This study aims to find out whether directors in Taekwondo gyms are conscious of importance of direction of physical strength, and what programs and methods they use to direct physical strength, in order to contribute to diversity of physical strength...
This study aims to find out whether directors in Taekwondo gyms are conscious of importance of direction of physical strength, and what programs and methods they use to direct physical strength, in order to contribute to diversity of physical strength programs. Hereby, the study adopted a qualitative case study method, and conducted literature-based researches, and a survey, producing the following results.
First, the gym directors were found not to significantly recognize importance of physical strength. This was because they recognized personality education was more important than techniques and physical strength in Taekowndo, and believed that manners, home education, and human morality had a higher priority over physical strength. Besides, all the exercises practiced in their gyms were regarded as physical strength exercises by most of them. They did not perceive Taekwondo and physical strength in separation. They perceived physical strength was about an exercise improving one specific area, which fact was because they recognized it as a subsidiary exercise to enhance Taekwondo skills.
Second, directors were found to carry out extra physical strength specializing programs to improve physical strength. These programs were designed and carried out separately from the existing Taekwondo programs; practitioners were guided to easily follow exercises in the programs in competition, or in a group or team to increase their interest. Also, commonly practiced exercises included sit-ups, push-ups, standing broad jump, sargent jump, shuttle run, rope skipping, music rope skipping, interval training, and circuit training. They performed exercises for each physical strength element of endurance, muscle power, instant reaction ability, and agility, which exercises were integrated into Taekwondo skills for improvement of both Taekwondo skills and physical strength.
Third, the physical strength programs were found to be developed directly by the directors, or copied from other programs. Because they lacked knowledge of physical strength, they repeated direction methods they learned at school or during their player periods, or copied programs of other gyms. This proves underdevelopment of physical strength area, as education for directors about physical strength including relevant books and seminars is non-existent. They were practicing physical strength exercises in weekly or daily programs, and mostly they were doing it for ten to twenty minutes in a sixty minute class. In regard to this, directors stated that they could not afford focusing on physical strength as they had to carry out several programs; and they were found to carry out programs adjusted to varying daily conditions of practitioners. As for problems appearing in physical strength exercises, they were mostly concerned about injuries. The exercises should be practiced after sufficient warming-up and with the repetition and intensity adjusted to individual level.
Fourth, evaluation of physical strength was found to be performed regularly. Most directors stated once in three months was adequate. On the contrary, some gyms performed the evaluation only at Keup upgrading exams. At the exams, parents were allowed to share the results of the physical strength evaluation of their children, and understand their children's improvement. The practiced evaluation methods were to select and evaluate physical strength elements that can be improved among endurance, muscle power, instant reaction ability, and agility. Items of the physical strength evaluation included sit-ups, hanging on, chin-ups, bend-down, shuttle run, side steps, sargent jump, standing broad jump, and rope skipping. The above items were performed to evaluate physical strength by checking the time and repetition number. The results were evaluated against the averages by practitioners' school year, and gender; however as the averages were not exact, it was determined that precise average data need to be provided for precise evaluation of physical strength improvement.