The Contribution of Expert Coaches’ Experiential Knowledge in Understanding Punching Performance in Boxers

Traditionally, the field of sports science has been interested in conducting research that is predominately quantitative in nature. Although this approach has provided significant findings, this has led to expert coaches’ experiential knowledge being neglected in favour of empirical knowledge. By investigating punching in boxing, we are interested in developing an understanding of whether elite coaches, through their experiential knowledge, intuitively identify key characteristics of effective punching as identified in controlled experimental research. For this purpose, five interviews were conducted with professional and amateur boxing coaches. From this qualitative approach it was evident that coaches’ knowledge was consistent with that of the empirical research on effective punching performance with four principal components emerging from the interview data. These included: 1) whole body movement, 2) footwork, 3) hip and shoulder rotation, and 4) hand and arm position. The data illuminated how coaches’ knowledge can be used to strengthen empirical findings in sports performance, in this case punching in boxing. Additionally, characteristics of performance that were discussed by coaches that were not identified in the empirical literature highlight directions for further research regarding effective punching technique, an area that requires further investigation before conclusive structures of good practice can be applied

An analysis of the three-dimensional kinetics and kinematics of maximal effort punches among amateur boxers.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport on 27-9-18, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2018.1525651The purpose of this study was to quantify the 3D kinetics and kinematics of six punch types among amateur boxers. Fifteen males (age: 24.9 ± 4.2 years; stature: 1.78 ± 0.1 m; body mass: 75.3 ± 13.4 kg; boxing experience: 6.3 ± 2.8 years) performed maximal effort punches against a suspended punch bag during which upper body kinematics were assessed via a 3D motion capture system, and ground reaction forces (GRF) of the lead and rear legs via two force plates. For all variables except elbowjoint angular velocity, analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences between straight, hook and uppercut punches. The lead hook exhibited the greatest peak fist velocity (11.95 ± 1.84 m/s), the jab the shortest delivery time (405 ± 0.15 ms), the rear uppercut the greatest shoulder-joint angular velocity (1069.8 ± 104.5°/s), and the lead uppercut the greatest elbow angular velocity (651.0 ± 357.5°/s). Peak resultant GRF differed significantly (P < 0.05) between rear and lead legs for the jab punch only. Whilst these findings provide novel descriptive data for coaches and boxers, future research should examine if physical and physiological capabilities relate to the key biomechanical qualities associated with maximal punching performance

The Contribution of Expert Coaches’ Experiential Knowledge in Understanding Punching Performance

Traditionally, the field of sports science has been interested in conducting research that is predominately quantitative in nature. Although this approach has provided significant findings, this has led to expert coaches’ experiential knowledge being neglected in favour of empirical knowledge. By investigating punching in boxing, we are interested in developing an understanding of whether elite coaches, through their experiential knowledge, intuitively identify key characteristics of effective punching as identified in controlled experimental research. For this purpose, five interviews were conducted with professional and amateur boxing coaches. From this qualitative approach it was evident that coaches’ knowledge was consistent with that of the empirical research on effective punching performance with four principal components emerging from the interview data. These included: 1) whole body movement, 2) footwork, 3) hip and shoulder rotation, and 4) hand and arm position. The data illuminated how coaches’ knowledge can be used to strengthen empirical findings in sports performance, in this case punching in boxing. Additionally, characteristics of performance that were discussed by coaches that were not identified in the empirical literature highlight directions for further research regarding effective punching technique, an area that requires further investigation before conclusive structures of good practice can be applied