TRX vs body weight training. Impact on arm muscle endurance of pencak silat athletes

Background. Arm muscle endurance is very important for martial arts athletes to support strength and endurance during matches. Exercise methods such as TRX and body weight training are considered effective for improving muscular endurance, but the comparison of the two has not been widely studied. Objective. This study aims to analyze the effect of TRX and body weight training on the endurance of arm muscles of martial arts athletes. This study used an experimental design by dividing the sample into two groups, namely the TRX exercise group and the body weight training group. A total of 24 pencak silat athletes who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study. Each group underwent a 5-week exercise program with adjusted intensity and frequency. Measurement of arm muscle endurance was carried out before and after the intervention using the dipping test to obtain comprehensive quantitative data. Data were analyzed by t-test to see the difference in results between the two groups using SPSS version 26. Results. The analysis showed pre-test dipping test in the TRX group with an average of 14.67 and a post-test of 21.42 with a difference of 6.75. In the body weight training group, pre-test results averaged 13.25 and post-test 18.58, with a difference of 5.33. The results of the paired t-test showed a significant increase in arm muscle endurance in both groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The TRX training group showed a higher improvement than the body weight training group. TRX training is proven to be more effective in training arm muscle endurance and stability, while body weight training is effective as a simple supporting training method that still has a positive impact on muscle endurance. Combining these two methods is recommended for an optimal pencak silat training program.