Research Article

EFFECT OF RESISTANCE TRAINING ON FLEXIBILITY OF MALE TAEKWONDO ATHLETES OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY

Akpah Adakole John1*, J.A GWANI2, Suleiman Usman Omeiza3, S.Y. Musa1, AR. Bello1, S.H. Hussaini1
1 Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
2 Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
3 Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria.
* Corresponding author: budokatana@gmail.com
Published: Mar, 2026
DOI: 10.67203/gjhrr.2026.ga7mfo46
Pages: 90-100
Views: 23
Downloads: 7

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of resistance training on the flexibility of male taekwondo athletes of the Nigerian Army. To achieve the purpose of the study a research question and null hypothesis were formulated. A repeated measures experimental research design was used for the study. A multistage sampling technique of purposive, stratified and simple random sampling was used to select 20 male taekwondo athletes, between the ages of 18 to 24 and have competed in the national championship as sample size for the study. The training intensity was maintained between 70% to 90% of one repetition maximum (1RM) on the selected biomotor ability variable of fitness. The training programme had three sessions of moderate to high intensity resistance training per week for a duration of 12 weeks. includes Resistance machine, Holtain Stadiometer, whistle (fox-40) model, electronic stop watch and a calibrated and adjustable sit and reach box for measuring the flexibility of participants was used as instruments for the study. participants trained at 70% of 1RM from baseline to 4th week, at 80% of 1RM from 4th week to 8th week and at 90% of 1RM from 8th week to 12th week. The selected biomotor ability variable was assessed at baseline, at the end of 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of training period. The variable measured was flexibility. Descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and standard error was used to answer the research question, while repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test the null hypothesis formulated at 0.05 level of significant. Findings of the study revealed significant effect of resistance training on flexibility (p = < 0.001) of male taekwondo athletes of the Nigerian Army; therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. Bonferroni Post hoc Test further revealed that the significant effect of the resistance training on the selected variables manifested at the end of 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks of training. On the basis of these findings it was concluded that resistance training significantly improved the flexibility of male taekwondo athletes of the Nigerian Army. On the basis of these conclusions, it is recommended that the Nigerian Army taekwondo coaches and athletes should ensure that resistance training between 70 90% of 1 RM and periodic biomotor abilities evaluation should be integrated into their comprehensive fitness training regimen in order to enhance Nigerian Army male taekwondo athletes’ flexibility for performance proficiency in training and competitions. 

Keywords

Biomotor Ability Flexibility Taekwondo

References

  1. American College of Sports Medicine (2020). American college of sports medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 1(317): 634-781.
  2. ADDIN EN.REFLIST Bridge, C. A., Ferreira da Silva Santos, J., Chaabene, H., Pieter, W., & Franchini, E. (2014). Physical and physiological profiles of taekwondo athletes. Sports Medicine, 44, 713-733.
  3. Chen, A.-H., Chiu, C.-H., Hsu, C.-H., Wang, I.-L., Chou, K.-M., Tsai, Y.-S., Chen, C.-H. (2021). Acute effects of vibration foam rolling warm-up on jump and flexibility asymmetry, agility and frequency speed of kick test performance in taekwondo athletes. Symmetry, 13(9), 1664.
  4. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Observation. Research methods in education, 6, 396-412.
  5. Davies, T. B., Tran, D. L., Hogan, C. M., Haff, G. G., & Latella, C. (2021). Chronic Effects of Altering Resistance Training Set Configurations Using Cluster Sets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 51(4), 707-736. doi:10.1007/s40279-020-01408-3
  6. DeMarco, M. (2017). Foundations of Korean Martial Arts: Masters, Manuals and Combative Techniques: Via Media Publishing.
  7. Diogo, L. M., Henrique, P.N., Daniel, A. M. & Mario, C.M. (2020). Novel resistance training approach to monitoring the volume in older adults: The role of movement velocity. International Journal of Environmental Respond to Public Health, 17(20): 755-763.
  8. Ferreira da Silva Santos, J., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., & Franchini, E. (2019). Establishing frequency speed of kick test classificatory tables in male and female taekwondo athletes. Kinesiology, 51(2.), 213-218.
  9. Franchi, M. V., Ruoss, S., Valdivieso, P., Mitchell, K. W., Smith, K., Atherton, P. J., Flück, M. (2018). Regional regulation of focal adhesion kinase after concentric and eccentric loading is related to remodelling of human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiologica, 223(3), 13056.
  10. Fragala, M. S., Cadore, E. L., Dorgo, S., Izquierdo, M., Kraemer, W. J., Peterson. M.D., Ryan, E. D. (2019). Resistance training for older adults : Position statement from the national strength and condition association. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33 (8): 2019-2052.
  11. Gabar, C. E., Blissmer, B., Deschenes, M. R., Franklin, B. A., Lamonte, M. J., Lee, I. M. (2011). American college of sports medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: Guidance for prescribing exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(7): 1334-1359.
  12. Haff, G. & Triplet, T. (2016). Essential of Strength Training and Conditioning, Forth Edition. Champaign: Human Kinetics. US. Pp. 148-152.
  13. Huertas, F., Casuso, R. A., Agustin, P. H., & Cogliati, S. (2019). Stay fit, stay young: mitochondria in movement: the role of exercise in the new mitochondrial paradigm. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019.
  14. Lim, J.-S., Moon, K.-S., Kang, M.-Y., & Yang, C. H. (2016). Relationship between leadership types of taekwondo instructors and immersion on exercise. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 9(44), 462-463.
  15. Manikandan, S. (2014). Effect of conventional resistance training on selected Motor components among University Athletes. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 1(1), 23-25.
  16. Mikhailovich, G. R. (2020). Development of flexibility of children engaged in taekwondo. Process Management and Scientific Developments, 105.
  17. Nakamura, M., & Ikezu, H. (2021) Effects of resistance training on flexibility. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18(7), 3770
  18. Nigerian Taekwondo Federation (2023). National Taekwondo Ranking.
  19. Nunes, J. P., Grgic, J., Cunha, P. M., Ribeiro, A. S., Schoenfeld, B. J., de Salles, B. F., & Cyrino, E. S. (2021). What influence does resistance exercise order have on muscular strength gains and muscle hypertrophy? A systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of sport science, 21(2), 149-157.
  20. Rahmani-Nia, F., et al. (2020). Anthropometric and biomotor characteristics as correlates of competitive performance in Iranian young male taekwondo athletes. Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 60(5), 727-734.
  21. Rahman, M. H., & Islam, M. S. (2020). Stretching and flexibility: A range of motion for games and sports. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 6(8), 1-14.
  22. Ratamess, N. (2021). ACSM's foundations of strength training and conditioning: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 35-49.pou
  23. Ryan Chong, W. L. (2018). Reliability and validity of a taekwondo electronic body protector/Ryan Chong Wy Lunn. University of Malaya.
  24. Page, P., & Ellenbecker, T. S. (2019). Strength band training: Human Kinetics Publishers.
  25. Pareja-Blanco, F., Rodríguez-Rosell, D., Sánchez-Medina, L., Sanchis-Moysi, J., Dorado, C., Mora-Custodio, R., Calbet, J. (2017). Effects of velocity loss during resistance training on athletic performance, strength gains and muscle adaptations. Scandinavian journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(7), 724-735.
  26. Saghiv, M. S., Sagiv, M. S., Saghiv, M. S., & Sagiv, M. S. (2020). Skeletal muscles. Basic exercise physiology: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives, 407-436.
  27. Saraiva, A. R., Reis, V. M., Costa, P. B., Bentes, C. M., e Silva, G. V. C., & Novaes, J. S. (2014). Chronic effects of different resistance training exercise orders on flexibility in elite judo athletes. Journal of Human Kinetics, 40(1), 129-137.
  28. Solissa, J. (2020). The influence of training method and muscle construction towards taekwondo kick capability, Edu Sciences Journal. 1(3), 171-176.
  29. Suresh, N., & Kavithashri, P. (2021). Effects of SAQ with resistance training on physical and skill performance of Tribal football players. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 8(2), 70-73.
  30. Tornello, F., Capranica, L., Minganti, C., Chiodo, S., Condello, G., & Tessitore, A. (2014). Technical-tactical analysis of youth Olympic Taekwondo combat. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(4), 1151-1157.
  31. Zemkova, E., & Hamar, D. (2018). Sport-specific assessment of the effectiveness of neuromuscular training in young athletes. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 264-275.
  32. Zhao, K., Hohmann, A., Chang, Y., Zhang, B., Pion, J., & Gao, B. (2019). Physiological, anthropometric, and motor characteristics of elite Chinese youth athletes from six different sports. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 405.
How to Cite

John, A. A., GWANI, J., Omeiza, S. U., Musa, S., Bello, A., & Hussaini, S. (2026). EFFECT OF RESISTANCE TRAINING ON FLEXIBILITY OF MALE TAEKWONDO ATHLETES OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY. Global Journal of Health Related Researches, 8(1), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.67203/gjhrr.2026.ga7mfo46

A. A. John, J. GWANI, S. U. Omeiza, S. Musa, A. Bello, and S. Hussaini, "EFFECT OF RESISTANCE TRAINING ON FLEXIBILITY OF MALE TAEKWONDO ATHLETES OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY," Global Journal of Health Related Researches, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 90-100, March 2026. doi: 10.67203/gjhrr.2026.ga7mfo46

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF View Full Text (PDF) Back to Articles