Determination of Biomechanical Differences Between Elite and Novice San Shou Female Athletes

Determining the key factors in athletic performance is important for developing the technique and strength of athletes. Many martial arts forms have been studied, but a relatively new form of martial arts competition, San Shou, has not been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to determine key attributes necessary in the development of the San Shou athlete, particularly in female participants. Six elite and six novice competitors performed 30 continuous repetitions of cyclic extension and flexion of the trunk segment, knee joints, and elbows joints at two velocities, 60°/second and 180°/second, using an isokinetic dynamometer. Variables of interest were maximum torque production, normalized torque (Nm/kg), fatigue indexes (average of three maximal forces in the first three cycles/average of maximal forces in the last three cycles), and rate of torque development (Nm/s). Results indicate significant differences between groups only during trunk flexion for maximum torque, normalized torque, and rate of force development, whereas differences between movement velocities were apparent for multiple variables at each anatomic region. These analyses assist in providing further information regarding the possible key factors in developing the San Shou female athlete. Further work is required to identify additional parameters in developing the San Shou athlete

RELATIVE JOINT MOMENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE POWER GENERATED IN A MARTIAL ARTS KICK – INFLUENCE OF SKILL LEVEL

The purpose of this study was to analyse whether athletes of different skill level present different relative joint moment contributions to the power generated in a martial arts kick. This investigation was carried out using the induced power analysis, a method based on the dynamic coupling inherent to ultiarticulated systems. The comparison was done among three male karatekas, considered to be experienced, intermediate and novice. The results show that the hip extension moment was the major contributor in the production of mechanical energy in the kicking foot at impact. Similarly the hip internal rotation and ankle dorsiflexion moments worked to build up the foot’s energy for most of movement. The experienced athlete seems to benefit more from these by potentiating the moments produced in these joints

A BRIEF REVIEW: NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTIONS OF COMBAT SPORTS DURING DIFFERENT TYPES OF JUMPS

The aim of this research is to study the effect of different jumping types on vertical jumps, between athletes of different combat sports and non-athletes. The jump types investigated were squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ), where in the latter case we distinguished two different height distances (20 cm and 40 cm). The neuromuscular activation of the athletes shows better neuromuscular coordination and greater maturation than non-athletes. Although vertical jumping ability is not consistent with the technique of a combat sports athlete, however, it can be a powerful reference factor at the level of athletes when combined with individual power indices.  Article visualizations

DEVELOPMENT OF A REAL-TIME BIOFEEDBACK TOOL FOR MARTIAL ARTS COACHING PRACTICE

Power and neural response are two vital elements in martial arts striking. Currently, there are no practical methods exist to present these aspects to practitioners in a training environment. Our study has developed one. Our method consisted of an optical signal system, EMG and 3D motion capture. The feedback provided was generated by a selfdeveloped dynamic calculation programs using kinematics and EMG data as input. The results showed that our system provided both total power and its components (i.e. linear & angular) of a striking as well as the related response time. Since the method offers feedback of power intensity, attack accuracy, central and peripheral reaction time to practitioners in a quasi-training environment, it has great potential to become a real-time biofeedback tool in practice for increasing training efficiency and effectiveness

Martial Arts for Health: Translating Research into Practice

Fulltext in: http://www.esciencecentral.org/ebooks/martial-arts-for-health/pdf/martial-arts-for-health.pd

Strength & conditioning for Taekwondo athletes

Taekwondo, meaning literally ‘the way of the foot and fist’, is a Korean martial art, which first became an Olympic sport at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. A Taekwondo match is 3 rounds of 2 minutes, with a minutes rest between rounds, and takes place on a 10m2 mat. In competition, kicks and punches score points. (When contact is made to the torso (with kicks and punches), or head (with kicks only), and is of sufficient enough force to produce displacement of the body segment). As in most martial arts, contestants are weight matched. In Taekwondo, and more than likely most martial arts, fitness appears to be gained through a traditional combination of running, pad work, technical drills and sparring. Most athletes are reluctant to undergo strength training due to fears of a loss in flexibility, speed and a gain in body mass. The latter point is especially important and provides for a significant barrier, as athletes will often aim to compete at their lowest possible weight in order to fight opponents of lower mass. The aim of this article therefore, is to rationalise the use of Strength and Conditioning (S&C) within Taekwondo, and dispel any myths that prevent this form of intervention. The article further aims to describe and rationalise “gym based” methods to further enhance athletic performance and finally, present the reader with an evidence-based S&C programme

Differences in the electromyography activity of a roundhouse kick between novice and advanced taekwondo athletes

P. 31-38Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las diferencias en la activación muscular y el momento de máxima amplitud electromiográfica antes y después del impacto de la patada circular (bandalchagui) entre los atletas novatos y avanzados de taekwondo. Método: dieciséis competidores de taekwondo (cuatro mujeres) se clasificaron según los años de práctica en novatos (n = 8, 3 años de experiencia). Las variables de activación muscular y el momento de máxima amplitud electromiográfica se expresaron como un porcentaje con respecto a la máxima contracción isométrica voluntaria y el ciclo de patada, respectivamente. El tamaño del efecto se calculó con la d de Cohen y se estableció un nivel de significación de p .5). Se observaron diferencias post-impacto entre los grupos para el vasto medial (p = .041; d = .761). El momento de máxima amplitud de la electromiografía reflejó diferencias en ambas fases para bíceps y músculos semitendinosos (p .5). Conclusión: se observaron diferencias en la actividad electromiográfica por años de experiencia entre los atletas de taekwondo, que podrían considerarse para el control de entrenamientoS