title: The activity profile in international Taekwondo competition is modulated by weight category.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the activity profiles of elite male competitors during international Taekwondo competition in relation to fin, feather, and heavy weight categories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve male Taekwondo competitors equally representing fin, feather, and heavy weight divisions were studied during the 2005 World Taekwondo Championships using a time-motion system developed to analyze the activities and activity phases. The frequency and duration of activities were recorded and assimilated into four independent activity phases: fighting activity, preparatory activity, nonpreparatory activity and stoppage activity. The total number of exchanges and kicks were also calculated for each combat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all weight groupings the mean ± SD fighting time was 1.7 ± 0.3 s, preparatory time 6.4 ± 2.1 s, nonpreparatory time 3.0 ± 0.6 s, referee stoppage time 2.8 ± 0.9 s and 28 ± 6 exchanges and 31 ± 7 kicks were performed. Differences in the mean fighting time (fin: 1.4 ± 0.2 s vs heavy: 1.8 ± 0.3 s; P = .03; effect size [ES] = 1.57), preparatory time (fin: 5.3 ± 1.0 s vs feather: 8.2 ± 2.6 s; P = .03; ES = 1.47) and the total number of exchanges (feather: 24 ± 6 vs heavy: 32 ± 5; P = .03; ES = 1.44) were identified between the weight categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The activity profile in international Taekwondo competition was modulated by competitors' weight category. These findings suggest that conditioning sessions may need to be specialized to the requirements of specific weight categories.
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Research Group, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bridge
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drust
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts; D009043:Motor Activity; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies