Physiological and hormonal responses to performing simulated and championship Taekwondo combats.

Introduction Simulated Taekwondo combats have tended to elicit reduced physiological load than equivalent championship Taekwondo combats (Bridge et al. 2009; Butios and Tasika, 2007). The mechanisms that govern this response have not been elucidated. There is evidence to suggest that this phenomenon may be a function of dissonant stress hormone responses in these combat settings (Obminski, 2008). The aim of this study was to compare the physiological and stress hormonal responses to performing Taekwondo combats in simulated and championship settings. Methods Ten male Taekwondo black belts (mean ± SD, age 18 ± 1 years, body mass 64.5 ± 11 kg, height 1.77 ± 0.08 m) were examined during the first combat in an international championship event and during a simulated combat. The championship combats comprised three two-minute rounds of full-contact combat with one minute separating each round. In the simulated combats, participants performed an exercise protocol that replicated the structure and activity profile (physical workload) performed in the championship Taekwondo combats. The championship and simulated combat trials were separated by a period of two weeks. Participants were instructed to replicate the same warm up and nutritional practices for each combat. Heart rate (HR) was recorded at 5 s intervals during the combats. Venous blood samples were obtained before and after each combat to determine the plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations. Results Significantly higher (P < .05) HR (136 ± 13 vs. 116 ± 10 beats.min-1), plasma lactate (2.6 ± 0.9 vs. 1.2 ± 0.7 mmol.l-1), and glucose (6.7 ± 0.9 vs. 5.6 ± 1.2 mmol.l-1) concentrations were evident before the championship combats than before the simulated combats respectively. The championship combats also induced higher (P < .05) HR during combat than the simulated combats (188 ± 8 vs. 172 ± 4 beats.min-1). Significantly higher (P < .05) plasma lactate (12.2 ± 4.6 vs. 3.6 ± 2.7 mmol.l-1), glucose (10.3 ± 1.1 vs. 5.9 ± 0.8 mmol.l-1), glycerol (143 ± 49 vs. 78 ± 21 µmol.l-1), epinephrine (2.7 ± 1.7 vs. 0.6 ± 0.2 nmol.l-1) and norepinephrine (14.3 ± 9.4 vs. 3.0 ± 1.1 nmol.l-1) concentrations were evident after the championship combats than after the simulated combats respectively. Conclusions The findings of this study demonstrate that championship Taekwondo combats augment the physiological and hormonal responses in comparison to simulated combats. These contrasting physiological and hormonal profiles seem to be mediated primarily by the different stress responses to these combat settings. References Bridge C.A. et al. (2009) Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 4, 485. Butios S. and Tasika N. (2007) J Sports Med Phys Fit, 47, 179. Obminski Z. (2008) Res Yearbook, 14, 103.