Effect of plyometric training and ladder drill training on sprint 20-meters agility and VO2max in karate athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v70.111573Keywords:
Karate athletes, ladder drill training, physical performance, plyometric trainingAbstract
Introduction: Karate is a highly popular martial art that involves participants from various age groups. In the kumite category, athletes are required to have optimal physical abilities such as speed, agility, and endurance to maintain competitive advantage.
Objective: Therefore, this study aims to compare the effects of plyometric training and ladder drills on speed, agility, and VO2max in karate athletes.
Methodology: The participants in this study included 30 karate (kumite) athletes aged 18-20 years with an average weight of 60.88±7.5 kg, who were divided into three groups: (A1; n=10) control group, (A2; n=10) plyometric group, and (A3; n=10) ladder drill group. Training was conducted with a frequency of 3x/week for 6 weeks. Speed, agility, and VO2max were measured before and after the intervention in all groups. Data analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA followed by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) post-hoc test with a 5% significance level.
Results: The results showed that plyometric and ladder drill training for 6 weeks significantly improved the physical performance of karate athletes (p ≤ 0.05). Plyometric training was proven to be more effective in increasing sprint speed and aerobic capacity (p ≤ 0.05), while ladder drill training was more effective in improving agility (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions: This study found that the use of plyometric and ladder drill training in karate athletes is highly effective in improving speed, agility, and VO2max in Kumite athletes, providing practical guidance for coaches in designing effective and targeted training programs to enhance the physical performance of karate athletes.
References
Afonso, J., da Costa, I. T., Camões, M., Silva, A., Lima, R. F., Milheiro, A., Martins, A., Laporta, L., Nakamura, F. Y., & Clemente, F. M. (2020). Correction: The Effects of Agility Ladders on Performance: A Systematic Review. International journal of sports medicine, 41(14), e13. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1187-7560.
Avandi, R. I., Rochmania, A., Nirwansyah, W. T., Mustar, Y. S., Arisanti, R. R. S., Pramono, B. A., & Pranoto, A. (2024). Optimization of Athlete Recovery Strategies: Analysis of Massage Methods To Determine The Best Approach After High-Intensity Interval Training. Retos, 57, 125–130. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v57.103963.
Barley, O. R., Chapman, D. W., Guppy, S. N., & Abbiss, C. R. (2019). Considerations When Assessing Endurance in Combat Sport Athletes. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 205. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00205.
Bassa, E., Lola, A. C., Melliou, A., Prassa, M., Stavropoulou, G., & Ziogas, N. (2024). Agility Ladder Training Combined With Plyometric or Multidirectional Speed Drills: Short-Term Adaptations on Jump, Speed, and Change of Direction Performance in Young Female Volleyball Players. Pediatric exercise science, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0024.
Bok, D., Jukić, N., & Foster, C. (2022). Validation of session ratings of perceived exertion for quantifying training load in karate kata sessions. Biology of sport, 39(4), 849–855. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2022.109458.
Chindarkar, R., Sharma, S., & Kumar, A. (2021). A Cross Sectional Study to Assess Agility Skills of Kumite Karate Players Aged 15-20 Years in Mumbai Suburban Area. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 11(9), 252–58. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20210938.
Cid-Calfucura, I., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Franchini, E., Falco, C., Alvial-Moscoso, J., Pardo-Tamayo, C., Zapata-Huenullán, C., Ojeda-Aravena, A., & Valdés-Badilla, P. (2023). Effects of Strength Training on Physical Fitness of Olympic Combat Sports Athletes: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(4), 3516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043516.
Deliceoğlu, G., Kabak, B., Çakır, V.O., Ceylan, H.İ., Alexe, D.I., & Stefanica, V. (2023). Respiratory Muscle Strength as a Predictor of VO2max and Aerobic Endurance in Competitive Athletes. Applied Sciences, 14(19), 8976. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198976.
Deng, N., Soh, K. G., Abdullah, B. B., Huang, D., Xu, F., Bashir, M., & Zhang, D. (2024). Effects of plyometric training on health-related physical fitness in untrained participants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific reports, 14(1), 11272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61905-7.
Eraslan, L., Castelein, B., Spanhove, V., Orhan, C., Duzgun, I., & Cools, A. (2021). Effect of Plyometric Training on Sport Performance in Adolescent Overhead Athletes: A Systematic Review. Sports health, 13(1), 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738120938007.
Gumienna, R., Machowska-Krupa, W., & Kosendiak, J. (2024). Speed of performing complex movement tasks under decision-making conditions as a determinant of the tactical preparation level in kickboxers. Scientific reports, 14(1), 3002. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53652-6.
Hernández-Davó, J. L., Loturco, I., Pereira, L. A., Cesari, R., Pratdesaba, J., Madruga-Parera, M., Sanz-Rivas, D., & Fernández-Fernández, J. (2021). Relationship between Sprint, Change of Direction, Jump, and Hexagon Test Performance in Young Tennis Players. Journal of sports science & medicine, 20(2), 197–203. https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2021.197.
Hikmah, N., . T., S, W., Wijayanti, N. P. N., Prayoga, H. D., & Prabowo, T. A. (2023). Is ladder drill training effective for increasing agility for karate athletes in the 'Kumite' category (14-16 years)? International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 10(6), 15–20. https://doi.org/10.22271/kheljournal.2023.v10.i6a.3127.
Huang, H., Huang, W-Y., & Wu, C-E. (2023). The Effect of Plyometric Training on the Speed, Agility, and Explosive Strength Performance in Elite Athletes. Applied Sciences, 13(6), 3605. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063605.
Johnson, T. M., Brown, L. E., Coburn, J. W., Judelson, D. A., Khamoui, A. V., Tran, T. T., & Uribe, B. P. (2010). Effect of four different starting stances on sprint time in collegiate volleyball players. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 24(10), 2641–2646. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181f159a3.
Ketelhut, S., & Ketelhut, R. G. (2020). Type of Exercise Training and Training Methods. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1228, 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1792-1_2.
Kons, R. L., Orssatto, L. B. R., Ache-Dias, J., De Pauw, K., Meeusen, R., Trajano, G. S., Dal Pupo, J., & Detanico, D. (2023). Effects of Plyometric Training on Physical Performance: An Umbrella Review. Sports medicine - open, 9(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00550-8.
Ojeda-Aravena, A., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Valdés-Badilla, P., Báez-San Martín, E., Thapa, R. K., & Ramirez-Campillo, R. (2023). A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Plyometric-Jump Training on the Physical Fitness of Combat Sport Athletes. Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 11(2), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11020033.
Przybylski, P., Janiak, A., Szewczyk, P., Wieliński, D., & Domaszewska, K. (2021). Morphological and Motor Fitness Determinants of Shotokan Karate Performance. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4423. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094423.
Puspodari, P., Wiriawan, O., Setijono, H., Arfanda, P. E., Himawanto, W., Koestanto, S. H., Hantoro, B., Lusianti, S., Putra, R. P., Prasetiyo, R., & Pranoto, A. (2022). Effectiveness of Zumba Exercise on Maximum Oxygen Volume, Agility, and Muscle Power in Female Students. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 22(4), 478–484. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2022.4.04.
Seiberl, W., Hahn, D., Power, G. A., Fletcher, J. R., & Siebert, T. (2021). Editorial: The Stretch-Shortening Cycle of Active Muscle and Muscle-Tendon Complex: What, Why and How It Increases Muscle Performance?. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 693141. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.693141.
Shedge, S. S., Ramteke, S. U., & Jaiswal, P. R. (2024). Optimizing Agility and Athletic Proficiency in Badminton Athletes Through Plyometric Training: A Review. Cureus, 16(1), e52596. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.52596.
Türkarslan, B., & Deliceoglu, G. (2024). The effect of plyometric training program on agility, jumping, and speed performance in young soccer players. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 28(2), 116–123. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2024.0205.
Usra, M., Lesmana, I. B., Octara, K., Bayu, W. I., Badau, A., Ishak, A., & Setiawan, E. (2024). Augmented Reality Training on Combat Sport: Improving the Quality of Physical Fitness and Technical Performance of Young Athletes. Retos, 54, 835–843. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v54.103743
Vasconcelos, B. B., Protzen, G. V., Galliano, L. M., Kirk, C., & Del Vecchio, F. B. (2020). Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training in Combat Sports: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 34(3), 888–900. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003255.
Yudhistira, D., Siswantoyo., Tomoliyus., Sumaryanti., Tirtawirya, D., Paryadi., Virama, L.O.A., Naviri, S., & Noralisa. (2021). Development of Agility Test Construction: Validity and Reliability of Karate Agility Test Construction in Kata Category. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 9(4), 697–703. https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2021.090413.
Zetaruk, M. N., Violan, M. A., Zurakowski, D., & Micheli, L. J. (2000). Karate injuries in children and adolescents. Accident; analysis and prevention, 32(3), 421–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-4575(99)00120-7.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Retno Triya Lavianti, Muhammad Kharis Fajar, Nurhasan Nurhasan, Bayu Agung Pramono, Dwi Cahyo Kartiko, Waristra Tyo Nirwansyah, Kunjung Ashadi, I Dewa Made Aryananda Wijaya Kusuma, Andri Suyoko, Adi Pranoto

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.