The ATP-PCr system represents the main source of energy during high-intensity attack actions in taekwondo matches. In contrast, the glycolytic system supports the maintenance of these actions when repeated techniques are performed. Given the close relationship between anaerobic energy systems and attack activity in combat, the literature relating to the use of sport-specific test protocols for anaerobic assessment has experienced a remarkable increase. This narrative review aims to illustrate the sport-specific anaerobic tests available in taekwondo by retracing and examining development and validation process for each test. Forty-one articles published between 2014 and 2023 were selected via the MEDLINE and Google Scholar bibliographic databases. These tests are the Taekwondo Anaerobic Test and Adapted Anaerobic Kick Test (i.e., continuous mode testing); the 10 s and multiple Frequency Speed of Kick Tests; the chest and head Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Tests; and the Taekwondo-Specific Aerobic–Anaerobic–Agility test (i.e., intermittent mode testing). Coaches and strength and conditioning professionals can use all the tests described in taekwondo gyms as they feature short and easy-to-implement protocols for monitoring and prescribing specific anaerobic training. The guidelines in this review evaluate each test from several perspectives: basic (e.g., validity, reliability, and sensitivity), methodological (e.g., continuous or intermittent mode testing) and application (e.g., time–motion structure and performance parameters). This comprehensive approach aims to assist stakeholders in selecting the most appropriate test.

The aims of this study were to investigate the relative and chronological age among taekwondo world medal winners (by gender, Olympic 4-year period, Olympic weight category; N = 740), and to study the behaviour of multiple medallists (N = 156) to monitor changes in weight categories and wins over time. The observed birth quartile distribution for the heavyweight category was significantly skewed (p = 0.01). Female athletes (22.2 ± 3.5 years) achieve success at a significantly younger age (p = 0.01) than their male counterparts (23.6 ± 3.3 years). In the weight categories, female flyweights were significantly younger than those welterweights (p = 0.03) and heavyweight (p = 0.01); female featherweights were significantly younger than those heavyweights (p = 0.03). Male flyweights and featherweights were significantly younger than those welterweights and heavyweights (p = 0.01). When a taekwondo athlete won a medal several times, he/she did so within the same Olympic weight category group and won two medals in his/her career (p = 0.01). Multiple medallists of the lighter and heavier groups did not differ in the number of medals won but in the time span in which they won medals (p = 0.02). The resources deployed by stakeholders to achieve success in these competitions highlight an extremely competitive environment. In this sense, the information provided by this study can be relevant and translated into key elements.

The open nature of basketball gives it a large uncertainty that makes hard the tactical analysis of the situations that happen in the game. Specifically, screens are one of the offensive tactical elements most used in basketball and one example of a tactical situation that needs the highest preparation level to get a good performance in the competition. The aim of this study is to differentiate these player behaviors by gender using data mining and polar coordinates analysis. Therefore, one ad hoc observational tool made by 17 criteria and 97 exhaustive and mutually exclusive (E/ME) categories has been designed and validated using the data quality analysis (correlation coefficients and concordance index 0.98) and generalizability analysis (G coefficients 0.94) to perform such a study. The observational design is nomothetic, punctual, and multidimensional. A total of 176 ball screens situations have been analyzed for the men's category and 118 for women's category, corresponding to three different teams of each gender playing in the highest competition level in Spain during the 2018/2019 season using Hoisan software tool. The analysis of the relationships among behaviors has been performed using Polar Coordinates analysis as well as data mining analysis: clustering and decision tree classifier. Results show significant relationships that allow us to tactically interpret the pick and roll situations in men's and women's professional basketball players in Spain, allowing us to develop more intervention programs which will optimize training and improve players performance.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar mediante el análisis de coordenadas polares la eficacia de las conductas que se muestran durante el juego combinativo ofensivo en el balonmano de élite masculino y femenino en España. Se observaron 10 equipos pertenecientes a la Liga ASOBAL en la categoría masculina y a la Copa La Reina en la femenina. Se utilizó una herramienta observacional ad hoc de 12 criterios y 62 categorías con un diseño observacional Nomotético/Puntual/Multidimensional. La unidad de análisis fue el ataque posicional. Se seleccionaron cuatro conductas focales: los medios tácticos colectivos simples, la combinación de los medios tácticos, las transformaciones y el lanzamiento ventajoso. Se realizó un análisis de coordenadas polares con el software HOISAN considerando significativos los módulos ≥1.96. Los resultados evidenciaron diferencias en el flujo de comportamientos entre el juego femenino y masculino. La categoría femenina con acentuadas acciones en la zona derecha del terreno. Los resultados más consistentes concuerdan con los primeros cuarenta minutos de juego y con la utilización de los medios tácticos colectivos simples y las combinaciones. En la categoría masculina se evidenció buen desempeño táctico durante todo el tiempo de juego. La combinación de los medios tácticos colectivos mostró una relación directa con el triunfo. En ambas categorías la transformación de los sistemas induce las finalizaciones en lanzamientos forzados. Las diferencias sugieren intervenir en la preparación de ambas categorías con una orientación específica hacia las mejoras en el desempeño del juego posicional combinativo. The aim of this study was analyse by means of polar coordinate analysis the efficacy of the behaviors shown during offensive combinative game in elite male and female handball in Spain. Ten teams belonging to the ASOBAL League were observed in the male category and to the Queen's Cup in the female category. An ad hoc observational tool of 12 criteria and 62 categories with a Nomothetic/Punctual/Multidimensional observational design was used. The unit of analysis was the positional attack. Four focal behaviours were selected: simple collective tactical means, combination of tactical means, transformations and advantageous launchs. An analysis of polar coordinates was carried out with the HOISAN software, considering the modules ≥1.96 to be significant. The results showed differences in the flow of behaviors between the male and female game. The female category with accentuated actions in the right zone of the field. The most consistent results coincide with the first forty minutes of play and with the use of simple collective tactical means and combinations. In the male category, good tactical performance was evident throughout the game. The combination of the collective tactical means showed a direct relation with the victory. In both categories the transformation of the systems induces the completions in forced launchs. The differences suggest to intervene in the preparation of both categories with a specific orientation towards the improvements in the performance the combinative positional game. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar, através de uma análise por coordenadas polares, a eficácia dos comportamentos demonstrados durante o jogo ofensivo combinado em andebol masculino e feminino de elite em Espanha. Foram observadas dez equipas pertencentes à Liga ASOBAL na categoria masculina e a Copa da Rainha na categoria feminina. Foi utilizada uma ferramenta observacional ad hoc de 12 critérios e 62 categorias com um desenho observacional Nomotético/Pontual/Pontual/Multidimensional. A unidade de análise foi o ataque posicional. Foram selecionados quatro comportamentos focais: meios táticos coletivos simples, combinação de meios táticos, transformações e arremesso vantajoso. Uma análise das coordenadas polares foi realizada com o software HOISAN, considerando os módulos ≥1.96 como significativos. Os resultados mostraram diferenças no fluxo de comportamentos entre o jogo feminino e o masculino. A categoria feminina com ações acentuadas na zona direita do campo. Os resultados mais consistentes coincidem com os primeiros quarenta minutos de jogo e com o uso de meios táticos coletivos simples e combinações. Na categoria masculina, o bom desempenho tático ficou evidente durante todo o jogo. A combinação dos meios táticos coletivos mostrou uma relação direta com a vitória. Em ambas as categorias a transformação dos sistemas induz as terminações em lançamentos forçados. As diferenças sugerem intervir na preparação de ambas as categorias com uma orientação específica para as melhorias no desempenho do jogo posicional combinado.

Although research on the effect of color in taekwondo has involved several international competitions, no previous study has investigated the presence of this phenomenon in national-level competitions. The main objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the color protectors and success in 1155 taekwondo matches of the Italian and Uzbekistan Senior Championships (ITA-SC and UZB-SC) (2019 and 2021). The results showed no relationship between the color protectors and the match outcome, in both ITA-SC and UZB-SC (p = 0.71, V = 0.01; p = 0.61, V = 0.02). Moreover, no relationship emerged between the color protectors and the match outcome in the four editions of the SC. Stratifying analyses by weight category and sex, males showed positive relationships between the color blue/red and winning the match in 3 and 1 of 16 weight categories, respectively. Contrary, females showed positive relationships between the color blue/red and winning the match in 1 and 3 of 16 weight categories, respectively. Analyzing the two national contexts found that, in both the Italian and Uzbek contexts, matches in 2 and 2 of 16 weight categories were won by athletes wearing blue and red protectors, respectively. Significant relationships emerged between the color blue and winning the match with small asymmetry in the men’s UZB-SC and between the color red and winning the match with large asymmetry in the female ITA-SC. The implementation of the electronic point recording system for the body and head has had a positive impact on fairness in national taekwondo competitions, did not detect any effect of color related to cultural context, and did not allow for the color red to tip the scales between losing and winning in matches between athletes of similar ability and strength.

En este estudio se presenta un instrumento de observación para analizar las acciones de ataque posicional en el balonmano de alto nivel. La herramienta ha sido diseñada ad hoc mediante un sistema mixto de formatos de campo y sistema de categorías exhaustivas y mutuamente excluyentes (E/ME). La conforman 12 criterios y 62 categorías, que proponen como principales criterios la situación que produce el desequilibrio, los medios tácticos colectivos empleados y la ejecución de la decisión. Se realizó un análisis de Calidad del Dato y un análisis de Generalizabilidad. Se estimaron los coeficientes de correlación (Pearson, Spearman, Tau b de Kendall) y el índice de Kappa de Cohen para ambos sexos. Las correlaciones estimadas para sexo masculino fueron de (.97-.99) para la fiabilidad intraobservador y (.89-.98) en la interobservador. El índice de la Kappa de Cohen resultó 0.94 y 0.82 respectivamente. El sexo femenino obtuvo en el coeficiente de correlación intraobservador (.95-.97) y (.87-.98) en el inter. El índice de la Kappa de Cohen fue 0.91 en la concordancia inter y 0,81 en la intra. Los resultados han mostrado índices adecuados de correlación, así como excelentes resultados de la Generalizabilidad con un valor G relativo y G absoluto de .99 en el acuerdo interobservador y 1.00 para el acuerdo intraobservador. Como aspecto novedoso, se realizó un análisis de invarianza para demostrar que no existen diferencias por razón de género en la utilización de la herramienta. Los datos generados del estudio aseguran que la herramienta de observación presenta una elevada validez, precisión y fiabilidad.