| Summary: | We aimed to investigate the effect of a 12-week Taekwondo self-defense training course on oxidative stress and inflammation in postmenopausal women. Sixteen middle-aged women participated and were randomized into two groups: a control group (CG, <i>n</i> = 8) and a Taekwondo self-defense training group (TSDG, <i>n</i> = 8). The TSDG was trained for 60 min, four times per week, for 12 weeks. Following the Taekwondo training intervention, side-step was significantly higher in the TSDG than in the CG (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower after the intervention than before in the TSDG (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were also significantly higher after the intervention than before in the TSDG (<i>p</i> < 0.001). After the Taekwondo training intervention, SOD levels were significantly higher in the TSDG than in the CG (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were significantly lower after the intervention than before in the TSDG (<i>p</i> < 0.05). After the Taekwondo training intervention, TNF-α levels were significantly lower in the TSDG than in the CG (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that Taekwondo self-defense training is an effective exercise that improves agility, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses in postmenopausal women.
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