The Effect of Ladder Drills on The Agility of Karate Athletes

Abstract

Problems: Karate is a martial sport that demands a combination of physical, technical, and tactical abilities at a high level, especially in kumite numbers that require fast, precise, and efficient responses. Agility is a very important physical component because it is directly related to the ability of athletes to change direction, avoid attacks, and execute techniques effectively. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effect of ladder drills on increasing the agility of karate athletes at the PDAM Dojo Padang Panjang City. Methods: The research method used is a quasi-experimental experiment with a pre-test and post-test design. The research sample amounted to 15 male pre-novice athletes who were selected through purposive sampling techniques. The agility measurement instrument uses a hexagon agility test, while data analysis is carried out with a pair sample t-test. Results: The results showed that there was a significant improvement in the agility ability of athletes after participating in 16 ladder drill training sessions. The calculated t value of 11.255 is greater than the t of table 1.753 at a significance level of 0.05, so the research hypothesis is accepted. This increase is reflected in the decrease in the average travel time in the agility test in the post-test compared to the pre-test. These findings show that ladder drills are effective in improving coordination, speed of change of direction, balance, and movement response that are needed in kumite performance. Conclusion: Overall, this study confirms that ladder drills can be used as an effective alternative training method to increase the agility of karate athletes. The results of the research are expected to be the basis for coaches and sports practitioners in developing a more structured and scientific-evidence-based exercise program to improve athletes' performance optimally.