Effect of tapering on anaerobic power and capacity of tae-kwon-do athletes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of a tapering period on anaerobic power and capacity of tae-kwon-do athletes. Thirty-one male tae-kwon-do participants of the Brazilian Championship were selected in a non-probabilistic way. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, namely: experimental group (EG, n = 15) and control group (CG, n = 17). Both groups followed the same training protocol up to the tapering stage. CG was submitted to training loads contained in the last two weeks of the macrocycle. Only EG was submitted to tapering. Tapering had 2 weeks duration, adopting the linear tapering method. Taekwondo Anaerobic Test was performed by athletes before the start of the season, which was named as pre-intervention, and the last week of each mesocycle [Prep I, Prep II and Tapering (only EG)]. Group vs. time effect interaction (p < 0.01) was identified for alactic anaerobic power, with an increase only in EG in tapering (p = 0.01). A significant group vs. time interaction (p <0.01) was revealed to fatigue index, improved anaerobic capacity being checked in EG only after the tapering period (p = 0.01). It was concluded that two weeks of linear type tapering optimized the anaerobic power and capacity of male tae-kwon-do athletes.