title: Effect of a Six-Week Preparation Period on Acute Physiological Responses to a Simulated Combat in Young National-Level Taekwondo Athletes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine changes in physical attributes, physiological characteristics and responses that occurred in a simulated combat during a six-week preparatory period in young taekwondo athletes. Seven athletes (age 12.17 ± 1.11 years) were examined before (pre-intervention) and after (post-intervention) a preparatory period for physical fitness and physiological responses to a 2×90 s simulated bout with a 30 s rest period. The heart rate (HR) was monitored during the simulated combat, and handgrip muscle strength (HMS) along with the countermovement jump (CMJ) were recorded before and after the combat. When compared with pre-intervention values, in post-intervention we observed a decrease in body mass, body fat percentage, and the HR at rest and during recovery after a 3 min step test, and an increase in maximal velocity of the cycle ergometer force-velocity test, the CMJ and mean power during the 30 s continuous jumping test (p<0.05). Furthermore, HR responses to a simulated combat were lower in the post-intervention session (p<0.05). CMJ values increased after the bout in both pre and post-intervention, with higher absolute values in the latter case (p<0.05), whereas there was no difference in HMS. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the acute physiological responses to a simulated taekwondo combat vary during a season, which might be explained by changes in physical fitness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, Athens, Greece. ; Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece.
authors.forename: Pantelis T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sports Performance Optimisation" National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chtourou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, University of Jaen, Spain.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torres-Luque
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Tasiopoulos
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: University e-Campus, Novedrate, Italy. ; Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sports Performance Optimisation" National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padulo
keywords: anthropometry; martial arts; physical fitness; training load; youth