Cross-trainers: do you notice a disconnect between TKD training and sparring?
For people who have cross-trained TKD with boxing, muay thai, MMA, or similar: Did TKD training feel disconnected from TKD sparring to you?
I find it hard to connect the training with sparring. I feel there is a disconnect, especially around punches, blocks, stances, footwork, and movement patterns. The strongest connection between TKD and sparring seems to be the kicking. I love TKD for the kicks. Sparring often resembles messy schoolyard fighting between two people who can exchange flashy kicks. The training lacks a clear way to apply blocking, punching (TKD punching in particular feels underdeveloped), and footwork.
Training and sparring are extremely well connected in boxing, for example.
How can TKD training be adapted so people can spar properly while still keeping a TKD style, and not mixing it with other martial arts?