MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY OF ROWING FOR ELITE FEMALE ROWERS IN JAPAN

The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanical efficiensy of rowing-ergometer exercise and to evaluate it from rowing motion analysis

EXERCISE INTENSITY OF SOLO STYLE JAPANESE DRUM PLAYING AS AN AEROBIC EXERCISE OF 'TAIKOBICS

INTRODUCTION: A diversity of forms of Japanese drum playing (JDP) has survived and developed the performance of not only 'traditional styles' in the Japanese drum groups of Kaga-d(t)aiko, Konkoro-d(t)aiko, Gojinjyo-d(t)aiko, and Sagicho-d(t)aiko, etc., but also 'compositional styles' in modern hybrid groups. While historical evidence is elusive, much of the JDP in the rituals and festivals of Japan has clearly consisted of forms derived from ancestors. JDP has now become an art of music and exercise, often performed on stage and taught by professional instructors. Above all, the solo style of Japanese drum playing (SSJDP: Hitori-uchi) has been practiced all over the world. In the impressive variety of JDP, Hitori-uchi exhibits specific features or attitudes of the unique nature that the right and left stick arm movements alternate dynamically. And also, players perform aerobic exercises of 'Taikobics' (Figure 1) with the whole body, using a huge Japanese drum and sticks. Thus Hitori-uchi players have various skills of beating, involving grading, spacing, and timing, just as Japanese drum players themselves deeply appreciate the importance of major 'space' - a concept embracing the silence between sounds as well as the elastic Japanese sense of musical timing (Bowring & Kornicki, 1993). Since Hitori-uchi is an activity as a cultural form of importance especially in Japan and since such an activity would provide an extremely attractive alternative to many other exercises, it seems reasonable to investigate Hitori-uchi's potential as a cardio-respiratory fitness aid. Although some investigators have analyzed the physiological and biomechanical data in music instrument playing (Bejjani & Halpern, 1989; Bouhuys, 1969), such research regarding solo style playing is nonexistent. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the exercise intensity of Hitori-uchi as an aerobic exercise of 'Taikobics'. METHODS: Virtuosi Japanese drum players (n=8) participated in this study. Physical characteristics of subjects are presented in Table 1. A huge Japanese drum (Ohdaiko) and sticks (Ohbachi; 40 cm~3.8 cm, 0.53 kg) were used in this study. Figure 2 illustrates the schematic diagram of the experiment. Each subject performed playing the Ohdaiko for 5 minutes voluntarily in their own preferred rhythms. The sound levels were recorded using a digital sound level meter (NIHON IRYOKIKI NS-311). For all trials, oxygen uptake (VO2) was measured during the last minute of the 5 min trial. Heart rate (HR) was recorded by radio-telemetry (NIHON KOHDEN EC- 6201). Expired respiratory gas was collected using a Douglas bag. VO2 was determined with Douglas bag technique. Gas volume was measured in a dry gas meter (SHINAGAWA SEIKI DC-5). Gas samples were analyzed according to the Scholander technique for O2 and CO2, respectively. An estimate of caloric cost was obtained by multiplying VO2 (l/min) by 5.05, which represents the caloric equivalent of a respiratory exchange ratio of 1.0 (McArdle, Katch, & Katch, 1991). Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded immediately after each trial using the 15-point Borg scale (Borg, 1982). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) tests were conducted on a Jonas body guard bicycle ergometer

EFFICIENCY OF OVERARM THROWING

The term "Mechanical Efficiency" Is commonly used In the discussion of Biomechanics. And a lot of studies as for mechanical efficiency have been made on the relationship betreen work performed and corresponding enery cost in such fundamental movements as walking (Margarla 1963, Cavagna and Kaneko 1977), running (Cavagna et al. 1966, DI Prampero 1974) and blcycilng (Garry and Whishart 1934, Whlpp and Wasserman 1969). However, little was reported concerning mechanical efficiency of overarm throwing movement patterns used in Baseball, Team Handball and Basketball, and to discuss the relationship between the mechanical efficiency and three different types of throwing movement patterns from the point of ball size and weight

FUNDAMENTAL EXPERIMENT FOR CONSTRUCTING IT-TOW

The purpose of this study was to collect some baseline data which may be used for developing an IT-tow system by using a load cell. The pulling forces were measured in 3 tests, hold1 phase, hold2 phase, and drive phase. The pulling force decreased in drive phase defined as the phase the pullers are driven by opponent. This is because the pulling force in this study was defined as tension of the rope, and then pulling force measured in this phase is not produced by subject but produced by examiners side. If the IT-TOW is made by using the load cell, 2 machines have to exchange and reproduce the pulling force of each other. In case the load cell received 2 different pulling forces, pulling force produced by one side may not be measured with accuracy. To put IT-TOW into practice, the pulling force data must be exchanged and not be measured by a load cell, but defined by another system

EFFECTS OF AEROBICS CLASS ON WEIGHT LOSS AND BOW POSTURE FOR VARSITY STUDENTS

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of aerobic training class on weight loss for varsity students in comparison with tatami mats in the Judo room and the floor studio. Seventy-seven subjects participated in this study, after being confirmed by informed consent. The results showed that 51 subjects had lost weight, 66.2% of all. In regards %fat, 56 subjects had shown decreases, namely 72.7%. The data of the most weight loss was 5.4kg and the most %fat loss was 9.4%fat in the Judo room. In the focus on %fat loss subjects showed a statistically meaningful difference. It was suggested that an attempt of ukemi wearing a kimono with a tight belt and beautiful bow posture in back straight contributed to the effect of %fat loss in the Judo room and aerobics on tatami mats was the efficient exercise. In addition it was fruitful that each other bowed in respect in physique

TEAM PULLING TECHNIQUE OF THE TUG OF WAR -A BIRDS-EYE ANALYSIS OF TOW

The purpose of this study was to clarify the loss of the force on first 1 second of drop phase for Japanese female elite tug of war team from view point of a backward pulling direction. In order to examine the pulling movement, performances of 10 teams in 2006 All Japan Tug of War Championship tournament were videotaped from directly above the lane by digital video camera located near the ceiling of gymnasium. The team slanting angle was measured by using two-dimensional motion analysis system. About 0.5 % of team pulling force was wasted in first drop phase for female elite tug of war team. This is small compared with total loss of the team pulling force (about 20%. Liou et al. 2005). The lateral slanting has likely no relation with the loss of the force in drop phase

GROUPING AND NUMERIC CONVERTION AS WAY TO BOOST PERFORMANCE

The purpose of this study was to suggest that the way to boost physical education performance in elementary school by “grouping” and “numeric conversion” on physical education. In this study, 40m-hurdles and running long jump were selected as educational materials. 15 elementary school students were divided into 3 groups. Baselines were determined for each individual. Students practice in a group, with the measurement records being carried out in the P.E. class and compared against those for other groups. This way shows their goal and growth as relative numerical values. By keeping score collaboratively, students acquired new perspective when observing others. In addition, they took know-how or facture of movement into their hearts

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF TRAPEZE POSTURES ON RIGHTING FORCE IN SAILING

This study examined the effect of change of “Trapeze” postures in sailing on the horizontal force for righting the boat. Three healthy university sailors participated. The subjects were instructed to successively change their trapeze posture. The traction force of the wire was measured from which its horizontal component for righting the boat (FH) was computed. A distinct change of FH was observed when the subjects extend their legs during trapezing. From this result, it can be suggested that the change of the trapeze posture by extending the leg linked to expand the angle between the wire and mast, thereby contributing to the increase the resultant FH