The Effects of Sand Surface Floor Training on the Physical Fitness and Skills of Novice Taekwondo Students
Abstract
Background and Aim: Sand surface training improves physical fitness and skills in various sports, while other studies indicate that Taekwondo training specifically enhances cardiopulmonary and muscle endurance but no other fitness factors. This research objective was to develop the sand surface training program to improve physical fitness and taekwondo skills and to compare the mean effects of the sand surface training program between the control and experimental groups. And to compare mean effects with the experimental group, pretest, mid-test, and posttest.
Materials and Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental research design with forty participants, 20 of whom were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups. A pretest was then given to evaluate the subjects' characteristics, taekwondo abilities, and physical fitness. After that, they had eight weeks of sand surface floor training and 60 minutes of tree day/week (M-W-F). In another way, a traditional program was conducted in the control group and a post-training test with a mid-test and post-test. Data analysis methods comprised mean and standard deviation, independent t-tests, within the experimental group by one-way ANOVA repeated measurement, and Bonferroni post hoc pairwise comparisons (*p<.05).
Results: The result found that: 1) The mean comparison showed a significant difference (*p<.05) between experimental and control groups in taekwondo skills (front kick, round kick, and push kick) and physical fitness (reaction time, Y balance test, T-test, standing long jump, sit up 30 sec, and sit and reach). And 2) Mean comparison within experimental groups, taekwondo skills, and physical fitness pairwise were significant differences (*p<.05).
Conclusion: The study found that sand surface training can considerably improve novice taekwondo practitioners' physical fitness and abilities. The unique challenges given by sand's unstable and resistive nature resulted in gains in numerous fitness components such as strength, power, balance, flexibility, and reaction time. Furthermore, the training resulted in improved execution of taekwondo-specific abilities such as front, round, and push kicks. The good findings in this study significantly encourage the use of sand surface training in taekwondo programs, particularly for rookie students, to enhance their overall growth and performance.
Article Details
How to Cite
Section
Articles
Copyright & License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Sociologies and Anthropologies Science Reviews
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright on any article in the International Journal of Sociologies and Anthropologies Science Reviews is retained by the author(s) under the under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Permission to use text, content, images, etc. of publication. Any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any other lawful purpose. But do not use it for commercial use or with the intent to benefit any business.
References
Ahmadi, M., Nobari, H., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Pérez-Gómez, J., Ribeiro, A., & Martínez-Rodríguez, A. (2021). Effects of Plyometric Jump Training in Sand or Rigid Surface on Jump-Related Biomechanical Variables and Physical Fitness in Female Volleyball Players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413093.
Binnie, M. J., Dawson, B., Pennington, H., Landers, G., & Peeling, P. (2013). Effect of sand versus grass training surfaces during an 8-week pre-season conditioning program in team sport athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(11), 1161–1172.
Binnie, M. J., Dawson, B., Pennington, H., Landers, G., & Peeling, P. (2014). Sand training: A review of current research and practical applications. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(1), 15–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.805239.
Chin, S.-T., Su, M., Hong, C., Yu, J., Ye, Q., Rahman, M., Aziz, H., Li, K., & Liew, K. (2022). Research on Taekwondo teaching reform in colleges and universities based on nonlinear data prediction and analysis. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2022, Article 1464692. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1464692
Emery, C. A., & Meeuwisse, W. H. (2001). Proprioception and injury in sport. Sports Medicine, 31(10), 789-800.
Fernandez-Fernandez, J., Nakamura, F. Y., Boullosa, D., Santos-Rosa, F. J., Herrero-Molleda, A., Granacher, U., & Sanz-Rivas, D. (2024). The Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Sand Versus Hard Surfaces on Physical Fitness in Young Male Tennis Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 19(1), 71-79. from https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2023-0162
Hammami, M., Bragazzi, N., Hermassi, S., Gaamouri, N., Aouadi, R., Shephard, R., & Chelly, M. (2020). The effect of a sand surface on physical performance responses of junior male handball players to plyometric training. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 12 (26). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-020-00176-x.
He, B., & Wan, Y. (2022). The Influence of Strength Training on Taekwondo Athletes’ Reaction Speed. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. 28(2), 137-140. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202228022021_0468.
Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Valdés-Badilla, P., Franchini, E., Santos, J., Ramirez-Campillo, R., García-Hermoso, A., Durán-Aguero, S., & Castaneda-Gomez, J. (2016). Effects of multi-component training on the physical fitness of young taekwondo athletes. Ido Movement for Culture. Journal of Martial Arts Anthropology, 16, 31-37. https://doi.org/10.14589/IDO.16.4.5.
Impellizzeri, F. M., Rampinini, E., Castagna, C., Martino, F., Fiorini, S., & Wisløff, U. (2008). Effect of plyometric training on sand versus grass on muscle soreness and jumping and sprinting ability in soccer players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 42(1), 42–46. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.038497.
Lees, A. (2003). Technique analysis in sports: A critical review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21(10), 705-728.
Lejeune, T. M., Willems, P. A., & Vescovi, J. D. (1998). Load and displacement history of the human body during running on sand. Journal of Experimental Biology, 201(14), 2071-2080.
Liu, F., & Jia, H. (2023). Influence Of High-Intensity Training on The Taekwondo Athletes’ Performance. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202329012022_0395.
Marzouki et al (2022). Effects of Surface-Type Plyometric Training on Physical Fitness in Schoolchildren of Both Sexes: A Randomized Controlled Intervention. Biology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11071035.
Mathunjwa, M., Mugandani, S., Kappo, A., Ivanov, S., & Djarova-Daniels, T. (2016). Effect Of 4 Weeks High-Intensity Intermittent Taekwondo Training on Body Composition and Physical Fitness in Zulu Descent, South African Taekwondo Athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50, e4 - e4. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096952.22
Nabilpour et al (2023). An investigation into the associations between psychological skills, anaerobic fitness, and aerobic fitness in elite Iranian taekwondo athletes. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0288227. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288227
Nam, S., & Lim, K. (2019). Effects of Taekwondo training on physical fitness factors in Korean elementary students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry, 23, 36 - 47. https://doi.org/10.20463/jenb.2019.0006.
Ojeda-Aravena, A., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Valdés-Badilla, P., Cancino-López, J., Zapata-Bastías, J., & García-García, J. (2021). Effects of 4 Weeks of a Technique-Specific Protocol with High-Intensity Intervals on General and Specific Physical Fitness in Taekwondo Athletes: An Inter-Individual Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3643. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073643.
Ouergui, I., Franchini, E., Messaoudi, H., Chtourou, H., Bouassida, A., Bouhlel, E., & Ardigò, L. (2021). Effects of Adding Small Combat Games to Regular Taekwondo Training on Physiological and Performance Outcomes in Male Young Athletes. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 646666. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.646666
Pashkov, I., & Pyrozhenko, O. (2023). The structure of technical fitness of taekwondo athletes at the initial stage of training. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 23(3), 1344-1350.
Pereira, L., Freitas, T., Marín-Cascales, E., Bishop, C., McGuigan, M., & Loturco, I. (2021). Effects of plyometric training performed on sand vs. hard surfaces on physical fitness in team-sport players: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(10), 2891-2904.
Pereira, L., Freitas, T., Zabaloy, S., Ferreira, R., Silva, M., Azevedo, P., & Loturco, I. (2023). Sprint and Jump Training on Sand vs. Grass Surfaces: Effects on the Physical Performance of Young Soccer Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37, 1828 - 1833. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004472.
Phomsoupha, M., & Laffaye, G. (2015). Neuromuscular and proprioceptive characteristics of foot placement during landing on a rigid surface after drop jumping from various heights. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 25(3), 473-480.
Rago, V., Rebelo, A., Pizzuto, F., & Barreira, D. (2018). Small-sided soccer games on the sand are more physically demanding but less technically specific compared to games on artificial turf. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 58 4, 385-391. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06708-6.
Ratamess, N. A., Alvar, B. A., Evetoch, T. K., Housh, T. J., Kibler, W. B., Kraemer, W. J., & Triplett, N. T. (2009). Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 41(3), 687-708.
Stone, M.H., Hornsby, W.G., Haff, G.G., Fry, A.C., Suarez, D.G., Liu, J., Gonzalez-Rave, J.M., Pierce, K.C. Periodization and Block Periodization in Sports: Emphasis on Strength-Power Training-A Provocative and Challenging Narrative. J Strength Cond Res. 35(8), 2351-2371. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004050.
Villarreal, E., Rascón, P., Ortega-Becerra, M., Calleja-González, J., Alcaraz, P., Feito-Blanco, J., & Ramirez-Campillo, R. (2023). Effects of 8-week sand-based plyometric-jump training combined with endurance running performed on outdoor or treadmill surfaces on physical fitness in young adult males. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 1-14.
Wang, B., Shi, Y., Lo, K., & Li, C. (2016). Effect Of Competitive Taekwondo Training on Physical Fitness and Psychological Well-being Among College Students. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000485840.96344.2d.
Wang, X. (2019). Research on the current situation of Taekwondo teaching in junior high schools and Countermeasures for its development. Sports World (Academic Edition), (4), 84-85.
Yu, D. (2019). Research on the training of Taekwondo in ordinary primary and secondary schools. Journal of Liaoning Institute of Physical Education, 21(2), 81-83.
Yu, D. (2019). Research on the training of Taekwondo in ordinary primary and secondary schools. Sports World (Academic Edition), (9), 84-85.
Zeng, J., & Kanchanathaweekul, T. (2023). Selected Physical Fitness Tests for Evaluating Teakwando in Elective Class in University. International Journal of Sociologies and Anthropologies Science Reviews, 3(3), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.14456/jsasr.2023.39.
Zhang, W., Liu, Y., & Zhang, W. (2017). The effect of physical training on the special quality of badminton players. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 23(6), 1073-1076.