Offensive and defensive efficacy among male and female elite foil fencers

Fencing is a combat sport, where beyond physical and physiological demands, strategy and tactics are crucial factors in order to identify fencers’ performance. Fencers’ tactical movements can be separated in preparatory actions and final actual offensive (attacks) and defensive (parries and counter-attacks) actions. The aim of this study is to analyse the tactical choices of elite male and female qualifiers foil fencers in finals and semi-finals bouts of the 2016-17 FIE (International Fencing Federation) competitions. Attacking and defending points were recorded, compared with the type of point, the section thrusts were landed and the time period they were noted. The present study revealed significant difference between offensive and defensive efficacy in both male (p<0.003) and female fencers (p=0.019). Male fencers showed greater activation than women (p=0.003), finishing their bouts much earlier (p=0.000), since they needed less time to accomplish an actual action (p=0.001). In conclusion, male could be characterized as ‘’permanently pressing’’ fencers, while female adopted a ‘’manoeuvring-attacking’’ style, since male fencers had greater percentage of total actions on the middle section of the piste (p=0.011) and female fencers had greater number of defending actions on the back section (p=0.033), respectively

Anthropometric and Leg Power Factors Affect Offensive Kinetic Patterns in Fencing

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 919-931, 2021. This study aimed to identify potential factors that may influence specific fencing offensive kinetic patterns in a large group of well-trained fencers having different ages, gender level, and training specialization. One-hundred-thirty fencers (males: n = 72) and (females: n = 58), participating in three different fencing weapons (epee, foil, and sabre), having considerable experience of national and international competitions. All members of seven national fencing teams were measured for basic anthropometric parameters, leg power performance and velocity values for three specific kinetic offensive patterns during an International Fencing camp. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a significant velocity multivariate effect in age competitive categories (Wilks Λ = 0.129, F = 2.112, p \u3c0.01, n2 = 0.060) gender (Wilks Λ = 0.103, F = 3.743, p \u3c 0.05, n2 = 0.103), competition levels (Wilks Λ = 0.863, F = 5.198, p \u3c0.01, n2 = 0.137) and discipline practiced (Wilks Λ = 0.239, F = 4.305, p \u3c 0.001, n2 = 0.119) respectively. Significant correlations were observed between lunge and step lunge velocity and long jump (LJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ), and reaction strength index (RSI). Age, gender, level of participants, and the choice of the weapon practiced, influenced fencing performance. Different leg power abilities could be decisive factors in training schedules design and monitoring training adaptations

FORCE-VELOCITY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPRINTING AND JUMPING TESTING PROCEDURES

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the mechanical characteristics of the horizontal and vertical Force-velocity (F-v) profile as well as the performance variables of the sprinting and jumping testing procedures. Twenty high-level sprinters performed two maximal sprints and squat jumps against multiple external loads. Our main findings revealed very large correlations for maximal mechanical power output (Pmax) (r=0.72), as well as for performance variables between the sprinting and jumping tasks (r=-0.81) and large correlations for maximal velocity (V0) (r=0.66). The maximal force (F0) and the slope of the F-v relationship (F-v slope) were not significantly correlated between both tasks. These results suggest that both testing procedures should be performed in order to gain a deeper insight into the maximal mechanical properties and function of the lower-body muscles in high-level sprinters

DIFFERENCES IN MAXIMAL STRENGTH CAPACITY BETWEEN ISOMETRIC SQUAT AND MID-THIGH PULL TESTS IN ELITE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES.

The aim of this study was to compare the vertical peak force (PF) generated during the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) and isometric squat (ISqT) performed at the same knee and hip angles. Fourteen elite track and field athletes performed 3 maximal efforts of isometric IMTP and ISqT tests. The vertical PF was measured by a force platform (Kistler 9290CD, AG Winterthur, Switzerland). Our findings revealed significant higher PF and relative PF during ISqT than IMTP (Mean difference: 953 ± 224 N, p \u3c 0.001, d = 1.62 and 14.6 ± 2.4 N.kg-1, p \u3c 0.001, d = 3.8, respectively). The results of this study suggest that ISqT may be more appropriate testing procedure for identifying athletes’ maximum isometric strength capacities in elite track and field athletes

EFFECTS OF SYSTEMATIC RESISTANCE TRAINING ON THE LEVELS OF SPECIFIC HORMONES (TESTOSTERONE, SHBG, FAI) AND STRENGTH MUSCLE: MASS PARAMETERS IN INDIVIDUALS OF PREPUBESCENT, PUBESCENT AND POST PUBESCENT AGE

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY, HAS BEEN TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF SYSTEMATIC RESISTANCE TRAINING, (TWO MONTHS, 3 SETS BY 10 REPETITION, 60% OF MAXIMUMSTRENGTH), AND DETRAINING, ON THE LEVELS OF TESTOSTERONE, SHBG, FAI, AND STRENGTH - MUSCLE MASS PARAMETERS, IN INDIVIDUALS OF PREPUBESCENT (P1), PUBESCENT (P2) AND POST PUBESCENT AGE (P3). ON COMPLETING THE SECOND MONTH OF RESISTANCE TRAINING, TESTOSTERONE LEVELS OF P1, P2 INCREASED BY 124% AND 32% (P<0.001),SHBG LEVELS OF P3, DECREASED BY 20% (P<0.05), AND FAI LEVELS OF P1, P3 INCREASED BY 74% AND 22% (P<0.005 - 0.05). ALL THE STRENGTH - MUSCLE MASS VALUES OFP1, P2, P3 INCREASED BY 4% - 21% RESPECTIVELY. (P<0.05 - 0.001). THE CORRELATION OF INDIVIDUAL HORMONAL VALUES AND MUSCLE MASS PARAMETERS GAVE NON SIGNIFICANT PEARSON R COEFFICIENT. IN CONCLUSION THE MUSCLE MASS PARAMETER VARIATIONS ARE PROBABLY MORE DEPENDANT ON THE FUNCTION MODIFICATION OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM IN TRAINEES THAN ON THE ANABOLIC ACTIVITY OF HORMONAL PARAMETERS.ΜΕΛΕΤΗΘΗΚΕ Η ΕΠΙΔΡΑΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΜΗΝΗΣ ΣΥΣΤΗΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΠΡΟΠΟΝΗΣΗΣ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΕΩΝ (3 ΣΕΙΡΕΣ ΤΩΝ 10 ΕΠΑΝΑΛΗΨΕΩΝ, 60% ΤΗΣ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΗΣ ΔΥΝΑΜΗΣ) ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΜΗΝΗΣ ΑΠΡΟΠΟΝΗΣΗΣ, ΣΤΗ ΣΤΑΘΜΗ ΤΗΣ ΟΛΙΚΗΣ ΤΕΣΤΟΣΤΕΡΟΝΗΣ (Τ), ΤΗΣ ΦΥΛΟΔΕΣΜΕΥΤΙΚΗΣ ΣΦΑΙΡΙΝΗΣ (SHBG)ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΔΕΙΚΤΗ ΤΩΝ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΩΝ ΑΝΔΡΟΓΟΝΩΝ (FAI) ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΟΙΧΩΝ ΜΥΟΔΥΝΑΜΙΚΩΝ ΠΑΡΑΜΕΤΡΩΝ, ΣΕ ΑΡΡΕΝΑ ΑΤΟΜΑ ΠΕΡΙΗΒΙΚΗΣ (Π1), ΜΕΣΗΣ ΕΦΗΒΙΚΗΣ (Π2) ΚΑΙ ΟΨΙΜΗΣ ΕΦΗΒΙΚΗΣ ΗΛΙΚΙΑΣ (Π3). ΣΤΟ ΤΕΛΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΜΗΝΟΥ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΟΣ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΕΩΝ, Η ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ (Τ) ΤΗΣ Π1, ΥΠΕΡΔΙΠΛΑΣΙΑΣΤΗΚΕ (P<0.001), ΤΗΣ Π2 ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΕ ΚΑΤΑ 32% (P<0.001), Η ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ (SHBG) ΤΗΣ Π3 ΜΕΙΩΘΗΚΕ ΚΑΤΑ 20% (P<0.05), ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΤΙΜΕΣΤΟΥ FAI ΤΩΝ Π1 ΚΑΙ Π3 ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΚΑΤΑ 74% ΚΑΙ 22% (P<0.005 - 0.05) ΑΝΤΙΣΤΟΙΧΑ. ΟΙ ΤΙΜΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΙΣΟΜΕΤΡΙΚΗΣ ΔΥΝΑΜΗΣ, ΤΗΣ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΕΙΑΣ, ΤΟΥ ΟΓΚΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΠΕΡΙΜΕΤΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΒΡΑΧΙΟΝΑ ΣΕ ΣΥΣΠΑΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΟΜΑΔΩΝ, ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ, 4 - 21% (P<0.05 - 0.001) ΑΝΤΙΣΤΟΙΧΑ. ΔΕΝ ΥΠΗΡΞΕ ΣΥΣΧΕΤΙΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΟΡΜΟΝΙΚΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΥΟΔΥΝΑΜΙΚΩΝ ΠΑΡΑΜΕΤΡΩΝ, ΤΟ ΟΠΟΙΟ ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΠΤΕΙ ΟΤΙ Η ΑΥΞΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΜΥΙΚΗΣ ΜΑΖΑΣ, ΔΕΝ ΟΦΕΙΛΕΤΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΒΟΛΙΚΗ ΔΡΑΣΤΗΡΙΟΤΗΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΝΔΡΟΓΟΝΩΝ, ΑΛΛΑ ΣΕ ΑΛΛΟΥΣ ΦΥΣΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟΥΣ ΠΑΡΑΓΟΝΤΕΣ ΠΟΥ ΣΧΕΤΙΖΟΝΤΑΙ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΑΣΚΗΣΙΟΓΕΝΗ ΤΡΟΠΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΝΕΥΡΟΜΥΙΚΟΥ ΣΥΣΤΗΜΑΤΟΣ

ACUTE EFFECTS OF TWO DIFFERENT WARM-UP PROTOCOLS ON FLEXIBILITY AND LOWER LIMB EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE IN MALE AND FEMALE HIGH LEVEL ATHLETES

This study examined the effects of two different warm-up protocols on lower limb power and flexibility in high level athletes. Twenty international level fencers (10 males and 10 females) performed two warm-up protocols that included 5-min light jogging and either short (15s) or long (45s) static stretching exercises for each of the main leg muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings and triceps surae), followed by either 3 sets of 3 (short stretching treatment), or 3 sets of 5 tuck jumps (long stretching treatment), in a randomized crossover design with one week between treatments. Hip joint flexion was measured with a Lafayette goniometer before and after the 5-min warm-up, after stretching and 8 min after the tuck jumps, while counter movement jump (CMJ) performance was evaluated by an Ergojump contact platform, before and after the stretching treatment, as well as immediately after and 8 minutes after the tuck jumps. Three way ANOVA (condition, time, gender) revealed significant time (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.001) main effects for hip joint flexion, with no interaction between factors. Flexibility increased by 6. 8 ± 1.1% (p < 0.01) after warm-up and by another 5.8 ± 1.6% (p < 0.01) after stretching, while it remained increased 8 min after the tuck jumps. Women had greater ROM compared with men at all time points (125 ± 8° vs. 94 ± 4° p<0.01 at baseline), but the pattern of change in hip flexibility was not different between genders. CMJ performance was greater in men compared with women at all time points (38.2 ± 1.9 cm vs. 29.8 ± 1.2 cm p < 0.01 at baseline), but the percentage of change CMJ performance was not different between genders. CMJ performance remained unchanged throughout the short stretching protocol, while it decreased by 5.5 ± 0.9% (p < 0.01) after stretching in the long stretching protocol However, 8 min after the tuck jumps, CMJ performance was not different from the baseline value (p = 0.075). In conclusion, lower limb power may be decreased after long periods of stretching, but performance of explosive exercises may reverse this phenomeno

ANTHROPOMETRIC, FLEXIBILITY, STRENGTH-POWER, AND SPORT-SPECIFIC CORRELATES IN ELITE FENCING

This study investigated selected structural correlates of fencing performance. 33 elite fencers were tested on (a) selected anthropometric, and strength-power related parameters, and (b) specific lower extremity functional fencing tests. Multiple regression showed that drop jump and thigh cross-sectional area were best predictors of lunge time and distance of squat jump on the shuttle test. When the two performance variables were expressed per Lean Body Mass, lunge time was significantly predicted only by the performance on the arm-driven counter-movement jump, while time on the shuttle test was best predicted by three noncollinear significant predictors: squat jump performance, thigh circumference, and percent body fat. Lunge time and time on the shuttle test were predicted by explosive power, while none of the nontrainable anthropometric measures or years of training seemed to be important in performance of fencing-related skills

INFLUENCE OF TYPE OF MUSCLE CONTRACTION AND GENDER ON POSTACTIVATION POTENTIATION OF UPPER AND LOWER LIMB EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE IN ELITE FENCERS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postactivation potentiation (PAP) effect of isometric and plyometric contractions on explosive performance of the upper and the lower limbs in male and female elite athletes. Thirteen male and ten female international level fencers performed four protocols of either isometric (3 sets of 3 sec) or plyometric (3 sets of 5 repetitions) bench and leg press, in a within subject randomized design. Before and immediately after the PAP treatment and following 4, 8, 12 min, explosive performance was measured by performing a countermovement jump (CMJ) or a bench press throw. Statistical analysis revealed significant time effect for peak leg power during the CMJ (p < 0.001) only for men, with values after the isometric PAP treatment being lower than baseline at the 8 and 12 min time points (by 7.5% (CI95% = 3.9-11.2%) and 8.7% (CI95% = 6.0-11.5%, respectively), while after the plyometric PAP treatment peak leg power remained unchanged. A significant negative correlation was found between leg strength (as expressed by 1-RM leg press performance) and the change in peak leg power between baseline and after 12 min of recovery only in male fencers (r = -0.55, p < 0.05), suggesting that stronger individuals may show a greater decrease in peak leg power. Based on the above results we conclude that lower body power performance in international level fencers may be negatively affected after isometric contractions and thus they should be advised against using isometric exercises to induce PAP with the protocol prescribed in the present study. Furthermore, gender and strength level must be considered in the practical application of PA

Reliabilities of leg and vertical stiffness during treadmill running

International audienc