fense relies heavily on swift foot attacks with an emphasis on flying and spinning kicks. Higher-ranking students practice extraordinary acrobatic kicks. These martial arts differ greatly in their approach to fighting."Tae" means foot (to kick), "kwon" means hand (to punch), and "do" represents way of life. Karate literally means "open hand" and signifies a heart devoid of corrupt intentions. Both martial arts strive to unify the mind, body, and spirit into "one entity", while aiming at the ultimate goal of helping to build a better and more peaceful world. In the year 2000, tae kwon do will join karate and judo as only the third martial art as an Olympic medal event.To the naive individual, karate and tae kwon do are just two ways to exercise. The fact is they share numerous similarities and differ in many areas. While they contrast in their fighting style and history, they share the common goal of personal unity and peace. When selecting a martial art, it is necessary to compare and contrast the similarities and differences that each school has to offer. Karate and tae kwon do have their own unique style and benefits. ...