INTRODUCTION

Tae Kwon Do is an ancient martial art that was developed in Korea about 2000 years ago and is currently one of the most famous martial art sports globally. It is taught in more than 189 countries and has been on the official Olympic Games schedule since the 2000 Olympics. (1) Karate is a type of combat sport and now it is one of the most widely practiced system of Japanese martial arts in the world. The literal meaning of karate is “empty hands” that means freedom to use hands without using weapons against an opponent.(2) Taekwondo is an intermittent striking combat sport characterized by kicks and punches actions (high-intensity efforts) interspersed with periods of non-fighting activity (low-intensity) at average ratios between 1:2 and 1:7.(3) Preventing injury in sports by training the specific joints identified as frequently injured is known as prehabilitation.(4) The dynamic structure of kumite involves overcoming the competitor with use of various movements, defensive and offensive technique. Karate is a sport that requires skills, good agility, speed, balance and core strength.(2) Taekwondo includes more kicking (leg) techniques than Karate. Taekwondo athletics emphasis kicks (leg) and uses hands as backup and they use a wide range of high-speed kick movements, including jumping kicks and spinning. Taekwondo and Karate competitions have specific guidelines and rules that control athletics. In a competition, Taekwondo includes higher points to kicks, so players execute more kicking in taekwondo tournaments.(5) Despite the metabolic characteristics of karate, the main criteria to score in kumite matches is the vigorous application of kicks and punches. Both actions are performed without external loads and, usually, as fast and powerful as possible.(6)

The martial art of karate requires highly developed technical skills, which, amongst others, include control of static and dynamic movements. Karate is a highly dynamic tournament sport. Both kumite and kata are karate techniques performed in an extremely dynamic, precise and coordinated fashion. Karate has a complex structure, and the competitors’ physical fitness, technique, tactics and mental state all affect successful performance.(7) In the competition, the main actions executed during taekwondo matches are kicks directed to the opponent’s trunk, and the main technical action used by the athletes is the roundhouse kick, also called bandal tchagui by taekwondo practitioners.(3) In sports, every competition requires better and maximum performance, to improve the efficacy of specific kinetic patterns and techniques demanded for success. Previous studies found that in skill related sports the muscle strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, coordination, and efficiency of the athlete play a crucial role in performance of a sports athlete to achieve success. (2) The unique characteristics of the kumite motor actions require a strength assessment that may be able to categorize athletes at distinct competitive levels.(6) An effective strength and conditioning program is one of the most important elements for sustained high performance of these athletes to develop overall fitness. Improvement in the sports performance and balance depends on core muscles strength and its stabilization during jumping, running and throwing.(2)

During a kumite fight, attacks need to be executed at maximum speed to ensure that the attacker’s hand or the foot reaches its target without the opponent being able to respond. Such fights are highly dynamic and intense.(7)

Although single kicks and punches are anaerobic alactic and dependent on muscle power, the repetition of these motor actions turns the aerobic pathway the major contributor (77.8% ± 5.8%) to the total energy produced during a kumite match.(6)

Agility is an important skill for both attackers and defenders in invasion sports. It is generally accepted that agility has both a movement and a reactive element, whereas a predetermined direction change task without a requirement to react to a stimulus is described as the ability to change direction. In context, the most important components of agility are; perception, decision making, and changing direction speed. Agility has a very important role in the accuracy of the mawashi geri kick, especially in avoiding the opponent’s attack and also starting attacks towards the opponent. The structure of the agility component in invasion sports is well known, there is no evidence to what extent the perception and decision-making processes and the motor component contribute to agility in different types of sports.

Leg muscle strength is one of the physical components of muscle mass that requires physical exercise and nutrition. Without good leg muscle strength, athletes cannot perform mawashi geri kicks. In this case, the strength of the leg muscles requires accuracy in doing the mawashi geri kick, because when doing the mawashi geri kick movement, especially the leg muscle strength, it will use its muscles to accept the load within a certain working time. Loss of muscle mass, strength, and functionality seems to persist after the recovery process is complete. Leg muscle strength has higher physical function, and lower pain levels. The measure of leg muscle strength with the precision of the mawashi geri kick has important functional implications, the degree of development of sufficient strength required to perform fast and strong muscle contractions, as observed during walking. Dynamic balance is the ability to keep the neuromuscular system in motion. Dynamic balance is a vital factor associated with lower extremity injury and performance in athletes. Balance with ability to maintain dynamic integration of interior and exterior forces during motor action tasks. The reason for dynamic balance is the center of gravity to be transported in reaction to muscle activity. This muscle activity can also occur through external or internal disturbance supply. Dynamic balance refers to maintaining balance during movement or reestablishing balance through rapidly and successively changing positions. In play, players often perform movements that extend one foot beyond their base of support during intense lateral running, sprinting, and jumping movements, usually with a change of activity every 4-6 seconds.(8)

NEED FOR STUDY

 As in the recent years, importance of sport has increased with occurrence of many injuries so, it is necessary to study the effective training protocols in this sport to prevent injuries.A mixed martial athlete can enhance their chances of winning a bout by increasing striking power, an important goal of a conditioning program in combat sports should be to increase both punching and kicking impact power.These high physical and technical demands stress the necessity for specialized strength and conditioning training programs for these athletes.Moreover, this training program will affect the performance tasks based on reaction time, Lower Limb Power and Balance.Hence the purpose is to examine effect of 6-week motor skill training programme on selective fitness variables semi-professional taekwondo players.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Will there be any effect of short-term motor skill training programme on selective fitness variables in semi-professional taekwondo players?

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

AIM

To find the effect of short-term motor skill training programme on selective fitness variables in semi-professional taekwondo players.

OBJECTIVE

To find the effect of short-term motor skill training programme on Lower Limb Muscle Power using Vertical Jump Test in semi-professional taekwondo players.

To find the effect of short-term motor skill training programme on Reaction Time using Ruler drop in semi-professional taekwondo players.

To find the effect of short-term motor skill training programme on Dynamic Balance using Y Balance Test in semi-professional taekwondo players.

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis (H0)

There will be no significant effect of short-term motor skill training programme on selective fitness variables in semi-professional taekwondo players.

Alternative Hypothesis (H1)

There will be significant effect of short-term motor skill training programme on selective fitness variables in semi-professional taekwondo players.

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY

 Source of Data – 7-Star Academy, Rahata

 Study Setting – 7 Star Academy, Rahata

Study Type – Experimental Study

Type of Data – Quantitative Data

Intervention Period – 6 Weeks

Study Design – Randomized Controlled Trial

 Study Duration – 2 Years 

Sample Size – 40 (Open EPI Software)

Sampling Method- Simple Random Sampling

 Method of Collection of Data – Data will be collected by the Principal Investigator

 Material –Informed Consent  and PAR – Q+ Questionnaire

SELECTION CRITERIA

Inclusion Criteria

Taekwondo players.

Both Male and Female.

Age group 18 to 25years.

Participants who are willing to participate.

Participants fulfilling PAR Q+

Exclusion Criteria

Any type of systemic illness.

Any recent surgical and medical history.

Any type of acute injuries

OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcome Measures used for this study will be as follows:

1.     Muscle Power –Vertical Jump Test for Lower Limb

2.     Reaction Time – Ruler Drop Test

3.     Dynamic Balance – Y Balance Test

PROCEDURE

Protocol is prepared and Ethical Clearance will be obtained from IEC at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam College of Physiotherapy.

The participants will be selected on the basis of eligibility criteria.

Informed consent will be obtained from the participants and demographic data will be recorded. Participants will be given PAR Q+ questionnaire to fill, to determine the safety and possible risk of exercising based on the history of the health.

Participants will be allocated into 2 groups. Group A (experimental group n= 20) and Group B (control group n=20).

Prior assessment of the participants will be done using Vertical Jump Test for Lower Limb Power, Ruler Drop Test for Reaction Time and Y Balance Test for dynamic balance.

For 6 weeks participants will be given intervention thrice a week.

Statistical analysis will be done and result will be calculated.

CONTROL GROUP-

Conventional exercises for taekwondo players.

Warm Up

Running

Strength Training

Core Workout

Practice Matches

Cool Down

Mixed Training protocol including motor kill training exercises

REFERENCES

1.         Nutritional Routine of Tae Kwon Do Athletes Prior to Competition: What Is the Impact of Weight Control Practices? - PubMed [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jan 11]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28628394/

2.         (PDF) Effect of Plyometrics and Pilates Training on Dynamic Balance and Core Strength of Karate Players [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348510548_Effect_of_Plyometrics_and_Pilates_Training_on_Dynamic_Balance_and_Core_Strength_of_Karate_Players

3.         (PDF) Development and reliability of a kick test system for taekwondo athletes [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344442394_Development_and_reliability_of_a_kick_test_system_for_taekwondo_athletes

4.         (PDF) Strength and Conditioning for Reality Fighting [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245765172_Strength_and_Conditioning_for_Reality_Fighting

5.         (PDF) Motor learning and training strategy effect on motor control; Comparison between Taekwondo and Karate front kick (Ap Chagi and Mae Geri) [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jan 11]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347263558_Motor_learning_and_training_strategy_effect_on_motor_control_Comparison_between_Taekwondo_and_Karate_front_kick_Ap_Chagi_and_Mae_Geri

6.         Roschel H, Batista M, Monteiro R, Bertuzzi RC, Barroso R, Loturco I, et al. Association Between Neuromuscular Tests and Kumite Performance on The Brazilian Karate National Team. J Sports Sci Med. 2009 Nov 1;8(CSSI3):20–4.

7.         Przybylski P, Janiak A, Szewczyk P, WieliÅ„ski D, Domaszewska K. Morphological and Motor Fitness Determinants of Shotokan Karate Performance. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 21;18(9):4423.

8.         undefined. Relationship between Agility, Speed, Leg Muscle Strength, Dynamic Balance with Mawashi Geri Kick Accuracy in Karate. Int J Multidiscip Res Anal. 2022;5(9):undefined-undefined.