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Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2024) | Viewed by 22561

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Dr. Łukasz Rydzik

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Institute of Sports Science, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Cracow, Poland
Interests: kickboxing; training effects; training performance; sports physiology; brain activity; brain injury; brain punch
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Prof. Dr. Tadeusz Ambrozy

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Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Krakow, Poland
Interests: physical fitness; training; training strain; training control individual sports; martial arts combat sports; performance analysis technical and tactical preparation; trainer control
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Prof. Dr. Wojciech J. Cynarski

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Institute of Physical Culture Studies, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: cultural tourism; sport; recreation; leisure; sociology of physical culture; martial arts; martial arts tourism; physical culture in processes of globalization, institutionalization; cultural dialogues
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Prof. Dr. Wojciech Czarny

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College of Medical Sciences, Institute of Physical Culture Studies, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: martial arts; combat sports; biology; anthropology; sports training
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Dr. Wiesław Błach

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Faculty of Physical Education & Sport, University School of Physical Education, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: martial; arts; combat; sports; sports injuries; training theory
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Combat sports and martial arts are increasingly becoming an object of interest for researchers due to their growing popularity and spectacular form of competition, which attracts many spectators. Analyzing competitors facilitates the assessment of training progression, indication of a decrease in form and appropriate adjustments to training load. Scientific research makes it possible to visualize the detailed reactions of the body that occur during a sports fight. This Special Issue entitled "Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts" aims to deepen our analysis of athletes practicing martial arts and sports. Our mission is to broadly present the complex structure of a duel and the body’s reactions that occur during a fight. We encourage you to submit papers related to analysis of combat and analysis of athletes practicing martial arts and sports.

Dr. Łukasz Rydzik
Prof. Dr. Tadeusz Ambrozy
Prof. Dr. Wojciech Czarny
Prof. Dr. Wojciech J. Cynarski
Dr. Wiesław Błach
Guest Editors

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Keywords

martial arts
combat sports
fight analysis
technical and tactical preparation
training control
kickboxing
boxing
judo
karate
taekwondo
ju-jitsu
grappling
Muay Thai

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 182 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue Athletes’ Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts

by Łukasz Rydzik, Tadeusz Ambroży, Wojciech J. Cynarski, Wojciech Czarny and Wiesław Błach

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020543 - 8 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Combat sports and martial arts have gained popularity in mainstream culture and are recognized in various realms of physical culture [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

Research

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10 pages, 668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association between Body Composition and the Parameters of Muscle Fitness in Selected Young Judokas

by Nikola Milošević, Dušan Stupar, Nemanja Stanković, Saša Pantelić, Nikola Stojanović, Stevan Stamenković, Nebojša Trajković and Igor Potparić

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6327; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146327 - 20 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 769

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the influence of body composition on the muscle fitness of selected judokas. This study was conducted on a sample of 23 judokas (cadets n = 12, juniors n = 11), members of the male national team of Serbia. The assessment of body composition was performed using the InBody 720 (Biospace Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea) and calipers. Muscle fitness was assessed using “Optojump” (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy), Fitrodine Premium (Fitronic, Bratislava, Slovakia), and a digital force instrument IMADA Z2H-1100 (Imada Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA). Regression analysis revealed a notable association between muscle mass and measures of explosive strength (countermovement jump (CMJ) p = 0.023; drop jump (DJ) p = 0.026). Moreover, this study’s results showed that back extension (p = 0.006; R² = 0.61) and hand grip (p = 0.009; R² = 0.52) provide a strong positive association with muscle mass. The findings suggest that tailored training and nutritional strategies that improve muscle mass might significantly enhance muscle fitness in young judokas, optimizing their performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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9 pages, 1610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Impact Force between Side Kicks and Turning Kicks in Male Practitioners of Taekwon-Do—Case Studies

by Tomasz Góra, Dariusz Mosler, Józef Langfort and Jacek Wąsik

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5876; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135876 - 5 Jul 2024

Viewed by 842

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the different forces exerted between the side kick and turning kick in taekwon-do, which would add knowledge to the field, as well as help inform future research. Eighty kicks performed by four elite ITF (International Taekwon-do Federation) athletes (age: 28.5 ± 7.2 years; body mass: 77.5 ± 6.7 kg; height: 180.0 ± 1.6 cm) were analysed. Participants performed a series of turning and side kicks with the right and left leg to the target. The impact-force-measuring apparatus was a training shield mounted on a force plate manufactured by AMTI, model MC12-2K. The mean resultant impact force for the turning kick was significantly lower than the mean resultant impact force for the side kick. There were no significant differences in the impact force between turning kicks performed with either the right or left leg. With regard to the correlations for the turning kick performed by both legs, there was almost a full correlation between F_Z and the resultant impact force (r = 0.988 for the right leg and r = 0.994 for the left leg). The side kicks’ significantly higher resultant force (4429.77 ± 1361.25 N) than that of a turning kick (2648.98 ± 441.41 N) could be due to more effective mass being used. The turning kick peaked in a shorter time; this indicates that a turning kick has a shorter contact time with the target. The strong correlations between F_z and the resultant impact force in both kicks could be due to the direction of the kicks, suggesting that the force in the Z axis was the most important direction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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10 pages, 720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Effective Mass on the Strength of Side and Turning Kick in Taekwon-Do Male Practitioners

by Tomasz Góra, Dariusz Mosler, Robert Podstawski and Jacek Wąsik

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2339; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062339 - 11 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1992

Abstract

Background: One of the elements of improving the striking power of combat sports athletes is the ability to use their body mass in an efficient manner; this can improve movement technique and thus increase combat effectiveness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain knowledge about the influence of the effective mass obtained on the strength of turning and side kicks in the context of lateralization. Material and methods: The study involved four adult taekwon-do ITF (International Taekwon-do Federation) competitors. Acceleration and force data were obtained by mounting a wireless IMU sensor manufactured by Noraxon, which was synchronized with a force plate. Results: The median force pressure values amounted to 2661.53 N for the turning kick and 4596.15 N for the side kick, with foot acceleration of 150.56 m/s² and 74.34 m/s², respectively. The calculated median effective mass for the turning kick was 20.12%, and for the side kick, it was 73.09% of the total body mass. The conducted analysis indicates a lack of statistically significant differences between the right and left leg in the obtained kinetic variable values (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our research suggests that the side kick achieves, on average, higher force values than the turning kick. The noted correlation between the three variables informs us that the greater the effective mass, the greater the force pressure and the smaller the foot acceleration, which is consistent with other studies. The lack of lateralization in the limbs performing the kicks is consistent with another study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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14 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Combat in Sport JU-JITSU during the World Championships in Fighting Formula

by Tadeusz Ambroży, Łukasz Rydzik, Wojciech Wąsacz, Zbigniew Małodobry, Wojciech J. Cynarski, Dorota Ambroży and Andrzej Kędra

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11417; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011417 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

Background: The observation and specialized analysis of confrontations in combat sports are fundamental for making corrections in training programs as well as for modifying individual technical–tactical profiles of athletes in such activities. These actions comprehensively assess the course of sports activities and ultimately inspire and guide the type of training in academies and sports clubs. The aim of the study was a general and detailed analysis of sport fighting in JU-JITSU during a top-tier tournament, in the fighting formula for the entire competition and for each weight category. Methods: The research material consisted of multimedia recordings of sports fights taken during the World JU-JITSU Championships in the fighting formula, Wroclaw 2016. A total of 229 tournament fights were analyzed in seven weight categories. For the purpose of evaluating the structure of the fight, a retrospective analysis of the recorded empirical material was conducted, and technical–tactical preparation (TTII) indicators were calculated, both in a global tournament context and for individual weight categories. Results: Of the 229 matches, more than half were decided by the advantage of technical points (58.52%) within the regulatory fight time, while in 74 clashes, victory was declared by Full Ippon (32.31%) before the designated fight time. Activity and attack effectiveness, as well as the number of technical points, were highest in the first part of the fight. Significant variations were observed in terms of activity, attack effectiveness, and point gains for all parts of the clash, and for effectiveness in the weight categories compared to the second part. The most frequently occurring penalty was the minor shido penalty, while the offense was the lack of fighting in the second part of the duel. The total fight time was 256 s, of which 144 s were effective fighting, and 112 s were breaks. Conclusions: The analysis of sports fight observations revealed that the majority of fights ended with a technical point advantage win (58.52%), with notable activity and attack effectiveness in part I. Middleweight fighters were most active early on, while heavyweight categories dominated later phases. Attack efficiency varied across weight categories. Penalties were predominantly minor (shido), and the total fight time included 144 s of effective fighting and 112 s of breaks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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9 pages, 688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical and Morphological Differences between Young Elite Taekwondo and Karate Players

by Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez, Fernando Alacid, Bernardo J. Cuestas-Calero, Piotr Matłosz and Daniel López-Plaza

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(18), 10109; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810109 - 8 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1447

Abstract

The different nature of taekwondo and karate actions involves sport-specific actions with different physical demands and a typical morphological profile. The aims of the current investigation were to compare body composition and strength factors between young karate and taekwondo players and to investigate the body proportionality of each discipline. Twenty-five young taekwondo fighters (18 boys and 7 girls) and twenty-eight karate athletes (19 boys and 9 girls) volunteered for the study. A battery of anthropometric measurements were obtained for each individual (heights, weight, girths, lengths, and sum of skinfolds). Upper-body and lower-body strength were determined using the handgrip test and counter-movement jump test, respectively. In boys, significantly greater Σ 6 skinfold, wrist, and maximum thigh girth measurements were observed in taekwondo athletes (p < 0.05; d > 0.59), while karate competitors revealed larger muscle mass values (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, girls only showed significant differences with respect to anterior-posterior chest breadth, age at peak height velocity (APHV), and head girth (p < 0.05). Proportionality analysis revealed that both sexes presented lower skinfold thicknesses and breadths than the normal population. Therefore, in both disciplines, similar profiles were determined, but young karate athletes seemed to exhibit a tendency towards a more robust and compact profile with greater body strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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16 pages, 809 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

When and How a Judo Contest Ends: Analysis of Scores, Penalties, Rounds and Temporal Units in 2018, 2019 and 2021 World Championships

by Xurxo Dopico-Calvo, Xián Mayo, Luis Santos, Eduardo Carballeira, Jožef Šimenko, Bayram Ceylan, Iván Clavel and Eliseo Iglesias-Soler

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2395; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042395 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2472

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between how contests end (scores or penalties), the temporal units and the competition rounds regarding when the contest end in the 2018, 2019 and 2021 Judo World Championships. A total of 2340 contests involving 2244 elite judo athletes (1343 men and 901 women) were analysed. Pearson’s chi-squared (χ²) was implemented to analyse the association between variables, and the standardised residuals were used to analyse its interpretation; the strength of the associations was reported as Cramer’s V. Shapiro–Wilk and Kolmogorov–Smirnov were implemented to test the normality of the length of golden score (GS) sequences, and Kruskal–Wallis was applied for analysing GS sequences by championships. Mann–Whitney U was also implemented if a significant effect was detected. The level of significance was set at 0.05. The results were as follows: (1) Most contests ended before the accomplishment of the regular time (BRT), and they were won by ippon. (2) During BRT, the defeated accumulated more shido than the winner, while the opposite happened in contests finishing at the regular time (FRT). (3) Contests ending in the first and third minutes decreased, while contests ending in the second and fourth minutes increased; a longer length of the GS period was observed for women compared with men. (4) BRT contests were overrepresented in rounds 1 and 2, while extended time contests (EXT) in repechage, semi-final, bronze and final were overrepresented. (5) There were fewer waza-ari than expected during the preliminary rounds and more in the final rounds. The current study reveals cornerstone information that could be used to improve the training programs of elite judo athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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11 pages, 838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Defining the Influence of Fatigue Protocol on Kinematic Parameters of Ippon Seoi Nage

by Marko Cetinić, Vedran Dukarić, Ivan Segedi, Tomislav Rupčić and Hrvoje Sertić

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 9269; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189269 - 15 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1807

Abstract

To achieve technical efficiency in a judo fight, it is necessary to know the technical details of each throw. The tempo of a judo fight is highly intense, and it is necessary for the competitor to be physically very well prepared. Considering the tempo, an important factor in the fight is the influence of fatigue, which can significantly affect the performance of a technique. The aim of this research is to determine the kinematic parameters and the influence of the fatigue protocol during the performance of ippon seoi nage (ISN) throw. The sample of participants consists of 30 young judokas (17.02 ± 0.91 year; 72.81 ± 6.52 kg; 178.60 ± 5.60 cm). The following variables were observed with Xsens Awinda kinematic system: the angle of the left shoulder (L_shou_A); the angle of the right shoulder (R_shou_A); the difference in the height of the pelvis in the tsukuri phase (Pel_tsu_H); the difference in the height of the pelvis in the kake phase (Pel_kake_H); hand velocity (Hand_V); head position (Head_pos). The participants performed three ISN throws before and after the fatigue protocol. A statistically significant difference (MANOVA) was found between the measurements (F = 8.47; p = 0.00). Additionally, observing the differences between individual variables (ANOVA), a significant difference was found in all measured variables, with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. This research presents key kinematic parameters that had not yet been observed in this manner. Furthermore, based on the established differences, it can be concluded that the participants significantly disrupt the performance of the ISN throw technique in situational, i.e., fight, conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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13 pages, 2975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contributions of Body Segments to the Toe Velocity during Taekwondo Roundhouse Kick

by Taewoon Jung and Hyoungjin Park

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7928; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157928 - 8 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2707

Abstract

The roundhouse kick is the most commonly executed kick in Taekwondo competitions. Because it is the fastest kick among kicking techniques and can easily change its motion on the basis of the opponent’s motion, the roundhouse kick is suitable for scoring points. To explore the functional role of segmental movements during the roundhouse kick, this study aimed to investigate the effects of various footwork techniques on biomechanical contributions of body segments to toe velocity during roundhouse kicks. Ten elite Taekwondo athletes performed roundhouse kicks with different footwork positions. The contributions of body segments to the toe velocity were obtained through 3D motion analysis. Results were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and there were significant differences in the contributions of whole-body movement, trunk movement, trunk rotation, and toe velocity. It was concluded that in the minimum knee flexion (MKF) event, for all types of footwork, thigh rotation showed the most significant contribution (51–64.4%), followed by trunk rotation (16.7–29.9%) and whole-body movement (5.1–13.4%). However, in the impact event, the contribution of thigh rotation decreased, while the contribution of calf rotation increased significantly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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8 pages, 826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Weight Loss Coupled with Sport-Specific Training Impairs Heart Rate Recovery in Greco-Roman Wrestlers

by Roberto Roklicer, Carlo Rossi, Antonino Bianco, Valdemar Štajer, Nemanja Maksimovic, Marko Manojlovic, Barbara Gilic, Tatjana Trivic and Patrik Drid

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3286; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073286 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2803

Abstract

Wrestling is a sport that can be classified with the use of alternating aerobic–anaerobic metabolism with moderate but high-impact energy expenditure. Heart rate recovery (HRR) is the difference between heart rate during exercise and a certain amount of time after the start of recovery. The goal of this study was to determine the difference in HRR between two phases: high-intensity sport-specific training (HISST) combined with rapid weight loss (RWL)—phase 1 (P1) and HISST only—phase 2 (P2). Ten national-level wrestlers were included in this study. All participants underwent HISST along with RWL procedures for P1. Seven days later, during P2, an identical training session was performed with no RWL included. We found a statistically significant difference in the values obtained after the first and second minutes of recovery in the second set for both cases (p = 0.034 and p = 0.037, respectively), with higher HR values recorded in P1. It can be concluded that there is undoubtedly a difference in HRR during training and RWL compared to HISST alone. Additionally, HISST along with RWL could compromise the aerobic component of recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)

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