In summary, results of the present study indicate that physiological demands of
competitive TKD fight in women, measured by HR and LA responses, are
considerably higher than the physiological demands of TKD or karate training
exercises. LA values determined after the fight suggest that the anaerobic
metabolism plays a major role in this particular sport. Based on our results and the
results of previous research we believe that the emphasis in conditioning for TKD
should be placed on high-intensity anaerobic exercises and intermittent activities.
In particular, simulations of competitive actions should be optimized to match the
physiological demands of actual competitions. However, since accurate
conclusions cannot be made about the precise contribution of anaerobic
metabolism to TKD performance, further studies are needed to analyse the acute
responses of other physiological indicators (hormonal responses, muscle glycogen
depletion, etc.) to TKD fight in both men and women. Finally, further studies
should be developed in analyzing different training modalities for maximizing
TKD performance, in order to develop precise guidelines for coaches.