A field test modeling specific to taekwondo

ABSTRACT A Field Test Modeling Specific to Taekwondo Sümeyra DURMAZPINAR Manisa Celal Bayar University Postgraduate Education Institute Department of Coaching Education Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Erkan GÜNAY Objective: To develop a test designed according to the basic physiological and motor characteristics needed during taekwondo competitions due to the lack of information in the literature; to develop an easy-to-apply, time and cost-effective test; and to determine the fitness levels of taekwondo athletes according to the results of this test. Materials and methods: In the study, demographic and anthropometric characteristics of 12 male competitive taekwondo athletes were first measured. Then, the Taekwondo Performance Test (TPT), designed by the researcher for taekwondo-specific performance measurement and controlled by a sound signal in a 4m^2 area, was completed based on the principle of applying taekwondo-specific kicking techniques with maximum effort over a total of 6 sets, alternating between 20 seconds of effort and 10 seconds of passive rest periods. To reveal the relationship between TPT and physiological and motor characteristics, the 30-15 Interval Running Test was applied to measure intermittent fitness level and indirectly aerobic capacity, the Wingate test to measure anaerobic capacity, the Illinois test to measure agility, and the countermovement jump test to measure neuromuscular performance. Results: TPT total kick, maximum and minimum kick values were negatively correlated with anthropometric measurements (Body Mass Index, fat percentage, and fat mass) (p < 0.05). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between TPT total stroke, maximum and minimum stroke values, and final running speed, total distance, total running time, and estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max.) in the 30-15 interval running test (p < 0.05). However, no correlation was found between all TPT values and vertical jump, agility, and Wingate test results (p > 0.05). The results of regression analysis showed that the total and maximum number of strokes explained a significant portion of the variance in estimated VO2 max (p < 0.05). The results of Bland-Altman analysis and one-sample t-test showed that there was no significant difference between the estimated VO2 max values calculated from the 30-15 interval running test and the estimated VO2 max values calculated from the TPT in terms of mean difference (𝑑̅ = 0.05) (p < 0.95). Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that TPT can be used as a measurement tool to assess tolerance to high-intensity workloads required in taekwondo competition and recovery ability between loads. It was also observed that it may provide information about measuring and monitoring the physical fitness level specific to taekwondo sport. Future studies on different populations and athletes with varying training levels are needed.