MECHANICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE CHEST AND TO THE HEAD IN FUNCTION OF EXECUTION DISTANCE IN TAEKWONDO

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine and compare maximum impact force (MIF) and execution time (ET) in two different Taekwondo techniques, roundhouse kick to the chest (Bandal Chagui) and roundhouse kick to the head (Dolio Chagui) in terms of the execution distance and to analyse the relationship between maximum impact force and weight for two different groups and kicks. To measure the mechanical parameters, a model explained in Falco et al. (2009) was used. In this study, the 23 male taekwondo players participating were divided into two groups: medallists (n = 12) and non-medallists (n = 11). For the medallists’ group no differences had been found in MIF or ET from either distance between roundhouse kick to the chest and to the head. However, significant differences were found in MIF in the non-medallists’ group from all execution distances between roundhouse kick to the chest and to the head. For the non-medallists’ group, weight significantly predicts MIF, but not in the medallists' group. In conclusion, medallist taekwondo players should perform roundhouse kick to the head instead to the chest, because it produces a better score in the same time.