Impact Force and Jump Performance in Taekwondo

he goal of this study is to examine the relationship between countermovement jump performance and kick impact power in elite Taekwondo athletes and to evaluate these variables across gender and weight categories. The main questions it aims to answer are whether jump performance is associated with kick impact power and whether these variables differ according to weight class and gender. Thirty-two elite Taekwondo athletes with international experience participated in the study. Participants performed countermovement jump tests to assess anaerobic power and sport-specific kicking tests to measure impact power. Data were analyzed using correlation, t-tests, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with post-hoc comparisons where appropriate. Participants performed: countermovement jump tests to assess explosive lower-limb power sport-specific kicking tests to measure impact force laboratory-based performance assessments using biomechanical measurements

Inclusion Criteria: Elite Taekwondo athletes with international competition experience Training regularly (minimum 6 sessions per week) No lower extremity injury affecting performance in the last 6 months Voluntary participation with written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting performance History of lower limb surgery in the past 12 months Use of performance-enhancing drugs or stimulants before testing Failure to complete all performance tests (CMJ and kicking protocols) Non-compliance with pre-test instructions (diet, rest, or activity restrictions)