Effect of Different Work-to-rest Ratios During Simulated Taekwondo Combat on Blood Lactate, Heart Rate and Perceptual Responses in Elite Taekwondo Athletes

Randomized Cross-over Study

This randomized cross-over study measured physiological and perceptual responses of taekwondo athletes following a free combat and combats with different W:R ratios. This study was carried out with 4 visits. The first one included body composition measurements and familiarization to the sessions and measurements. During the rest 3 visit, athletes performed simulated combats free and with 1:2 (10 sec work and 20 sec rest), and 2:1 (20 sec work and 10 sec rest) W:R ratios. During all combat sessions, athletes heart rate (HR), blood lactate (bLA), and counter-movement jump performance (CMJ) were measured at rest and at the end of each combat. HR was also measured following each set. Athletes' rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and perceived muscle soreness (PMS) were measured immediately after each combat.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: HIIT
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Free combat; Other: 1:2 work to rest ratio; Other: 2:1 work to rest ratio

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Kastamonu, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Kastamonu University Faculty of Sport Sciences Physiology Lab

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• having at least brown belt,
• having at least 5 years of taekwondo experience,
• having no injuries for the last 6 months that prevent participating to trainings,
• competing at national championship and international tournaments during the last year

Exclusion Criteria:

• not having a brown belt,
• having less than 5 years of taekwondo experience,
• having injuries for the last 6 months that prevent participating to trainings,
• Not competing at national championship and international tournaments during the last year

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Visit 1	Other: Free combat; Athletes completed a taekwondo combat for 3 sets of 2 minutes
Experimental: Visit 2	Other: 1:2 work to rest ratio; Athletes completed a taekwondo combat for 3 sets of 2 mins with 1:2 work to rest ratio (10 sec work and 20 sec rest)
Experimental: Visit 3	Other: 2:1 work to rest ratio; Athletes completed a taekwondo combat for 3 sets of 2 minutes with 2:1 work to rest ratio (20 second work and 10 second rest)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lactate	Athletes' lactate levels immediately after the exercise	Immediately after each intervention
Heart rate	Athletes' heart rate responses	Before and immediately after each intervention
CMJ	Athletes' CMJ was measured before and after each exercise session.	Before and immediately after each intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
RPE	Athletes' RPE was measured immediately after each exercise.	Immediately after each intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kastamonu University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bayram Ceylan, PhD, Kastamonu University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bridge CA, Jones MA, and Drust B. Physiological responses and perceived exertion during international Taekwondo competition. International Journal of Sports Physiology And Performance 4: 485-493, 2009.
• Bouhlel E, Jouini A, Gmada N, Nefzi A, Ben Abdallah K, and Tabka Z. Heart rate and blood lactate responses during Taekwondo training and competition. Science & Sports 21: 285-290, 2006.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 5, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 15, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): June 5, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 24, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-KAEK-12

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No