Taekwondo depends on the gym you go to, some of the gyms (like every martial art) are watered down and you might not be getting the best most realistic instruction.
I think Muay Thai but with emphasis on boxing too, but dabble in other arts, see how capoeira guys throw certain kicks depending on their footwork, how karate point based guys control distance, etc. Don't get too caught up in one style, I liked MMA because it gave me the freedom to experiment and they didn't just try to fit me into a specific mould. Over time I've seen muay thai guys come visit who have nasty kicks but couldn't box, boxers who get shut down with a leg kick, capoeira guys who have a completely different rhythm to try read and so on. Same with 10th Planet/Jeet Kune Do, take whats useful, discard what is not. Different parts of different styles will only enhance your jiu jitsu. Being so deadly on the ground gives you the confidence to throw high kicks because if you get taken down mid-kick, they just saved you all the energy needed to score a takedown. Having solid wrestling, faking a shot can set up some nasty uppercuts or other strikes. I believe doing karate at a young age (point based kenpo) helped with my distance management because you want to hit them in the body/head and get the fuck out of there before they hit you so you score that point.
Bookmarks