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BACKGROUND: The Frequency Speed of Kick Test (FSKT) and the Progressive Specific Taekwondo Test (PSTT) are among the most used sport-specific tests in taekwondo. This study aimed to: (i) investigate the relationship between sport-specific anaerobic (FSKT) and aerobic (PSTT) performance; (ii) evaluate these tests' validity in predicting the time-motion profile in official matches. METHODS: Sixteen national/international-level taekwondo athletes participated in this study. The FSKT and the PSTT were performed on consecutive days. Within the following 1-3 weeks, athletes competed in an international competition. Videos of each athlete's first combat of the day were analyzed for time-motion analysis, including thirty-two performances (tested athletes and respective opponents), with a total of 2988 actions. RESULTS: Multiple FSKT performance was correlated with aerobic power (Rho ρ = 0.730-0.759 95% CI: 0.352-0.914, p ≤ 0.013) and capacity (ρ = -0.606 95% CI: -0.852 - -0.141, p = 0.013) indicators of the PSTT. Time-motion indexes were correlated (ρ = 0.756-1.000 95% CI: 0.402-1.000, p 0.05) between tested athletes and their opponents. No significant relationship emerged between FSKT performances and time-motion indexes (ρ = -0.442-0.396 95% CI: -0.776-0.753, p > 0.05), as well as between PSTT indicators and time-motion indexes (ρ = -0.462-0.462 [95% CI: -0.786-0.786, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of correlations emerged between sport-specific performances suggests that the dynamics of interaction between anaerobic and aerobic metabolism are crucial for maintaining the short and intermittent kicking actions. The rhythm of the first combat of the day, generated by the technical-tactical dynamics, justifies the inability to predict high- and low-intensity actions from the physical fitness variables. However, both the time-motion indexes and tests' performance allow for the prescription of specific trainings. Time-motion indexes could be used to structure sport-specific high-intensity interval training (HIIT), while the ten seconds FSKT performance and the capacity and power indicators of the PSTT (i.e., kick frequency at the heart rate deflection point and maximal kick frequency, respectively) could be used to prescribe HIIT with short and long intervals.
Apollaro et al. (Mon,) studied this question.