Effects of plyometric vs. traditional resistance training on kick performance and anaerobic power in elite taekwondo athletes.
- 1School of Sports Training, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China.
Abstract
Background
Taekwondo requires high-velocity kicking actions and repeated explosive efforts, which depend heavily on lower-body power and stretch-shortening cycle function. Plyometric training may offer greater improvements in these demands than traditional heavy-resistance training, but direct evidence in elite taekwondo athletes is limited.Objective
This study compared the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric training and traditional resistance training on roundhouse kick performance, lower-body maximal strength, and anaerobic power in elite male taekwondo athletes.Methods
Twenty-four elite male taekwondo athletes (age 18-24 years, body mass 58-68 kg) were randomly assigned to either a plyometric training group (n = 12) or a traditional resistance training group (n = 12). Elite status was defined as holding a National First-Class Athlete certification and having won a provincial championship or placed in the top three at a national-level competition. Both groups trained twice per week for 8 weeks in addition to their regular taekwondo training. Before and after the intervention, participants were assessed for squat one-repetition maximum (1RM), roundhouse kick speed, kick power, 20-second continuous kick repetitions, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, reactive strength index (RSI), and Wingate peak and mean power. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA.Results
Significant group × time interactions were observed for squat 1RM (F₁,₂₂ = 16.14, p = 0.001, partial η ² = 0.423), kick speed (F₁,₂₂ = 42.99, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.661), kick power (F₁,₂₂ = 35.46, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.617), kick repetitions (F₁,₂₂ = 9.54, p = 0.005, partial η ² = 0.303), CMJ height (F₁,₂₂ = 27.14, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.552), RSI (F₁,₂₂ = 52.90, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.706), and Wingate mean power (F₁,₂₂ = 125.56, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.851). The PT group showed greater pre-to-post improvements than the RT group in these variables: squat 1RM (+5.83 vs. + 3.00 kg; 95% CI for between-group difference in change: 1.37 to 4.30 kg), kick speed (+0.44 vs. + 0.07 m/s; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.49 m/s), kick power (+142.75 vs. + 58.58 N; 95% CI: 54.86 to 113.48 N), kick repetitions (+1.92 vs. + 0.91; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.67), CMJ height (+1.72 vs. + 0.65 cm; 95% CI: 0.63 to 1.49 cm), RSI (+0.09 vs. + 0.03; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.08), and Wingate mean power (+64.83 vs. + 26.33 W; 95% CI: 31.37 to 45.63 W). No significant group × time interaction was found for Wingate peak power (p = 0.460). At post-intervention, RSI and kick repetitions were significantly higher in the PT group than in the RT group (both p = 0.007), whereas other variables did not differ significantly between groups.Conclusion
Eight weeks of plyometric training resulted in greater pre-to-post improvements in roundhouse kick performance, reactive strength, and mean anaerobic power compared with traditional resistance training in elite male taekwondo athletes. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence that plyometric training is universally superior, because several outcomes did not differ significantly between groups at post-intervention.
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BibTeX
@article{yu2026effects,
title = {{Effects of plyometric vs. traditional resistance training on kick performance and anaerobic power in elite taekwondo athletes.}},
author = {Feiyang Yu and Tan Tian},
journal = {Frontiers in sports and active living},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fspor.2026.1987540},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948177},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of plyometric vs. traditional resistance training on kick performance and anaerobic power in elite taekwondo athletes.
AU - Feiyang Yu
AU - Tan Tian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Frontiers in sports and active living
DO - 10.3389/fspor.2026.1987540
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948177
AB - Background Taekwondo requires high-velocity kicking actions and repeated explosive efforts, which depend heavily on lower-body power and stretch-shortening cycle function. Plyometric training may offer greater improvements in these demands than traditional heavy-resistance training, but direct evidence in elite taekwondo athletes is limited.Objective This study compared the effects of 8 weeks of plyometric training and traditional resistance training on roundhouse kick performance, lower-body maximal strength, and anaerobic power in elite male taekwondo athletes.Methods Twenty-four elite male taekwondo athletes (age 18-24 years, body mass 58-68 kg) were randomly assigned to either a plyometric training group (n = 12) or a traditional resistance training group (n = 12). Elite status was defined as holding a National First-Class Athlete certification and having won a provincial championship or placed in the top three at a national-level competition. Both groups trained twice per week for 8 weeks in addition to their regular taekwondo training. Before and after the intervention, participants were assessed for squat one-repetition maximum (1RM), roundhouse kick speed, kick power, 20-second continuous kick repetitions, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, reactive strength index (RSI), and Wingate peak and mean power. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA.Results Significant group × time interactions were observed for squat 1RM (F₁,₂₂ = 16.14, p = 0.001, partial η ² = 0.423), kick speed (F₁,₂₂ = 42.99, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.661), kick power (F₁,₂₂ = 35.46, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.617), kick repetitions (F₁,₂₂ = 9.54, p = 0.005, partial η ² = 0.303), CMJ height (F₁,₂₂ = 27.14, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.552), RSI (F₁,₂₂ = 52.90, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.706), and Wingate mean power (F₁,₂₂ = 125.56, p < 0.001, partial η ² = 0.851). The PT group showed greater pre-to-post improvements than the RT group in these variables: squat 1RM (+5.83 vs. + 3.00 kg; 95% CI for between-group difference in change: 1.37 to 4.30 kg), kick speed (+0.44 vs. + 0.07 m/s; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.49 m/s), kick power (+142.75 vs. + 58.58 N; 95% CI: 54.86 to 113.48 N), kick repetitions (+1.92 vs. + 0.91; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.67), CMJ height (+1.72 vs. + 0.65 cm; 95% CI: 0.63 to 1.49 cm), RSI (+0.09 vs. + 0.03; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.08), and Wingate mean power (+64.83 vs. + 26.33 W; 95% CI: 31.37 to 45.63 W). No significant group × time interaction was found for Wingate peak power (p = 0.460). At post-intervention, RSI and kick repetitions were significantly higher in the PT group than in the RT group (both p = 0.007), whereas other variables did not differ significantly between groups.Conclusion Eight weeks of plyometric training resulted in greater pre-to-post improvements in roundhouse kick performance, reactive strength, and mean anaerobic power compared with traditional resistance training in elite male taekwondo athletes. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence that plyometric training is universally superior, because several outcomes did not differ significantly between groups at post-intervention.
SN - 2624-9367
ER -