<![CDATA[This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of plyometric training in improving Yeop Chagi kicking skills among cadet and junior athletes of JTC Taekwondo Dojang who were preparing to compete in The Arena of Maestro Taekwondo Championship 2026. Plyometric training is widely recognized as an effective method for enhancing explosive power, speed, and sport-specific performance, particularly in Taekwondo. This study employed a quasi-experimental method using a one-group pretest–posttest design. The participants consisted of 20 cadet and junior athletes selected through purposive sampling from a population of 48 athletes. The intervention consisted of 16 plyometric training sessions conducted during the athletes’ championship preparation period. Data were collected using a Yeop Chagi kicking skill test and analyzed using descriptive statistics and N-Gain analysis. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in kicking performance following the intervention. The mean pretest score increased from 15.6 to 21.2 in the posttest. Furthermore, the N-Gain score of 0.57 indicated a moderate level of improvement, confirming the effectiveness of the training program. Statistical analysis at a significance level of α = 0.05 showed that the null hypothesis (H₀) was rejected and the alternative hypothesis (Hₐ) was accepted. These findings suggest that plyometric training is moderately effective in enhancing Yeop Chagi kicking skills among cadet and junior Taekwondo athletes. Improved kicking performance may contribute positively to competitive readiness and athletic achievement during championship participation. Future studies are recommended to employ a control group design and investigate the long-term effects of plyometric training on various Taekwondo performance indicators.]]>
