Validity of a New Taekwondo-Specific Field Test in Sub-Elite Athletes

NCT07876999 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025_TaekwondoTest
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out whether a new taekwondo-specific field test (TSFT) is a valid way to measure the fitness of taekwondo athletes. The TSFT was designed to reflect what athletes actually do in competition: repeated, high-intensity kicks scored by an official electronic scoring system, with short rest periods in between. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

• Is performance on the TSFT related to aerobic fitness (estimated VO2max) measured with the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test?
• Is performance on the TSFT related to anaerobic performance and fatigue tolerance measured with the Wingate Anaerobic Test? Male sub-elite taekwondo athletes completed the new TSFT and two widely used reference tests (the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test and the Wingate Anaerobic Test). Researchers then compared the results of the new test with those of the reference tests.

Conditions

Physical Fitness; Aerobic Capacity; Anaerobic Performance

Keywords

Taekwondo; Field Test; Martial Arts; Sport-Specific Test

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Taekwondo-Specific Field Test (TSFT) Mean Points

  Mean number of scored kicks per bout during the TSFT (6 bouts of 20 seconds of maximal effort with 10 seconds of passive rest). Only kicks registered as valid (2 points) by the DAEDO PSS electronic scoring system, adjusted to the athlete's weight category, are counted. Mean points = total scored kicks divided by 6. Unit: points. Higher values indicate better performance. This measure is compared with estimated VO2max from the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test to assess concurrent validity.

  Day 3 (second testing session, 48 hours after enrollment)

• Estimated Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2max) From the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test

  VO2max estimated from the final running velocity reached in the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-second shuttle runs over 28 m with 15-second recovery; starting speed 8 km/h, increasing by 0.5 km/h per stage until exhaustion). Unit: mL/kg/min. Higher values indicate greater aerobic capacity. Used as the reference measure for assessing the concurrent validity of the TSFT.

  Single assessment between Day 5 and Day 7 after enrollment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Taekwondo-Specific Field Test (TSFT) Fatigue Index

  Day 3 (second testing session, 48 hours after enrollment)

• Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) Fatigue Index

  Single assessment between Day 5 and Day 7 after enrollment

Study Arms (1)

Sub-Elite Male Taekwondo Athletes

Male sub-elite taekwondo athletes who competed regularly in regional and national competitions and trained at least three sessions per week. All participants completed the Taekwondo-Specific Field Test, the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test and the Wingate Anaerobic Test.

Other: Taekwondo-Specific Field Test; Other: 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test; Other: Wingate Anaerobic Test

Interventions

Taekwondo-Specific Field Test OTHER

Newly developed field test consisting of 6 bouts of 20 seconds of maximal effort separated by 10 seconds of passive rest (total 180 seconds). Athletes move between two targets using taekwondo-specific steps and perform roundhouse kicks (dollyo chagi) and back kicks (dwit chagi). Only kicks scored by the World Taekwondo-approved DAEDO PSS electronic scoring system, adjusted to the athlete's weight category, are counted. Maximum, minimum, mean and total points and a fatigue index are calculated.

Sub-Elite Male Taekwondo Athletes

30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test OTHER

Reference test for intermittent aerobic fitness. Athletes perform 30-second shuttle runs over 28 m separated by 15-second walking recovery periods. Running speed starts at 8 km/h and increases by 0.5 km/h at each stage until exhaustion. Final velocity (VIFT), total distance, total time and estimated VO2max are recorded.

Sub-Elite Male Taekwondo Athletes

Wingate Anaerobic Test OTHER

Reference test for anaerobic performance. Athletes perform a 30-second all-out sprint on a Monark 894E cycle ergometer against a resistance of 7.5% of body mass. Peak power, mean power and fatigue index are recorded.

Sub-Elite Male Taekwondo Athletes

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male sub-elite taekwondo athletes who regularly competed in regional and national competitions, trained at least three sessions per week and were in active competitive status during the study period. Participants were recruited on a voluntary basis.

You may qualify if:

• Male taekwondo athletes classified as sub-elite (continuous participation in regional and national competitions)
• Regular systematic training of at least 3 sessions per week
• Active competitive status during the study period
• Free from injury

You may not qualify if:

• \- Any current injury or health condition preventing maximal-effort exercise

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Manisa Celal Bayar University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Manisa Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Performance Laboratory

Manisa, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Erkan Günay, PhD

  Manisa Celal Bayar University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2026
• First Posted: October 15, 2026
• Study Start: November 20, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2023
• Study Completion: December 18, 2023
• Last Updated: October 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Beginning after publication of the article, with no end date.
• Access Criteria: Data will be shared with researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Locations

TU (1)