Analysis of Different Key Behavioral Patterns to Score in Elite Taekwondoists According to the Weight Category and Gender

Abstract

Traditionally, research in taekwondo has focused on athletes' overall performance considering the entire sample of the tournament or analyzed selected bouts while ignoring behavioral differences of athletes according to their gender and weight category. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the behavioral patterns used to score points in the London Olympic Games according to gender and weight category [fin (FW), feather (FTW), light (LW), and heavy (HW)] of the athletes. A total of 24,940 actions were analyzed by using observational methodology, a mixed method methodology where lag sequential and polar coordinate analysis were applied. Different patterns could be seen in the actions performed prior to score between the weight categories for both genders. To score one point, females FW performed dodges, LW used indirect attacks and HW used direct attacks, posterior counterattacks, dodges and blocks. After scoring one-point, female athletes used a variety of actions, defensives like dodges (FW/LW) and blocks (LW), and offensives like simultaneous counterattacks (FW, FTW, LW) and posterior (FTW) as well as direct (FTW, HW) and indirect (FW) attacks. No patterns were found in males when scoring one-point, only LW competitors performed a sequence characterized by the performance of dodges followed by indirect attacks prior scoring while simultaneous counterattacks occurred after score one point. To score two points, similar patterns were found for all weight groups among female competitors. Females performed openings prior to scoring (LW/HW), while anticipatory (FW/FTW) and posterior counterattacks (LW) occurred after scoring, followed by cuts (FW), direct attacks (LW) and openings (HW). In males, FTW and HW used counterattacks prior to scoring (posterior and simultaneous), while FTW and LW also used counterattacks after scoring (anticipatory and simultaneous). Prior to scoring three points different patterns were found according to the weight category, while FW females used cuts and openings, LW used dodges and posterior counterattacks. After scoring three points, FW continued to use cuts, openings and posterior counterattacks while FTW used indirect attacks and HW used simultaneous counterattacks. On the contrary, similar behavior was found in males. FW and LWs used simultaneous counterattacks prior to scoring while they used defensive actions such as openings (FW) and dodges (LW) after scoring. Male FTW used also posterior counterattacks after scoring. Prior to scoring four points females reported different key behaviors. FW used anticipatory counterattacks and LW direct attacks whereas after scoring, FTW used dodges and openings. Similarities were found in males to score four points. LW and HW performed blocks prior scoring, FW and HW performed also direct attacks while FTW performed posterior counterattacks prior score. After scoring, defensives actions were performed such as dodges (LW) or cuts (FW, FTW, HW) and indirect attacks (LW, HW). This is one of the first studies analyzing behavioral patterns in taekwondo according to the weight category and gender of the athletes. The observed relationships identified different behavioral patterns according to the weight category for each gender and demonstrate the necessity to individualize trainings according to the athlete's characteristics (weight and gender). It is suggested that coaches and psychologists train athletes to improve their decision-making according to the successful patterns extracted in this study.

An Updated Technical–Tactical Categorisation in Taekwondo: From General Tactical Objectives to Combat Situations

“…Although it has been stated that points were awarded subjectively at the judges' discretion up to the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 [21], the 2008 Beijing Olympics were actually the last at which the judges assigned points, by pushing a button, according to their subjective perception. The change from a subjective scoring system to an objective system, determined by electronic devices, has given rise to research on the functioning of these devices and the implications of their use in contests [14][15][16][22][23][24] and on the influence of new technologies on the actions of taekwondo competitors, who, as a result of the application of these technologies, are thought to have changed their technicaltactical behaviour [14,25,26]. Given the quantity and importance of the technological and regulatory changes this sport has undergone in the past decade [14,25,27] and the shortage of up-to-date scientific literature with a global perspective [20], it is desirable to define and organise the actions that form part of the current competitive structure of taekwondo, which has been affected by these changes.…”

“…However, analysing it could help clarify the decisional model of taekwondo contests beyond gathering, quantifying, or serialising isolated technical or tactical elements. As a step towards this concept, the sequence of events associated with an initial action has already been observed using lag studies [5,7,15,29,30,45,46]. However, these studies have not aimed so far as to establish the concept of the combat situation.…”

“…As Figure 6 summarizes, other defensive resources used to neutralise or reduce the effectiveness of an attack are variations in the distance-reducing it from critical to infracritical or to a clinch is known as cutting distance and increasing it to supra-critical is dodging. A defensive resource introduced recently is the clash, also named as leg crash [15] or interposition of a lower limb in the trajectory of an attack to modify it or reduce the force of the impact which also makes the attacker lose their balance. In the transitions between offensive and defensive actions, the role of the athlete on standby is found [5].…”