Effect of plyometric training program on athletic performance in young taekwondo athletes

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of plyometric training program on athletic performance in young male taekwondo players. 20 volunteer male taekwondo athletes between the ages of 17-22 who regularly practice taekwondo participated in our study. Two different groups were formed as 10 athletes as experimental group and 10 athletes as control group. A plyometric training program was applied to the experimental group 3 days a week for 8 weeks. During the study, both groups continued their normal taekwondo training. The subjects were explained in detail how the study would be carried out. During the study, they were asked not to use diet or nutritional supplements and not to do separate exercises. The body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), anaerobic power, back strength, grip strength, speed and flexibility values of the participating athletes were measured before starting the plyometric training program and after the training was completed. SPSS 22.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Paired Samples T-Test was used for in-group comparisons. Statistical results were evaluated at p<0.05 significance levels. Anaerobic power, BFP, vertical jump, back strength, grip strength right, grip strength left, speed and flexibility values of the experimental group were found to be significant at p<0.05 level. Only flexibility values of the control group were found to be significant at p<0.05 level. As a result, it can be said that the 8-week plyometric training program has a positive effect on the athletic performance of taekwondo athletes. Keywords: Plyometric training, Athletic performance, Teakwondo.