The Effects of Early Morning Exercise on Exercise Satisfaction and Performance in Male Kendo Athletes

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of early morning exercise on both exercise satisfaction and performance among male Kendo athletes.<br/> Method: Participants in this study were male Kendo athletes with experience in early morning exercise, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via an online self-assessment survey. SPSS version 28.0 was used to process the data, with frequency analysis conducted to outline participants’ demographic characteristics, and descriptive statistics calculated for mean and standard deviation. Tool reliability and validity were tested using exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s α. An independent t-test was used to analyze differences based on participation in early morning exercise, while a one-way ANOVA assessed differences according to duration of participation. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses examined relationships and the influence of variables.<br/> Results: The study’s findings are as follows: First, participation in early morning exercise among elite Kendo athletes was positively correlated positively with competition performance, indicating a strong association between exercise satisfaction and performance. Second, non-participating athletes scored higher on social approval compared to their participating counterparts, though no significant differences were found for other variables. Third, no significant differences in exercise satisfaction and performance were observed based on the duration of participation. Lastly, exercise satisfaction had a strong influence on exercise performance.<br/> Conclusion: Although the overall impact of early morning exercise on exercise satisfaction and performance in Kendo athletes is somewhat limited, exercise satisfaction significantly influences exercise performance. Additionally, environmental factors play a crucial role in early morning exercise, and the potential risks for injury highlight the importance of developing safe and effective training programs.