Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of taekwondo training on
students’ academic achievements. The study employed qusi-expermental research
design. The total population of the study is 1660 from this twenty taekwondo
participant and 20 non taekwondo participants total of 40 students were selected
from Belay Zeleke secondary school by non randomized sampling (purposive
sampling) technique. The experimental group students are participated in taekwondo
sport training program 3 days per week of 90 minutes per session for 12 weeks a
total of 36 days (54 hours). But control group students were not participated in
taekwondo sport program rather; they were participating in regular physical
education program. Data were collected from questionnaires, interviews and
academic pre and post tests. The data collected from the study subjects were
analyzed by standard mean deviation and t-test, the class room post test and
taekwondo test scores were correlated to see their relationship. Before the treatment
group took the taekwondo participation both groups mean academic achievements
were almost similar with only 0.69 mean the deference. In the post test assessment
school based test scores the experimental outperformed control group with 5.7 mean
deference. The result showed significant improvement in academic achievement of
students who where participated in taekwondo.. Experimental groups post test mean
and the taekwondo test score were correlated. The result of the correlation
coefficient was positive 0.69 indicates the strong relation and taekwondo
participation and over all academic achievement. Based on the findings, the
researcher concludes that taekwondo training had appositive effect on improvement
of academic achievement.