Author(s): KIRKWOOD, A., STEBBINGS, G., BIRDSEY, L., BARRACLOUGH, S., OWEN, G., POTTER, D., READ, D., Institution: MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF SPORT, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 2407

INTRODUCTION:
To improve taekwondo-specific fitness assessments, a simulation was developed using competition notational analysis and expert coach input. This study aimed to assess reliability and concurrent validity of a simulated taekwondo fitness test.
METHODS:
Elite international level taekwondo athletes (n=5 male, n=6 female, age: 21.8±5.3years, body mass: 68.8±11.5kg) across 10 weight categories (Male; -58kg, -68kg, -80kg, -87kg, Female; -46kg, -53kg, -57kg, -67kg -73kg, K44+65kg) completed the test twice, one week apart. The test comprised 3x3min20s standardised rounds, each with 8 blocks (15s work:10s rest) and 60s rest between-rounds. Athletes performed a set of 8 kicks per block, totalling 192 kicks overall on a freestanding kicking dummy. Following the third rest period, athletes were instructed to kick the dummy maximally for 30s (30s-max) utilising any kicks. Number of scored kicks and average kick power were measured via the Daedo protective scoring system; heart rate (HR) was measured continuously, with blood lactate concentration (BLa) and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) via the CR100 scale collected at the end of each round. Reliability was quantified using ICC(3,1), standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD) for the 3 rounds and 30s-max. Concurrent validity of the test (30s-max period only) was measured against maximal minute power (MMP) from an incremental cycling ramp test performed to exhaustion and quantified using multiple linear regression.
RESULTS:
Across the 3 rounds reliability varied for total number of scored kicks (ICC=0.22-0.87, SEM=2-4 kicks, SDD=6-12 kicks), average kick power (ICC=0.70-0.84, SEM=5-6 AU, SDD=15 AU), maximum HR (ICC=0.69-0.79, SEM=3%, SDD=7-8%), average HR (ICC=0.77-0.79, SEM=3%, SDD=8%), and BLa (ICC=0.00-0.58, SEM=1.29-1.52 mM, SDD=3.57-4.65 mM). Across the 30s-max period reliability varied for total number of scored kicks (ICC=0.79, SEM=4 kicks, SDD=12 kicks), average kick power (ICC=0.85, SEM=5 AU, SDD=15 AU), maximum HR (ICC=0.48, SEM=4%, SDD=11%), average HR (ICC=0.02, SEM=3%, SDD=9%), and BLa (ICC=0.67, SEM=1.37 mM, SDD=3.79 mM). sRPE for the entire test had an ICC=0.88, SEM=5 AU, and SDD=14 AU. The multiple linear regression model had limited interpretability due to multicollinearity and low degrees of freedom (R²=0.989, p=0.036). MMP correlated with average kick power (r=0.78, p=0.004), BLa (r=–0.59, p=0.037), and sRPE (r=–0.50, p=0.071).
CONCLUSION:
The simulated taekwondo fitness test demonstrated moderate-good reliability in average kick power, maximum and average HR across the 3 rounds, with total number of scoring kicks, average kick power, and BLa demonstrating moderate-good reliability in the 30-s-max period. A very large correlation between MMP and average kick power demonstrates concurrent validity of the test. These findings indicate the simulation can be used to reliably monitor changes in taekwondo-specific fitness.