Effects of target distance on select biomechanical parameters in taekwondo roundhouse kick.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of target distance on temporal and impact force parameters that are important performance factors in taekwondo kicks. Forty-nine taekwondo athletes (age = 24.5 +/- 5.9 years; mass = 79.9 +/- 10.8 kg) were recruited: 13 male experts, 21 male novices, 8 female experts, and 6 female novices. Impact force, reaction time, and execution time were computed. Three-way repeated measure ANOVAs revealed significant 'distance' effect on impact force, reaction time, and execution time (p = 0.001). Comparisons between distance conditions revealed that taekwondo athletes kicked with higher impact force from short distance (17.6 +/- 7.5 N/kg) than from long distance (13.1 +/- 5.7 N/kg) (p < 0.001), had lower reaction time from short distance (498 +/- 90 ms) and normal distance (521 +/- 111 ms) than from long distance (602 +/- 121 ms) (p < 0.001), and had lower execution time from short distance (261 +/- 69 ms/m) than from normal distance (306 +/- 105 ms/m) or from long distance (350 +/- 106 ms/m) (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, target distance affected the kick performance; as distance increases, impact force decreased and reaction time increased. Therefore, when reaction to a simple visual stimulus is needed, kicking from a long distance is not recommended, as longer time is required to respond.
Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Fisica y el Deporte, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain. coral.falco@ucv.es
Coral
C
Falco
Department of Teaching of Musical, Visual and Corporal Expression, Faculty of Teaching, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Javier
J
Molina-García
Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Teaching, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Octavio
O
Alvarez
Department of Applied Sciences in Physical Activity and Management, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Fisica y el Deporte, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain.
Isaac
I
Estevan
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult