Lower Extremity Stretch-Shortening Cycle Performance in the Vertical and Horizontal Direction as Key Determinants of Success in Collegiate Male Taekwondo.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The underlying mechanisms of taekwondo-specific jumping ability among different competition levels are still unknown. This study aimed to compare vertical and horizontal stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) performance between athletes of different competitive levels and examine the relationships of force and power production abilities between those two directions in Taiwanese collegiate-level male taekwondo athletes.

METHODS

Seventeen male collegiate taekwondo athletes were divided into two groups: medalists (MG, n = 8) and non-medalists (NMG, n = 9); both groups performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) on a force platform and single-leg lateral hops (SLLHs) via an optoelectronic measurement system. Eccentric and concentric phase measures from CMJ and distant and temporal variables of SLLH were collected for further analysis.

RESULTS

The MG achieved statistically superior jump height (JH), concentric peak velocity, eccentric peak force, force at 0 velocity, and eccentric displacement than NMG ( = 1.05-1.36). Although non-significant differences showed in SLLH variables, MG had better results than NMG ( = 0.40-0.84). Moderate relationships were identified between SLLH step 1 and JH, reactive strength index modified, peak concentric power, and peak concentric velocity of CMJ ( = 0.50-0.57, < 0.05). Furthermore, step 2 ground contact time and lateral reactive strength index from SLLH were associated with CMJ peak eccentric force, peak concentric force, and force at 0 velocity ( = 0.53-0.59, < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Taekwondo MG achieved superior CMJ and SLLH performance. In addition, jumping abilities in vertical and lateral directions shared specific underlying mechanisms in collegiate male taekwondo athletes.