VKC of Austin
Tae Kwon Do & Anaerobic Power
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art that focuses greatly on kicking. It is practiced in over 140
countries and studied by over a million people of all ages every day. Due to its reputation as a
self-defense system, as opposed to a fighting program, few studies have been done to
investigate all the finely tuned benefits of Tae Kwon Do and its training.
Dr. A. F. Melhire published a study in the British Journal of sports medicine that investigates the
acute cardio-respiratory responses to Tae Kwon Do training. The goal of their study was to
learn more about the aerobic and anaerobic power associated with Tae Kwon Do. In this
particular study, nineteen (19) male adolescents who were already practicing Tae Kwon Do
were selected to participate. They had all practiced for approximately one year, had similar
technical skill, and trained for at least one (1) hour three (3) times a week. There participates
were all placed in an intermediate Tae Kwon Do class. The students took marginal aerobic
power exercise test on a cycled ergo meter. Their rate and oxygen uptake were measured
continuously during the test. During training, the subjects performed various sequences of
movements including blocks, punches, kicks, as well as twisting, leaping, and jumping
techniques. They performed there sequences fifteen (15) times a day, three (3) days a week,
for eight (8) weeks. After the training period, the participants were tested for maximum aerobic
and anaerobic power. The results show that the training had no significant effect on the volume
of oxygen uptake, or resting heart rate. On the other hand, significant improvements were seen
in the anaerobic power and capacity of all the young men. This suggests that Tae Kwon Do may
be an efficient form of anaerobic training for adolescent males. The lack of cardiovascular gains
can be attributed to the fact that the student’s heart rates were not raised to high enough levels
and sustained for the necessary amount of time. Further, investigations are needed to confirm
these results, but it is accepted that Tae Kwon Do can be used to improve and maintain
anaerobic power in adolescent males.
Tae Kwon Do & Anaerobic Power
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art that focuses greatly on kicking. It is practiced in over 140
countries and studied by over a million people of all ages every day. Due to its reputation as a
self-defense system, as opposed to a fighting program, few studies have been done to
investigate all the finely tuned benefits of Tae Kwon Do and its training.
Dr. A. F. Melhire published a study in the British Journal of sports medicine that investigates the
acute cardio-respiratory responses to Tae Kwon Do training. The goal of their study was to
learn more about the aerobic and anaerobic power associated with Tae Kwon Do. In this
particular study, nineteen (19) male adolescents who were already practicing Tae Kwon Do
were selected to participate. They had all practiced for approximately one year, had similar
technical skill, and trained for at least one (1) hour three (3) times a week. There participates
were all placed in an intermediate Tae Kwon Do class. The students took marginal aerobic
power exercise test on a cycled ergo meter. Their rate and oxygen uptake were measured
continuously during the test. During training, the subjects performed various sequences of
movements including blocks, punches, kicks, as well as twisting, leaping, and jumping
techniques. They performed there sequences fifteen (15) times a day, three (3) days a week,
for eight (8) weeks. After the training period, the participants were tested for maximum aerobic
and anaerobic power. The results show that the training had no significant effect on the volume
of oxygen uptake, or resting heart rate. On the other hand, significant improvements were seen
in the anaerobic power and capacity of all the young men. This suggests that Tae Kwon Do may
be an efficient form of anaerobic training for adolescent males. The lack of cardiovascular gains
can be attributed to the fact that the student’s heart rates were not raised to high enough levels
and sustained for the necessary amount of time. Further, investigations are needed to confirm
these results, but it is accepted that Tae Kwon Do can be used to improve and maintain
anaerobic power in adolescent males.
| Site by VOKXweb |
All Rights Reserved
