Effect of static and dynamic core exercises on kicking impact, kicking speed and balance in adolescent taekwondo athletes

Aylin Öztürk; Elif Cengizel; Mehmet  Günay

doi:10.18002/rama.v20i2.2516

Authors

Aylin Öztürk Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gazi University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9769-9222
Elif Cengizel Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5148-3821
Mehmet Günay Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0047-2203

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v20i2.2516

Keywords:

Martial arts, combat sports, taekwondo, core exercises, balance, kicking impact, kicking speed

Agencies:

The authors received no funding for this work.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of static and dynamic core exercises on kicking impact (KI), kicking speed, and balance in adolescent taekwondo athletes. Thirty-three adolescent taekwondo athletes were randomly divided into three groups: static core (SC, n=11), dynamic core (DC, n=11), and control group (CON, n=11). SC and DC group performed core exercise programs in addition to taekwondo training three days a week for eight weeks. KI was determined with the electronic body protector. The frequency speed of kick test (FSKT_10s) was applied to kicking speed. The flamingo balance test for static balance (SB) and lower and upper quarter Y-balance test (YBT-LQ & YBT-UQ) for dynamic balance were used. KI increased significantly only on the non-dominant side in the DC group (p=.001). A significant improvement in FSKT_10s score was detected in the SC group (dominant, p<.001; non-dominant, p<.001) and the DC group (dominant, p<.001; non-dominant, p<.001). SB score showed a significant decrement in the DC group (dominant, p<.001; non-dominant, p=.010). YBT-LQ significantly improved on the dominant side (SC group, p=.003; DC group, p=<.001), and on the non-dominant side was observed in the SC group (p<.001), and the DC group (p<.001). YBT-UQ showed a significant decrement in the CON group (dominant, p<.001; non-dominant, p<.001) and in the DC group on the non-dominant side (p=.016). SC group and DC group improved FSKT_10sand YBT-LQ performance. Additionally, DC group led to a decrement SB scores, and YBT-UQ, but significantly improved KI on the non-dominant side. Therefore, based on the results obtained in this study, core exercises can be recommended in adolescent taekwondo athletes to improve balance and kicking speed, and DC should also be preferred to increase KI and improve static balance performance.

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Author Biographies

Aylin Öztürk, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gazi University

Aylin Öztürk (Turkey) is a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education at Istanbul Technical University, where she also coordinates the Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Training and Movement Sciences at Gazi University. Additionally, she serves as the head coach of the Kickboxing, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai teams at Istanbul Technical University. Throughout her athletic career, she has achieved significant success, including a silver medal at the Kickboxing World Championship and five championship titles in Turkey Championships. She won a silver medal at the World Championship held in Budapest, Hungary. She holds a 4th Dan in both Taekwondo and Kickboxing and is also a certified national Taekwondo referee. E-mail: aylin.ozturk@gazi.edu.tr

Elif Cengizel, Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University

Elif Cengizel (Turkey) is an associate professor in Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University, Turkey, since 2005. Her research topics mainly include training sciences, sports biomechanics, the effect os strength training on athletic performance in various sports disciplines, laboratory and field test and athletic performance in martial arts. E-mail: elifoz@gazi.edu.tr

Mehmet Günay, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University

Mehmet Günay (Turkey) is a full professor in the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Gazi University, Turkey. He has been conducting research on sports sciences since 1993. He was the President of the Turkish University Sports Federation and is currently a member of the FISU Board of Directors. He was actively involved in several national and international projects and is an author of more than 30 scientific articles published in SCI list journals. E-mail: mgunay@gazi.edu.tr

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