Abstract
Aim: The physiological realities between Taekwondo (TKD) simulation kicking training and TKD competition according to the Olympic time frame remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to establish an Olympic match-simulated kicking model and compare its effects with real TKD competition on physiological challenges and hormonal responses during serial matches in elite athletes.Method: Sixteen elite TKD athletes randomly were assigned into either a TKD match-simulated kicking group (TMSK; N = 8, age: 21.3 ± 0.2 years) or a simulated TKD competition group (STC; N = 8, age: 21.6 ± 0.5 years). Both groups performed either simulated kicking or TKD competitions in the same time-course order, and all physiological parameters and blood sampling time-points were identical between groups. The heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded during each match-simulated kicking and TKD competition session. Blood samples were obtained before competition (Pre-Comp.), after competition—in ths case meaning four consecutive matches (End-Comp.), and 24 h after the first match (Next day) for determination of biomarkers of muscle damage (myoglobin and CK), hematological profiles, and hormonal profiles (testosterone and cortisol).Results: The responses of HR, RPE, and blood lactate levels during the consecutive testing sessions showed no differences between TMSK and STC. The changes in CK and myoglobin were greater in STC (p < 0.05), and a greater decrease in red blood cell (RBC) loss was observed in the STC group (p < 0.05). Compared with TMSK, the inflammatory state, reflected by the ratios of neutrophils-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelets-to-lymphocyte (PLR), was higher in STC (p < 0.05). Moreover, the catabolic state (cortisol/testosterone) was greater in STC than in TMSK (p < 0.05).Conclusion: We demonstrated that, compared with TMSK, the STC produced greater muscle damage, inflammatory responses, and catabolic stress in the Olympic competition time frame in elite male TKD athletes. Although TMSK is capable of eliciting similar physiological challenges as TKD competition, the muscle damage and hormonal profiles provoked by TMSK were not comparable to TKD competition. Our findings provide science-based data and better understanding for coaches, athletes, and sports scientists to develop TKD-specific training programs for Olympic preparation.
Highlights
Among competitive sports, combat/martial art sports are unique and contain several specific features, including short periods with extremely high intensity, intermittent exercise patterns, and frequent physical contact/impacts during competition events
According to the Olympics and World Taekwondo (WT) regulations, TKD combats are comprised of at least three rounds of 2 min combat and 1 min break between each round (World Taekwondo, 2018), and the athletes may have to fight in consecutive schedules for at least 4–5 matches within a single day to be qualified to compete for the final championship
The primary findings of this study were that (1) both TKD competition (STC) and kicking simulation (TMSK) were high-intensity intermittent exercise and elicited comparable challenges in heart rate, perceived exertion, and lactate responses; (2) compared with TKD matchsimulated kicking group (TMSK), the simulated TKD competition group (STC) produced markedly greater muscle damage and inflammatory responses in the Olympic competition time frame; (3) the STC provokes a relatively stronger systemic catabolic stress, reflected by an increase in the ratio of cortisol to testosterone after the consecutive combat matches, whereas there were no such response observed in TMSK group
Summary
Combat/martial art sports are unique and contain several specific features, including short periods with extremely high intensity, intermittent exercise patterns, and frequent physical contact/impacts during competition events. Athletes have to perform TKD-specific skills and conditioning training and have to participate in regional tournaments These reality simulated training regimens (team combat practice, friendly match/competition, and regional tournament) possibly cause varying levels of sport injuries due to the frequent physical contact between athletes (Kazemi et al, 2005; Covarrubias et al, 2015; Hammami et al, 2018), because injuries are an inherent risk due to the nature of combat sports. These negative impacts during training may result in short-term training cessation and subsequently perturb athletic performance and competition preparations (Eston et al, 2003)
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