The Impact of Joint Position Sense and Hand–Eye Coordination on Defensive Performance: A Study of Elite Adolescent Taekwondo Athletes

In this study examining the effects of joint position sense, reaction time, and hand–eye coordination on upper-extremity blocking performance in adolescent taekwondo athletes, 11 licensed athletes from the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club volunteered to participate. First, measurements of hand–eye coordination, joint position sense, and reaction time were obtained. Then, a competition simulation was conducted in which participants defended against a sequence of 20 attacks; the number of successful blocks was recorded on video. The video recordings were reviewed and scored by coaches with at least 10 years of experience. According to the Pearson correlation analyses, there was a strong positive association between the number of successful upper-extremity blocks and reaction time (r = 0.64, p = 0.03), and a strong negative association between joint position sense and block count (r = −0.61, p = 0.04). No relationship was found between hand–eye coordination and block count. Multiple regression results showed that joint position sense and reaction time together explained 45% of the variance in block performance, although neither variable alone was a significant independent predictor. These findings indicate that taekwondo blocking success is supported by a holistic set of factors. To improve defensive performance, training programs should be designed using sport-specific assessment methods, and it is recommended to incorporate light-based reaction drills to enhance reaction speed.