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Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(07): 573-581
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1327578
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Taekwondo Exercise Protocols do not Recreate the Physiological Responses of Championship Combat

C. A. Bridge
1   Sport and Exercise Research Group, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom
,
L. R. McNaughton
1   Sport and Exercise Research Group, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom
,
G. L. Close
2   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
B. Drust
2   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 30 August 2012

Publication Date:
07 January 2013 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the external validity of Taekwondo-specific exercise protocols. 10 male international Taekwondo competitors (age 18±2 years) took part in a championship combat and an exercise protocol that simulated the activity pattern of Taekwondo combat. Heart rate and venous blood samples were obtained in both settings. Despite similarity in the activity profiles, the championship Taekwondo combats elicited higher (p<0.05) heart rate (188±8 beats.min − 1), plasma lactate (12.2±4.6 mmol.L − 1), glucose (10.3±1.1 mmol.L − 1), ­glycerol (143.4±49.4 µmol.L − 1), ­adrena­line (2.7±1.7 nmol.L − 1) and noradrenaline (14.3±9.4 nmol.L − 1) responses than the ­Taekwondo exercise protocol (heart rate: 172±4 beats.min − 1; plasma lactate: 3.6±2.7 mmol.L − 1; glucose: 5.9±0.8 mmol.L − 1; glycerol: 77.7±21.3 µmol.L − 1; adrenaline: 0.6±0.2 nmol.L − 1 and noradrenaline: 3.0±1.1 nmol.L − 1). This discrepancy in the physiological responses appeared to be mediated by a reduced stress response in the Taekwondo exercise protocol. These findings suggest that Taekwondo-specific exercise protocols are not appropriate to study the physiological demands of Taekwondo. ­Strategies designed to increase the stress response in this setting may be necessary to improve the external validity of this experimental framework.

Key words

physiology - hormones - catecholamines - stress - simulation - activity profile
 

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