LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY IN TAEKWONDO ATHLETES 7-9 AND 10-11 YEARS OLD

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Flexibility is one of the key components of success in Taekwondo, and, due to the demands of human anatomy, should be developed appropriately. The aim of this study was to determine the level of flexibility in male and female Taekwondo athletes and to identify any significant difference between the two genders in this physical quality. A total of a hundred and forty-one Taekwondo athletes took part in the research. Thirty-nine males and forty-three females aged 7 to 9 years old and forty-one male and 18 female athletes aged 10 – 11 years old. All of them had at least 2 years of Taekwondo training. The acquired data showed that the female participants in both age groups outperformed males in both tests. The average results were X1 (males 7-9) = 12.94 cm and X2 (females 7-9) = 6.26 cm and X1 (males 10-11) = 14.41 cm and X2 (females 10-11) = 6.11 cm on the “Side Split” test. For the “Stand and Reach” test, the average results indicated values of X1 (males 7-9) = 1.48 cm, X2 (females 7-9) = 7.70 cm and X1 (males 10-11) = 4.6 cm, and X2 (females 10-11) = 8.5 cm. The differences were statistically significant for the 7-9 years old group, with Cohen’s d = 1.01 and P(t)= 99.94 on the “Stand and Reach” test, Cohen’s d = .74 and P(t)= 99.99 on the “Side split” test. The 10 – 11 years old group also showed a significant difference with Cohen’s d = 0.71, P(t)= 98.89 on the “Stand and Reach” test, and Cohen’s d = 0.91 and P(t)=99.89 on the “Side Split” test. These results could serve as a starting point for creating an evaluation system for flexibility in Taekwondo athletes.