The Effect of Plyometric Exercise on Leg Muscle Power, Kick Speed and Agility of Pencak Silat Athletes

This study aims to examine the effect of plyometric training on leg muscle strength, kicking speed, and agility of pencak silat athletes. The background of this study is based on the need to improve athlete performance through effective training methods. Plyometric training is known for its explosive movements that can increase muscle strength and speed. This research method involved a sample of pencak silat athletes who underwent a plyometric training program for eight weeks. Leg muscle strength measurements were carried out using a vertical jump test, kicking speed was assessed based on the number of kicks per minute, and agility was evaluated through a shuttle run test. The results showed a significant increase in both performance metrics. After eight weeks, there was a significant increase in leg muscle strength as measured by vertical jump height (sig = 0.001). In addition, kicking speed also increased significantly in the right leg (sig = 0.001) and left leg (sig = 0.041), as seen from the higher number of kicks per minute. However, athlete agility showed no significant improvement (sig = 0.71). Based on the results of special agility training. In conclusion, plyometric training has been shown to be an effective training method to improve key athletic attributes in pencak silat athletes. These significant increases in leg muscle strength, kicking speed, and agility contributed to improvements in the athletes’ overall performance. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating plyometric training into the routine training regimen of martial arts athletes to achieve optimal athletic development and better competitive performance.