The Impact of Overtraining on the Mental State of Taekwondo Athletes at Jeonstugi Tadulako Club, Palu City

Nur Indah Khafifa Lingu Lembah; Kamarudin Kamarudin; Arief Aditya Rifandy; Andi Sultan Brilin Susandi E,W

doi:10.33648/ijoaser.v9i2.1728

Nur Indah Khafifa Lingu Lembah Universitas Tadulako Palu, Indonesia
Kamarudin Kamarudin Universitas Tadulako Palu, Indonesia
Arief Aditya Rifandy Universitas Tadulako Palu, Indonesia
Andi Sultan Brilin Susandi E,W Universitas Tadulako Palu, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33648/ijoaser.v9i2.1728

Keywords: Overtraining, Mental Condition, Taekwondo Athletes, Coaches

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of overtraining on the mental condition of Taekwondo athletes at Jeonstugi Tadulako Club, Palu City. The research problem addressed was how overtraining affects the athletes’ mental condition during the intensive training period preceding competitions. This study employed a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The informants consisted of 10 participants, comprising 8 Taekwondo athletes as the main informants and 2 coaches as supporting informants, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured in-depth interviews, audio/video recording, and documentation, and were validated through source and technique triangulation. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles and Huberman, consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification. The findings show that training intensity increased substantially as competitions approached, causing most athletes to experience physical fatigue accompanied by mental pressure such as nervousness, tension, and psychological burden. Nevertheless, these conditions did not diminish the athletes’ motivation or concentration during training and competition; several athletes reported that pressure before competition even strengthened their motivation. Athletes applied various recovery strategies, including cooling down, adequate rest, regular sleep patterns, nutritious food intake, and sufficient fluid consumption, while coaches played an important role in designing training programs, monitoring athletes’ conditions, providing motivation, and maintaining both the physical and mental well-being of the athletes. It is concluded that overtraining does affect the mental condition of Taekwondo athletes, but its negative impact can be minimized through appropriate training-load management, optimal recovery practices, and continuous psychosocial support from coaches.

References

Ardiansyah, Risnita, & Jailani, M. S. (2023). Teknik pengumpulan data dan instrumen penelitian ilmiah pendidikan pada pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Jurnal IHSAN: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 1(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.61104/ihsan.v1i2.57
Billa, A. S., Fitri, M., & Paramitha, S. T. (2025). Comparison of burnout levels in pencak silat adolescent athletes. Jp.Jok (Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani Olahraga dan Kesehatan), 7(1), 173–179. https://doi.org/10.33503/jp.jok.v7i1.996
Bompa, T. O., & Buzzichelli, C. (2019). Periodization: Theory and methodology of training (6th ed.). Human Kinetics.
Collette, R., Kellmann, M., Ferrauti, A., Meyer, T., & Pfeiffer, M. (2018). Relation between training load and recovery-stress state in high-performance swimming. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 845. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00845
Esposito, J., & Evans-Winters, V. E. (2022). Introduction to intersectional qualitative research. SAGE Publications.
Gustafsson, H., Sagar, S. S., & Stenling, A. (2017). Fear of failure, psychological stress, and burnout among adolescent athletes competing in high level sport. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(12), 2091–2102.
Hu, Y., Fu, Z., Torres, M., Luo, W., Tang, B., Zhu, D., Zhao, P., Li, Y., Fong, D. T. P., & Wang, D. (2026). The relationship between training load and injury risk in taekwondo: A systematic review. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01481-z
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (2023). Psychological skills and mental toughness in combat sport athletes.
Issurin, V. B. (2019). Biological background of block periodized endurance training: A review. Sports Medicine, 49(1), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-1019-9
Jelínek, M., Květon, P., & Burešová, I. (2024). Subjective indicators of overtraining and their relationship to sport fitness: A 1-year observation of elite athletes. Sage Open, 14(2), 21582440241252001. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241252001
Kellmann, M., Bertollo, M., Bosquet, L., Brink, M., Coutts, A. J., Duffield, R., Erlacher, D., Halson, S. L., Hecksteden, A., Heidari, J., Kallus, K. W., Meeusen, R., Mujika, I., Robazza, C., Skorski, S., Venter, R., & Beckmann, J. (2018). Recovery and performance in sport: Consensus statement. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(2), 240–245. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0759
Lahman, M. K. E. (2025). An introduction to qualitative research: Becoming culturally responsive. SAGE.
McCusker, K., & Gunaydin, S. (2015). Research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods and choice based on the research. Perfusion, 30(7), 537–542. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267659114559116
Moleong, L. J. (n.d.). Metodologi penelitian kualitatif. PT Remaja Rosdakarya.
Nam, J.-H., Kim, E.-J., & Cho, E.-H. (2022). Sport psychological skill factors and scale development for taekwondo athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3433. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063433
Noordiansyah, E. A., & Jannah, M. (2025). Pengaruh self-efficacy terhadap burnout pada atlet taekwondo. Paedagogy: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan dan Psikologi, 5(3), 1101–1110. https://doi.org/10.51878/paedagogy.v5i3.6946
Ostapiuk-Karolczuk, J., Dziewiecka, H., Bojsa, P., Cieślicka, M., Zawadka-Kunikowska, M., Wojciech, K., & Kasperska, A. (2025). Biochemical and psychological markers of fatigue and recovery in mixed martial arts athletes during strength and conditioning training. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 24234. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09719-z
Park, S.-U., Jeon, J.-W., Ahn, H., Yang, Y.-K., & So, W.-Y. (2022). Big data analysis of the key attributes related to stress and mental health in Korean taekwondo student athletes. Sustainability, 14(1), 477. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010477
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 101860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860
Slimani, M., Chaabene, H., Miarka, B., Franchini, E., Chamari, K., & Cheour, F. (2017). Kickboxing review: Anthropometric, psychophysiological and activity profiles and injury epidemiology. Biology of Sport, 34(2), 185–196.
Symons, I. K., Bruce, L., & Main, L. C. (2023). Impact of overtraining on cognitive function in endurance athletes: A systematic review. Sports Medicine - Open, 9(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00614-3
Valdesalici, A., Sella, E., Domenicucci, R., Ghisi, M., & Borella, E. (2026). Effects of non-functional overreaching and overtraining syndrome on psychological and cognitive functioning in elite athletes: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 84, 103079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103079
Watson, A., Brickson, S., Brooks, A., & Dunn, W. (2017). Subjective well-being and training load predict in-season injury and illness risk in female youth soccer players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(3), 194–199. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096584
Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2019). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology (7th