Effects of 12 Weeks Weight Training and Plyometric Training on Body Composition, Physical Fitness and Electronic Hogu Hitting Ability in Taekwondo Sparring Athletes

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of differences in muscle function training of Taekwondo sparring athletes on body composition, basic physical fitness, isokinetic muscle function, and electronic hogu hitting ability, and to present basic data for a training program for Taekwondo sparring athletes.METHODS This study randomly sampled 25(M: 20, F: 5) Taekwondo sparring athletes. The sampled subjects were divided into a weight training group (n=8), a plyometric training(plyometric) group (n=8), and a control group (n=9) and trained for 60 minutes, 5 times a week, for 12 weeks. Body composition, basic physical fitness, isokinetic muscle function, and electronic hogu hitting ability were evaluated before and after training. Statistical tests of RM Two-way ANOVA were conducted to verify the interaction between groups and times, main effects of times, and main effects between groups according to 12 weeks of training. Post-hoc was conducted using paired-T test(times) and One-way ANOVA test(groups).RESULTS Taekwondo sparring athletes showed positive changes in body composition(weight, BMI, Lean body mass, % body fat, WHR), basic physical fitness(muscle endurance, flexibility), isokinetic muscle function(knee endurance, low back strength), and electronic hogu hitting ability(round house kick, Turning back kick, number of hit) after participating in weight training for 12 weeks (All p<.05). Additionally, positive changes were observed in flexibility and electronic hogu hitting ability(Turning back kick) after participating in plyometric training for 12 weeks (All p<.05).CONCLUSIONS Weight training for 12 weeks in Taekwondo sparring athletes results in positive changes in body composition, increased flexibility and muscular endurance, increases in knee isokinetic muscular endurance and low back isokinetic strength, and improvement in overall electronic hogu hitting ability. Plyometrics for 12 weeks result in increased flexibility and increased electronic hogu hitting ability for back kick. Weight training shows greater improvement in strength and kick endurance than plyometrics.