AUTHOR=Ouergui Ibrahim , Franchini Emerson , Messaoudi Hamdi , Chtourou Hamdi , Bouassida Anissa , Bouhlel Ezdine , Ardigò Luca Paolo 

TITLE=Effects of Adding Small Combat Games to Regular Taekwondo Training on Physiological and Performance Outcomes in Male Young Athletes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.646666

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2021.646666

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=This study investigated the effect of area sizes (4×4, 6×6, and 8×8m) and effort-pause ratios (free combat vs. 1:2) variation on the physiological and perceptive responses during taekwondo combats (Study 1). In a second study, the effects on physical performance of 8 weeks of small combat-based training added to regular taekwondo training were investigated (Study 2). In random order, thirty-two male taekwondo athletes performed six (i.e., two effort-to-pause ratios×three area sizes conditions) different 2-min taekwondo combats (Study 1). Thereafter (Study 2), they were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (4×4m, 6×6m, and 8×8m) and an active control group (CG). Regarding Study 1, blood lactate concentration [La] before and after each combat, mean heart rate (HRmean) during each combat, and rating of perceived exertion (CR-10) immediately after each combat were assessed. Regarding Study 2, progressive specific taekwondo (PSTT) to estimate maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), taekwondo-specific agility, and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were administered before and after 8 weeks of training. Study 1 results showed that 4×4m elicited lower HRmean values compared with 6×6m (d=-0.42 [small], p=0.030) and free combat induced higher values compared with the 1:2 ratio (d=1.71 [large], p<0.001). For [La]post, 4×4m area size induced higher values than 6×6m (d=0.99 [moderate], p<0.001) and 8×8m (d=0.89 [moderate], p<0.001) and free combat induced higher values than 1:2 ratio (d=0.69 [moderate], p<0.001). Higher CR-10 scores were registered after free combat compared with 1:2 ratio (d=0.44 [small], p=0.007). For Study 2, VO2max increased after training (F1,56=30.532, p<0.001; post-hoc: d=1.27 [large], p<0.001) with higher values for 4×4m compared with CG (d=1.15 [moderate], p=0.009). Agility performance improved after training (F1,56=4.419, p=0.04; post-hoc: d=-0.46 [small], p=0.04) and 4×4m induced lower values in comparison with 6×6m (d=-1.56 [large], p=0.001) and CG (d=-0.77 [moderate], p=0.049). No training type influenced CMJ performance. Smaller area size elicited contrasting results in terms of metabolic demand compared with larger sizes (i.e., lower HRmean but higher [La] and CR-10), whereas free combat induced variables’ consistently higher values compared with imposed 1:2 ratio (Study 1). Taekwondo training is effective to improve VO2max and agility (Study 2), but small combat training modality should be investigated further.