Reliability & linearity of an electronic body protector employed in taekwondo games: a preliminary study

Abstract

Tasika N. Reliability & linearity of an electronic body protector employed in taekwondo games: a preliminary study. J. Hum. Sport Exerc. Vol. 8, No. Proc3, pp. S622-S632, 2013. An official electronic body protector (EBP) requires both, the necessary degree of accuracy and consistency in securing the same result under similar conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the repeatability and linearity of a taekwondo EBP. A commercially available EBP that registers the energy (E) of a in Joules was placed unfolded on a hard non-deformable surface. Ten potential hit areas were marked on the EBP's surface. To simulate kicking conditions a 4 kg iron shot attached to a switch operated electromagnet was systematically released against the EBP from three randomly selected heights (1.78m, 1.92m, and 2.00m). The shot was released 5 times repeatedly from each height on each of the 10 areas. The procedure was repeated after a 30min interval. Reliability was assessed by the test-retest method using Chronbach's alpha, Guttman split half and ICC, and the coefficient of variation (%CV). The overall (10 sites pooled together) CV was 4.8%.