite all of the styles, but with some many 'factions' claiming superiority agility, it remains a battle to convince certain organisations to unite underneath the WKF to bring Karate to the Olympics. Once more, it had been short listed for London, but could not obtain the sufficient votes needed from IOC members to grant it Olympic status, and so we once more are robbed of the possibility for Karate to show so it can offer something to the Olympics. The following opportunity will soon be Rio in 2016, and I for one hope it may finally allow it to be and have the opportunity to show people just exactly what a great sport Karate can be.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu makes its debut in 2016 as a guest sport due to the host nation. But can it allow it to be being an established Olympic sport? Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is certainly among, if not THE fastest growing sport in the world, offering a combination of Judo and traditional Ju Jitsu, but using its emphasis firmly on ground fighting. It is a great sport, it's athletes are super fit, it is a lifestyle to many. But whilst many would need to see it being an Olympic sport, many also feel it cannot compete with Judo. To the untrained eye, nothing seems to take place, two athletes grappling on the ground, looking to achieve an edge and gain a submission. But I really hope it may show people so it comes with something to supply in Rio. With many Judoka and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes cross training, maybe this could help its cause.
It is very good that numerous martial arts are gradually getting the recognition they deserve, and whilst we can all accept they may never eclipse sports like Football etc, they have many worthwhile merits, which continued exposure through the Olympics can just only help and perhaps persuade more individuals to try these sports or arts for themselves.