Introduction and Purpose:Taekwondo, as a competitive martial art, relies heavily on the physical and technical abilities of athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two training methods—Intensive and Escalating Density Training (EDT)—on the physical-motor performance of semi-professional male taekwondo athletes in Shiraz.

Materials and Methods:This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design involving 30 male taekwondo athletes (15 red belts and 15 black belts) divided into two groups of 15: EDT and resistance training. Participants were aged 16–20 years and had at least three years of training experience. The resistance group followed a traditional strength program, while the EDT group engaged in paired and rotational training protocols. Performance assessments included the Taekwondo-specific Aerobic-Anaerobic Agility Test (TAAA) and the Functional Movement Screening Test (FMS). Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and paired t-tests with SPSS software at a significance level of P≤0.05.

Results:The EDT group demonstrated significant increases in maximum, minimum, and average kicks, as well as average power (P<0.001). Compared with the resistance group, the EDT group achieved greater improvements in all kicking performance components except the fatigue index. FMS results showed significant enhancements in total score and components such as squat, lunge, shoulder stability, and rotational stability. In intergroup comparisons, the EDT group showed superior results in most FMS components (P<0.01).

Discussion and Conclusion:The findings confirm the superiority of EDT exercises in more effectively enhancing specialized strength and flexibility elements essential in Kyorugi. Therefore, implementing EDT in taekwondo training programs is recommended to improve athletes’ performance.