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

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.