AUTHOR=Ouergui Ibrahim , Franchini Emerson , Messaoudi Hamdi , Chtourou Hamdi , Bouassida Anissa , Bouhlel Ezdine , Ardigò Luca Paolo 

TITLE=Effects of Adding Small Combat Games to Regular Taekwondo Training on Physiological and Performance Outcomes in Male Young Athletes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.646666

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2021.646666

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>This study investigated the effect of area sizes (4 × 4, 6 × 6, and 8 × 8 m) and effort-pause ratios (free combat vs. 1:2) variation on the physiological and perceptive responses during taekwondo combats (Study 1). In a second study, the effects on physical performance of 8 weeks of small combat-based training added to regular taekwondo training were investigated (Study 2). In random order, 32 male taekwondo athletes performed six (i.e., two effort-to-pause ratios × three area sizes conditions) different 2-min taekwondo combats (Study 1). Thereafter (Study 2), they were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (4 × 4, 6 × 6, and 8 × 8 m) and an active control group (CG). Regarding Study 1, blood lactate concentration [La] before and after each combat, mean heart rate (HRmean) during each combat, and rating of perceived exertion (CR-10) immediately after each combat were assessed. Regarding Study 2, progressive specific taekwondo (PSTT) to estimate maximum oxygen consumption (VO<sub>2max</sub>), taekwondo-specific agility, and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were administered before and after 8 weeks of training. Study 1 results showed that 4 × 4 m elicited lower HRmean values compared with 6 × 6 m (<italic>d</italic> = −0.42 [small], <italic>p</italic> = 0.030) and free combat induced higher values compared with the 1:2 ratio (<italic>d</italic> = 1.71 [large], <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). For [La]post, 4 × 4 m area size induced higher values than 6 × 6 m (<italic>d</italic> = 0.99 [moderate], <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and 8 × 8 m (<italic>d</italic> = 0.89 [moderate], <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and free combat induced higher values than 1:2 ratio (<italic>d</italic> = 0.69 [moderate], <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Higher CR-10 scores were registered after free combat compared with 1:2 ratio (<italic>d</italic> = 0.44 [small], <italic>p</italic> = 0.007). For Study 2, VO<sub>2max</sub> increased after training [<italic>F</italic><sub>(1, 56)</sub> =30.532, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001; <italic>post-hoc</italic>: <italic>d</italic> = 1.27 [large], <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001] with higher values for 4 × 4 m compared with CG (<italic>d</italic> = 1.15 [moderate], <italic>p</italic> = 0.009). Agility performance improved after training [<italic>F</italic><sub>(1, 56)</sub> = 4.419, <italic>p</italic> = 0.04; <italic>post-hoc</italic>: <italic>d</italic> = −0.46 [small], <italic>p</italic> = 0.04] and 4 × 4 m induced lower values in comparison with 6 × 6 m (<italic>d</italic> = −1.56 [<italic>large</italic>], <italic>p</italic> = 0.001) and CG (<italic>d</italic> = −0.77 [moderate], <italic>p</italic> = 0.049). No training type influenced CMJ performance. Smaller area size elicited contrasting results in terms of metabolic demand compared with larger sizes (i.e., lower HRmean but higher [La] and CR-10), whereas free combat induced variables' consistently higher values compared with imposed 1:2 ratio (Study 1). Taekwondo training is effective to improve VO<sub>2max</sub> and agility (Study 2), but small combat training modality should be investigated further.</p>