Abstract
This study investigated the effects of 4-weeks repeated sprint (RST) vs. repeated high-intensity-technique training (RTT) on physical performance. Thirty-six adolescent taekwondo athletes (age: 16 ± 1 yrs) were randomly assigned to RST (10 × 35 m sprint, 10 s rest), RTT (10 × 6 s Bandal-tchagui, 10 s rest) and control (control group (CG): no additional training) groups. Additionally, to their regular training, RST and RTT trained 2×/week for 4 weeks. Training load (TL), monotony, and strain were calculated using the rating of perceived exertion scale. The progressive specific taekwondo (PSTT), 20 m multistage shuttle run (SRT20m), 5 m shuttle run, agility T-test, taekwondo-specific agility (TSAT) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were performed before and after 4 weeks of training. Additionally, taekwondo athletes performed specific taekwondo exercises (i.e., repeated techniques for 10 s and 1 min). From week 1, mean TL increased continuously to week 4 and monotony and strain were higher at weeks 3 and 4 (p < 0.001). VO2max calculated from SRT20m and PSTT increased for RST and RTT in comparison to CG (p < 0.001). Agility performance during T-test and TSAT (p < 0.01) improved in RTT. The number of performed techniques during the 10 s specific exercise increased in RTT and RST (p < 0.01) for the dominant leg and in RTT for the non-dominant leg (p < 0.01). The number of techniques during the 1 min specific exercise was higher in RST and RTT compared to CG for the dominant leg (p < 0.001). Delta lactate at post-training was lower for RTT for both legs compared to RST and CG (p < 0.01). It is important to include a low-volume high-intensity training based on repeated sprint running or repeated technique in the training programs of adolescent taekwondo athletes.
Highlights
Taekwondo is a striking combat sport which is spreading worldwide [1]
countermovement jump (CMJ) performance did not improve after training with better values recorded for both training groups compared to the CG
The present study showed that repeated sprint and repeated technique training, performed with high intensities, were two effective training modalities to induce aerobic improvements
Summary
Taekwondo is a striking combat sport which is spreading worldwide [1]. A typical taekwondo match consists of three 2 min rounds with 1 min rest in between, contested in an 8 m × 8 m area [2].Taekwondo is characterized by the use of a range of offensive and defensive techniques executed at high intensity followed by periods with low intensities [3] resulting in effort to rest ratios varying from 1:2 to 1:7 [1].Various training modalities have been investigated to optimize the physical fitness of athletes aiming to sustain intensive loads and properly respond to the physiological and physical demands of combat sport competitions [4,5,6,7,8]. Taekwondo is characterized by the use of a range of offensive and defensive techniques executed at high intensity followed by periods with low intensities [3] resulting in effort to rest ratios varying from 1:2 to 1:7 [1]. Due to the nature and demands of combat sport, sprint interval training (SIT), repeated sprint training (RST) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) were usually prescribed and implemented by taekwondo coaches [4,7,8,9]. HIIT is defined as repeated efforts of short (
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