Abstract:

This study was conducted in 12-14 year-old taekwondo athletes, with the aim of studying the impact of the taekwondo-themed pliometric training program on the motor characteristics of athletes. The work for this purpose was carried out with the voluntary participation of 21 sports athletes aged between 12 and 14 who trained at the Bordo Mavim Sports Club in the province of Trabzon. The study was conducted on two groups consisting of the plyometric training (n=10) and the classical taekwondo training (n=11) control groups. The experimental group was formed by 10 (6 women, 4 men), and the control group; 11 (7 women, 4 men) were formed by athletes. In this study of 8 weeks, the experimental group athletes took part in classical taekwondo exercises 3 days a week and the plyometric exercises on the theme of taekwondo 3 days, while the control group athletes took part in classical taekwondo exercises 6 days a week. Athletes’ length and body weight were measured and body mass indicators were determined. To determine the motor performance levels of the participants; speed, balance, jumping (one-double foot horizontal and vertical), flexibility-speedness and aerobic-anaerobic tests were applied. For statistical analysis of the data obtained, the SPSS 25.0 program was used. The level of significance of the differences within groups and between groups was studied in the reference range p<0,05. The study found that the level of motor development was higher in the experimental group athletes than in the control group athletes (p<0,05). According to the data obtained, the taekwondo theme plyometric exercises can be said to make a significant contribution to the development of motor characteristics of athletes.