THE FEASIBILITY AND EFFICACY OF ELASTIC RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR IMPROVING THE VELOCITY OF THE OLYMPIC TAEKWONDO TURNING KICK

Jakubiak, N and Saunders, DH. The feasibility and efficacy of elastic resistance training for improving the velocity of the Olympic Taekwondo turning kick. J Strength Cond Res 22: 1194-1197, 2008-In the Olympic sport of Taekwondo (TKD), elastic resistance training (ERT) is often used with the aim of improving kicking performance; however, the efficacy of this has never been examined experimentally. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a TKD-specific, progressive ERT protocol on the velocity of the TKD turning kick. Twelve TKD athletes were randomly allocated to receive either a 4-week intervention of ERT plus usual TKD training (n = 6) or to a control group receiving 4 weeks of usual TKD training only. Kicking velocity from initiation to impact on a target was measured pre- and postintervention using a digital timer and two pressure switches. Kicking velocity improved significantly (by 7%) in the ERT group, whereas there was no improvement in the control group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that ERT is a feasible means of sport-specific resistance training for TKD and that TKD performance could benefit from an improved velocity of the attacking turning kick.