Intelligence profiles of elite young taekwondo athletes

Subject Areas : Sports Science and Healthy

Shohreh Shokrzadeh ^{1 *} , Leyla Noorali Ahari ² , Kambiz Kamkary ³

1 - Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Islamshahr Branch, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-02-15 Accepted : 2024-10-09 Published : 2025-08-23

Keywords: Intelligence Profile, taekwondo, sports.,

Abstract :

Given the prominence and significance of intelligence in various issues and the lack of scientific studies in this field in the sport of taekwondo, the current study has undertaken an examination of the intelligence profile of elite taekwondo practitioners. Research has shown that exercise increases mental health, strengthens feelings of self-worth, reduces anxiety and depression, and increases mental strength. However, some people do not show much interest in sports, despite having positive sports characteristics, frequent recommendations from doctors, and extensive advertising on the Iranian Broadcasting System. Accordingly, it seems that mere persuasion cannot lead people to sports, and other factors besides persuasion are involved in this matter. The type of sport is important as a factor that divides people into different groups and gives each of them its own characteristics. What is the intelligence and personality status of taekwondo practitioners? Which intelligence of these elite taekwondo students can taekwondo martial arts improve and what effect it has on their personality is a question that concerns the researcher's mind. Also, the necessity of examining talent based on psychological characteristics is of great importance in the success and championship of taekwondo athletes. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the factors that are effective in developing an elite athlete. In this descriptive study, a sample of 120 young professional taekwondo players in the national teams and the premier league was investigated. The statistical population of the study included all elite teenage taekwondo players who were professional members of the national teams and the Taekwondo Premier League. The inclusion criteria for the study included having a minimum level of literacy to read and respond to the questionnaires and informed consent, and the exclusion criteria included unwillingness to participate in the study. intelligence profile of the samples was analyzed by the new version of the Stanford-Bineh intelligence test (SB-5). This scale has two domains: verbal and nonverbal. Each of these domains has five subtests: fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual spatial processing, and working memory. This instrument also measures 8 intelligences: knowledge, fluid reasoning, quantitative reasoning, spatial reasoning, verbal working memory, visual-nonverbal processing, and total intelligence. The resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-group t statistical model by SPSS. "Non-verbal", "Verbal", " Full Scale IQ", "Fluid Reasoning", "Knowledge" and " working memory" intelligences were higher than the average and the difference was significant (α = 0.01), but in "Quantitative Reasoning" and " Visual-Spatial Processing" no significant difference between the theoretical average and the experimental average has been observed. Non-verbal, verbal, fluid reasoning, knowledge and working memory are related to taekwondo athletes performance, so considering intelligence in addition to physical fitness, skill and talent is effective for optimal performance and success in the field of Taekwondo. The intelligence profile, based on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test (SB-5), reflects the cognitive and behavioral level of this group of athletes. The results showed that nonverbal and verbal intelligence, fluid reasoning, knowledge, and working memory were higher than the average for the population, but no significant differences were observed in quantitative reasoning and visual-spatial processing. In explaining these findings, it can be stated that the superiority of nonverbal intelligence in taekwondo practitioners probably plays an effective role in taekwondo tactical and strategic skills such as correctly interpreting fighting situations, choosing appropriate moves, and predicting the opponent's behavior, because taekwondo is a strategic sport that requires complete awareness of the environment and the opponent. Because in Taekwondo, opponents show their intentions through body movements, small signs, and gestures before attacking. Therefore, Taekwondo players with high verbal intelligence perform better in the field and recognize these signs faster, react quickly, and achieve success. On the other hand, elite taekwondo practitioners gain deep experience and knowledge of the sport through years of taekwondo training. Continuous experience and training can strengthen their fluid reasoning skills and enable them to analyze and draw conclusions more quickly when faced with different situations. In Taekwondo, analyzing the opponent's movements and behavior is very important. Taekwondo practitioners must be able to recognize the opponent's movements and record them in their minds. This deep understanding of opponents and storing information about them through working memory helps taekwondo practitioners to act against their opponents with appropriate strategies. Elite taekwondo practitioners generally have several different tactics and methods at their disposal, their working memory is able to hold this tactical diversity in the taekwondo practitioner's mind, enabling them to choose the best tactic for the current situation at any given moment. Therefore, elite taekwondo practitioners have access to a greater store of information. Different people differ in their IQ levels, and this difference manifests itself in different ways in their lives. The functions and actions of individuals, due to their different levels of intelligence, affect their entire lives. Different levels of intelligence also affect individuals' athletic performance, and each individual is more successful in certain areas according to a set of characteristics. 

 

References:

اهرمی، راضیه؛ فرامرزی، سالار؛ شوشتری، مژگان؛ عابدی، احمد (1391). رابطه نیمرخ دانش‌آموزان در هوش آزمای وکسلر کودکان فرم 4 مبتنی برWISC_IV هوش های چندگانه MI بر نظریه گاردنر. اندازه‌گیری تربیتی، 3(9).
شکراللهی، الهام (1390). استعدادیابی در تکواندو زنان. پایان‌نامه کارشناسی ارشد. دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکز.
کامکاری، کامبیز (1397). روایی تشخیصی نسخه نوین هوش آزمای تهران- استانفورد- بینه در دانش‌آموزان با اختلال نقص توجه- بیش‌فعالی. کودکان استثنایی، 69(18)، ص 15-28.
کامکاری، کامبیز؛ افروز، غلامعلی؛ شکرزاده، شهره (1396). هوش آزمای نوین تهران- استانفورد بینه. انتشارات دانشگاه تهران.
گودرزی، نادر (1389). نیمرخ انگیزشی تکواندوکاران نخبه و پیش‌بینی آن براساس ویژگی‌های فردی و ورزشی منتخب. دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران مرکز.

Aytaç, K.Y. (2017). Comparison of multiple intelligence and exercise performance of male and female university students in taekwondo of Turkey. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 3(8).
Balyi, I., Way, R. & & Higgs, C. (2013). Long-term athlete development. Human Kinetics.
Casolino, E., Lupo, C., Cortis, C., Chiodo, S., Minganti, C., Capranica, L. & Tessitore, A. (2012). Technical and tactical analysis of youth taekwondo performance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, no. 266, p. 1495-1489.
Cristina, M. & Isaac, E. (2017). 7. Detection of behavioural patterns in Olympic male taekwondo athletes. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. DOI: 10.14198/JHSE.2017.122.20
Faber, I. R., Oosterveld, F.G.J. & Sanden, R. N. (2012). A first step to an evidence-based talent identification program in the Netherlands; a research proposal. URL= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281863417_A_first_step_to_an_evidence-based_talent_identification_program_in_the_Netherlands_a_research_proposal
Fuhre, J., Øygard, A. & Sæther, S.A. (2022). Coaches’ criteria for talent identification of youth male soccer players. Sports, 10(2), p. 14.
Gatsis, G., Strigas, A. & Ntasis, L. (2021). Contribution of emotional intelligence to Taekwondo athlete's performance. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, no. 21, p. 1976-1980.
Johnston, K. & & Baker, J. (2019). Waste Reduction Strategies: Factors Affecting Talent Wastage and the Efficacy of Talent Selection in Sport. Front Psychol, no. 10, p. 2925.
Kazemi, M. & Marco, G. (2013). A profile of the Youth Olympic Taekwondo Athlete. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 57(4).
Kim, I. & Jang, K. (2020). Exploring Education Factors Affecting the Character Traits of Taekwondo Trainees. International Journal of Martial Arts, 5(2), p. 1-10.
Kim, Y.-J., Baek, S.-H., Park, J.-B., Choi, S.-H., Lee, J.-D. & Nam, S.-S. (2021). The psychosocial effects of Taekwondo training: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), p. 11427.
Nam, S.-S. & Lim, K. (2019). Effects of Taekwondo training on physical fitness factors in Korean elementary students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry, 23(1), p. 36.
Rasulovna, S.N. (2021). The Importance Of Three-Stage Model In Developing The Functional Status Of Athletes. International Journal on Economics, Finance and Sustainable Development, 3(3), p. 190-196.
Ribeiro, J., Davids, K., Silva, P., Coutinho, P., Barreira, D. & Garganta, J. (2021). Talent Development in Sport Requires Athlete Enrichment: Contemporary Insights from a Nonlinear Pedagogy and the Athletic Skills Model. Sports Med, 51(6), p.1115-1122.
Sadeghi, H. & Basatnia, R. (2010). Anthropometric and kinematic properties of Hossein Rezazadeh, Iranian world and Olympic champion in snatch weightlifting. Journal of Sport Medicine Studies, Sport Sciences Research Institute, no. 26, p. 302-309.
Savas, S., Yildiz, Y.A. & Gülünay, Y.İ. (2020). An Investigation of the Relationship between Female Volleyball Players’ Intelligence Types and Their Sportive Success. International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 8(4).
Sotoodeh, M., Talebi, R., Hemayattalab, R. & Arabameri, E. (2012). Comparison of Selected Mental Skills Between Elite and Non-Elite Male and Female Taekwondo Athletes. URL=https://www.idosi.org/wjss/6(1)12/6.pdf
Tae-Hee, L., David, M. & O’Sullivan. (2016). Case Study of Mental Skills Training for a Taekwondo Olympian. Journal of Human Kinetics. DOI: 10.1515/HUKIN-2015-0161
Vaeyens, R., Lenoir, M., Williams, A.M. & Philippaerts, R.M. (2008). Talent identification and development programmes in sport: current models and future directions. Sports medicine, no. 38, p. 703-714.
Vescovi, J.D., Rupf, R., Brown, T.D. & Marques, M.C. (2011). Physical performance characteristics of high‐level female soccer players 12–21 years of age. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 21(5), p. 670-678.