Strategic adaptation in para taekwondo following the five-minute single-round rule: the 2023 World Championships and 2024 Paris Paralympics

초록

Background and Study Aim: The unified K44 classification and the revised five-minute single-round format have reshaped tactical demands in para taekwondo. The purpose of research is empirical evidence that can significantly influence training practices and competition strategies in the evolving landscape of para taekwondo. Material and Methods: A total of 173 athletes from the 2023 World Para Taekwondo Championships and the 2024 Paris Paralympics were analysed using notational analysis. Offensive frequency, kick-to-score ratio, defensive success rate, and technical diversity were examined to compare winners and non-winners and to identify predictors of victory. Results: Cross-tabulation analysis showed that non-winners exhibited a higher overall offensive frequency than winners (69.5% vs. 61.3%, p<0.001, V = 0.087) and also demonstrated a higher frequency of technical actions during the final 4-5 min phase of the match (23.7% vs. 20.6%, p<0.001, V = 0.042). In contrast, independent-samples t-tests showed that winners had significantly higher kick-to-score ratios (40.17% vs. 16.09%, p<0.001) and defensive success rates (83.91% vs. 59.83%, p<0.001) than non-winners. Logistic regression analysis further identified defensive success rate (OR = 1.135, 95% CI = 1.102 to 1.169, p<0.001) and kick-to-score ratio (OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 1.029 to 1.074, p<0.001) as significant predictors of match outcomes. Conclusions: Under the revised para taekwondo rules prioritizing technical efficiency (kick-to-score ratio) and defensive stability (defensive success rate) is significantly more critical for winning than merely increasing offensive volume. In male K44 competition strategic pacing and robust defence emerge as the central performance determinants.

키워드