Having an understanding of injury prevalence is of great importance to athletes and coaches, as well as medical and performance specialists working with those particular sports. This study contributed to the growing body of combat sports injury prevalence literature through a questionnaire based study of injury rates in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ).   A 67-question online survey was completed by 1140 BJJ athletes, detailing injury history over the preceding 3 years. Injuries were defined as episodes that resulted in an absence from training for >2 weeks.    Over a 3 year period, 31.2% of athletes stayed injury-free, 48.7% suffered 1

Given the footwork and movement-related demands, as well as the abundance of lower body techniques used, the prevalence of lower limb injury in taekwondo (TKD) is thought to be high. This descriptive analysis sought to investigate the prevalence and nature of ankle and foot injuries in TKD athletes.  TKD athletes from the German Olympic training were monitored over a 5-year period, where data for match exposure was recorded. The athletes were screened for foot and ankle injuries, and in the case of an acute injury were examined by a sports physician.  Among 107 athletes studied there were 112 injuries in

  The Impact Monitoring Mouthguard (IMM) is a wearable device used to measure head trauma during combat via linear and angulation kinematic recording via 4 accelerometers, each transmitting 3 channels of data. This study used the above-mentioned device to quantify and compare head impacts between boxing and MMA training and competition.   23 participants (19M/4F) were fitted with custom IMMs and data was collected over 54 sparring sessions and 6 matches. This data was correlated with video footage to exclude false positives. The athletes went about their normal sparring sessions and matches were conducted under regular conditions (including the use

Weight cutting, and the associated risks and advantages/disadvantages is a topic of great focus in the combat sports world. Most combat sports athletes will engage in rapid weight loss (RWL) prior to weigh-in, followed by rapid weight gain (RWG) leading up to the scheduled bout.    The health risks associated with these practices have been identified in previous studies, however the perceived advantages come match day have led to most athletes continuing RWL/RWG practices.    Previous research into the effect on performance has been conflicting. Some studies have shown improved performance following greater RWL/RWG in MMA, wrestling and judo, some

Hip pain is common in many sports, including field-based sports that involve rotation. Given the kicking demands of martial arts such as karate, hip pain is thought to be of high prevalence.   This study used an American midwestern statewide survey of 180 (112M/66F) karate athletes of different levels.   54 athletes (30.5%) had experienced hip pain There were no differences in prevalence between males and females Incidence of hip pain was positively correlated with duration of practice The most common area of hip pain was the lateral hip Elite (defined as being a member of the national team) athletes

  The knee is a common site of injury in many sports, including combat sports. Due to the direct stress to knee structures during submission attempts, the prevalence of knee injury in Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ) is thought to be high. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of knee injuries in BJJ and compare this to other sports.    198 BJJ athletes answered a mixed questionnaire based on the Referred Morbidity Instrument. A musculoskeletal injury was defined as any event that causes absence from training or competition for > 1 week, change to training habits for >2weeks, or results in

When we analyse the kinetic chain motion of the punch, there is an obvious contribution from the rotation of the hips and trunk. More proficient punchers tend to have superior utilization of these rotational elements, as the greater movement that occurs allows for greater force production and also allows the athlete to function more within their limits of range, where they likely exhibit greater strength and power. While this may be simply due to technical proficiency, it is also hypothesized that range of motion may also be an important contributing factor.   Sometimes it is useful to utilise knowledge from

In any competitive activity, an athlete must have an optimal level of psychological arousal to facilitate ideal performance. It is thought that higher anxiety and harm avoidance is associated with poorer performance in combat sports. It is also thought that certain genetic psychological traits, in particular the behavioural response to stress, are associated with greater sports performance. In this study, 46 italian karate athletes underwent genomic DNA 5HTTLPR polymorphism testing, as well as a personality questionnaire (TPQ). They then participated in a match, with cortisol levels (used as a proxy for anxiety levels) measured 10 minutes before and 10 minutes

A history of sports-related head trauma may be associated with long-term neurological deficits. As such, methods to monitor certain aspects of neurological function in combat athletes could provide useful information and optimise the integration of protective strategies.   This was another great study from @  ‘s group out of Victoria University in British Columbia. 67 participants, including 19 striking combat sports (MMA, kickboxing, muay thai) athletes, 25 athletes from non-striking combat sports and other sports, and 23 active controls, underwent testing on an electronic balance board. Participants who had sustained head trauma in the prior 3 days or had been

As striking power is a key characteristic for success in combat sports involving striking, measurement of this quality is useful for assessing the outcome of training interventions. The authors of this paper conducted a review of the current literature pertaining to assessment of punching force.  9 papers between 2000 and 2021 were included in the review, totalling 160 participants. Although all of these methods were shown to be reliable, due to the significant differences in methodology, results from the different methods cannot be compared. Therefore, future research should look into a comparison of different methods.  Akbaş, Anna, Anna Brachman, Bartłomiej

Rule changes are periodically made in sports, often to reduce the incidence of injury or make the sport more spectator-friendly. From a sports performance perspective, it is important to understand the changes in physiological demands that may occur secondary to a rule change.  In 2017, several rule changes were made by World Taekwondo, including raising the severity of penalties for specific non-fighting activities and overuse of “phantom striking,” raising the scoring of kicks delivered to the torso from 1 to 2 points, and limiting the amount of fouls causing disqualification from 10 to 5.  The authors in this study analysed

Having an understanding of injury epidemiology in a specific sport is important for athletes, coaches and medical professionals. The authors of this paper conducted a systematic review and meta analysis of the rates and nature of injuries in competitive judoka.  Due to the diverse nature of the studies and the types of injuries included, it was difficult for the authors to reach a consensus around the rates of different types of injuries. However, whilst less severe injuries such as strains and sprains were commonly reported, an alarming finding was that head and neck injuries were described as the most commonly

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a sport that relies heavily on both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Having population-specific data in terms of athletic performance variables can aid in designing and implementing sports performance programs.  12 BJJ athletes (including national and international level competitors) were assessed using:  Squat jump, countermovement jump, plyometric push up Lower (running) and upper (cycle ergometer) body graded aerobic test Lower and upper body wingate anaerobic test  Average results from the tests were as follows: Squat jump 37.8cm Countermovement jump 41.5cm Plyometric push up 15.7cm Lower body anaerobic peak power 11.9 W/kg Upper body anaerobic peak

The average reaction time of combat athletes is >500ms, which is much slower than the speed of a punch (200s) or kick (260s). Because of this, athletes must rely on detection of initiation signals in order to defend or counter attack. These early cues are also known as “telegraphs” (TGs). It is also known that more experienced athletes focus on more proximal body segments of their opponents. As a result of this, athletes need to decrease the extent to which they perform these TGs, whilst maintaining biomechanical efficacy and effectiveness of their technique. The aim of this study was to

There has been a rapid increase in the number of combat sports-specific fitness tests being assessed in research environments and utilised in the field. This should in theory lead to more accurate assessment of sports-specific performance and optimised program design.  The researchers in this study sought to investigate the validity of a taekwondo (TKD)-specific cardiopulmonary test, and compare it to a traditional cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and a continuous TKD-specific exercise test.  15 competitive male TKD athletes performed 3 different protocols on separate days, separated by 2-7 days. A portable gas analyser was used to measure VO2 and heart rate

Eye injuries are a common occurrence in mixed martial arts (MMA) due to the frequency and diversity of head attacks, the size of the gloves used, and the fact that the fingers are uncovered, leading to the potential for illegal eye pokes. This study sought to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of eye injuries in mixed martial arts. The researchers analysed all professional MMA event data from the Nevada state athletic commission between 2001 and 2020.  2208 fights were recorded from 256 events. Eye injuries were reported in 73% of events for a total of 369 eye injuries. The rate

The environment within which an athletic event takes place can influence the physiological and psychological response of competitors, therefore influencing performance. Changes in competition area may force technical and tactical changes, therefore increasing or decreasing output and effort, and may also change perceived pressure. This study assessed the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate and blood lactate response of 20 elite female judoka to a 4m sparring bout on different mat sizes (4x4m, 6x6m, 8x8m), as well as with 3 different work:rest ratios (Self-selected (free), 2:1, 3:1). The free condition was hypothesised to result in a lower work:rest ratio,

Boxing is characterized by repeated head contact, and participation results in increased risk of head and brain injury. The occurrence of these injuries is correlated with the number of punches received to the head during training and competition. Furthermore, the number of hits received to the head during competition negatively impacts judging criteria and therefore match results.  Researchers in Japan have created a motion-capture software system (the FTS, or Fist Tactics Support) specifically designed to measure the number of different types of strikes landed, and the type of defensive movements used when then these strikes are landed. They conducted a

Rapid weight loss (RWL) is commonplace in most combat sports in order to gain a perceived competitive advantage over opponents. Despite this, strong concerns remain regarding the safety for athletes undergoing this process. As the main mechanism of rapid weight loss is dehydration, it makes sense that the kidneys are placed under a significant degree of stress. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current evidence in relation to the impact of rapid weight loss in combat sports athletes on kidney function. A total of 10 studies, including 171 athletes from judo, TKD, MMA, muay thai and wrestling were included

I am a big fan of the cross education effect, and use it often in the rehabilitation setting.  Past research has shown that resistance training on one limb may enhance strength levels on the other, and that when the other limb is immobilized (which would usually lead to a decrease in strength and muscle mass), strength and size is maintained.  This study sought to investigate the differences in the cross education effect between eccentric-only training and eccentric-concentric training. 18 men and 12 women underwent immobilisation of their non-dominant arm for 4 weeks. The participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups;

Russian sambo was the official sport of the USSR prior to 1940, and has produced a long list of high-level mixed martial arts performers, none more notable than current UFC P4P king Khabib Nurmegomedov. This was the first study to date looking at rapid weight loss (RWL) practices specifically in sambo athletes, and was based on rapid weight loss questionnaire data from the 2020 world sambo championships in Serbia. 199 (132 male, 67 female) athletes participated in the study. The athletes on average cut weight 4.14 times in the last season, cut on average 5.27kg (8% body mass), regained on

Head injuries are arguably the most serious injuries in mixed martial arts (MMA). Recurrent head trauma is thought to be associated with an increased risk of the development of neurodegenerative disease, and is the primary cause of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). As MMA as a sport is still in its relative infancy, research into long-term brain health of athletes is scarce. This systematic review looked at 30 studies of head injuries in MMA and their relationship to cognitive impairments/brain damage. Head injuries accounted for 58-78% of all injuries, with between 29.1 and 34% of athletes reporting having been KO’d/TKO’d in

Weight cutting in combat sports, including mixed martial arts (MMA), is a huge issue of debate due to the health risks to the athletes undergoing this practice. In 2016 the California state athletic commission changed their weigh-in process to allow athletes to weigh in 30 hours prior to their bout, rather than the customary 24 hours. This was termed the Early Weigh-in Policy (EWIP). Other measures included banning the use of intravenous rehydration, and allowing physicians to assess the athletes for signs of dehydration. The aim of these changes were to decrease the use of severe hydration techniques, ensure healthy

Caffeine supplementation has been shown to be effective in improving performance in strength, endurance and repeat high-intensity exercise. Although the use of caffeine supplementation in combat sports has increased since it was removed from the WADA prohibited substance list, the effects of caffeine specific to combat sports have yet to be investigated.  Caffeine is thought to improve performance by increasing calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, increasing motor unit recruitment, increasing glycolytic energy system contribution, as well as acting on adenosine receptors to decrease perceived exertion.  10 national level judo and BJJ athletes underwent two separate, randomized testing trials, in

When athletes present to us with orthopedic-related pain, it is our duty to provide them with the most thorough and appropriate explanation of their problem, in order to facilitate the optimal management plan. Part of this involves providing a working diagnosis with which to classify the problem, base our interventions, and effectively communicate with other medical and health professionals.    Older, more biomedical models of pain focused on structural diagnoses, given the best information available at the time. Unfortunately, the science behind many diagnostic labels has been questioned, and in some cases, disproven, however such terms have remained commonplace in

Many individuals use the early part of the year to set goals for the year ahead. The goal setting process can be conducted in a number of different ways. A recent study looked to assess the effect of different types of goal setting on desired outcomes. ⅔ of the goals were related to health, fitness, weight loss or nutrition.  1,066 Swedish participants were separate into groups based on the degree of support provided: No support Some support, who were given information about the importance of social support, and provided with monthly follow-ups. Extended support, who were, in addition, provided with

In 2013 the international boxing association (AIBA) prohibited the use of headguards for male olympic boxing competitions, claiming that the use of headguards promoted a false sense of security and risk taking behaviour, and may actually lead to greater head injuries. However, there is still the possibility that headguards decrease direct impact and help protect against cuts and haematomas.  The aim of this study was to summarise the current literature regarding the impact of headguards on injury risk in boxing. 39 papers were included in the review.  Across the studies there was a large discrepancy in reported concussion rates, making

Preparedness for sport depends on a number of different cognitive factors, and it is believed that the manifestations of athlete’s readiness for sport may be different among athletes from different combat sports backgrounds. This study sought to identify links between neurodynamic and cognitive functions among athletes practicing different martial arts. 28 wrestlers, 34 judokas, and 23 boxers underwent tests to identify nonverbal intelligence, comparison of numbers and speed of perception. Wrestlers demonstrated the greatest visual analysis ability as well as the lowest processing time, followed by judokas. Impulsiveness (the ability of the nervous system to quickly shift during excitation and

Elite athletes often have to travel long distances to compete, and many times have to perform with little time to recover. This review looked at the research regarding the effect of long haul travel on athletic performance. 14 studies were identified relating to soccer, skeleton, gymnastics, wheelchair basketball, rugby league and rowing, and assessed psychometric markers, physiological markers and performance markers.  Whilst most athletes reported feeling jet lagged following long haul (LH) flights, measures such as wellness, mood and recovery-stress questionnaires were not affected.  Some studies showed disturbances in heart rate variability, salivary cortisol and melatonin levels, blood pressure. In

Judo is a martial art/sport consisting of repeated bursts of high-intensity effort over a relatively short (4 min) period of time (more in the case of an extension). As such, improvements in muscular strength and power are likely to improve judo performance. Many different types of physical preparation programs have been used to improve performance in Judo in adults, however this study sought to look at the effects of strength and conditioning programs on judo performance in cadet athletes.   16 experienced judo athletes aged 15-17 were randomised into a control group, which completed an average of 360 minutes/week of judo

Joint lock submissions and strangulations/chokes account for a large number of finishes in mixed martial arts (MMA). The percentage of UFC matches ending in submission between 1993 and 2002 was 30%. This study aimed to review the statistics from recent MMA events.  The fight outcomes from a total of 1903 bouts from 167 UFC events between 2014 and 2017 were analysed. From this data, it was observed that 47.7% (male)/62.9% (female) of bouts ended in decision, 17.3(male)21.1%(female) by submission, and 32.2%(male)/15.4%(female) by KO/TKO. The most submissions occurred in the male fly, bantam and light and female straw weight divisions and

Both pre-conditioning and recovery strategies are frequently utilised by athletes from a large range of sports, however minimal research exists in terms of their prevalence amongst boxers.  The authors of this paper administered a questionnaire to 101 boxers of 2 different levels (senior elite and senior development) regarding their pre-conditioning and recovery habits.  Pre-competition priming may consist of acute (e.g. low-volume high neural demand exercise, up to 15 minutes prior to the event) or delayed (more moderate volume, 6-48 hours before) potentiation techniques.  Common recovery strategies include massage, compression, cold water immersion, mobility work, sleep optimisation, supplementation and active recovery. 

The NCAA instigated the wrestling weight management program (WMP) in 1998 in response to the deaths of 3 collegiate wrestlers. Under this program, athletes are permitted to lose a maximum weight of 1.5% off-season body mass per week. There have been concerns over the intertester reliability, measurement validity and appropriateness of the prediction equations.  This study sought to compare measurements taken using the currently approved methods of  skinfolds (SF) and air displacement plethysmography (ADP), with the currently non-approved methods of dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and ultrasound (US). 31 male athletes were assessed with all four methods, then, using 5% BF

Techniques aimed at rendering an opponent unconscious due to restriction of blood flow to the brain, are commonly utilised in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. These techniques are commonly described as “chokes”, but are more technically “strangulations”. A knowledge of these techniques is important for both athletes and coaches, as well as medical professionals working in the field.  This study analysed strangulation techniques in UFC events between 1993 and 2020. In 5834 bouts there were 1186 grappling-related submissions, including 904 chokes/strangulations, comprising 15.5% of all fight outcomes.  9% of these submissions resulted in a loss of consciousness, with the remainder

Given that most combat athletes compete in weight divisions and are often forced to adjust dietary habits in order to make weight, the risk of developing disordered eating behaviours is elevated. This study sought to identify trends between sport-specific self-confidence, pre-competition weight loss, and disordered eating.    Elite and sub-elite MMA (n=47) and BJJ (n=64) practitioners were recruited via survey, and their current body mass in comparison with intended competition weight was noted, The participants also completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), as well as the Trait Sport Confidence Inventory Test (TSCI).    As expected, MMA athletes cut more

Concussions are a major issue within combat sports and can lead to serious and long-term negative health consequences. Within many combat sports, a bout may be stopped due to a TKO, where the athlete is determined to not be in a position to safely defend themself, or at risk of harm should the bout continue. A fight being stopped too late may result in serious damage, unnecessary concussion, or an increase in the severity of concussion symptoms. In many cases, it is the responsibility of the referee to determine the point at which a fight is stopped.    In other

A knowledge of injury epidemiology in specific sporting populations is important in understanding injury risk and instigating preventative measures.    Injury rates from the last 3 summer olympic games (Beijing, 2008, London, 2012, and Rio De Janeiro, 2016) were compiled for boxing, wrestling, judo and taekwondo. The data was collected using the IOC injury & illness surveillance system. For the purposes of this study, injury was defined “as a new or recurring musculoskeletal complaint, concussion or other medical condition incurred in competition during the Olympic Games receiving medical attention, regardless of the consequences with respect to absence from competition or

Language has been a major focus in recent times in regards to chronic pain management, however its relevance to acute injuries is often under appreciated. This editorial proposes 8 recommendations in terms of language used in the case of acute injury.   In the absence of trauma, do not assume that pain indicates tissue damage Assuming the presence of tissue damage may cause an athlete to adopt overly protective behaviours, possibly leading to altered movement patterns and unnecessary deloading.   Do not refer for imaging unless it will directly influence care, or when there is suspicion of serious or specific

As Taekwondo (TKD) competition is primarily composed of a succession of short-duration, high-intensity interactions, it is important for tests designed to measure the repeat effort ability of its athletes to assess these characteristics.    Previous TKD-specific tests, such as the Frequency Speed of Kick Test (FSKT) have used metrics such as the total number of kicks in a certain amount of time. The authors of the current paper felt that these tests lacked the specificity to detect small changes in improvement following training interventions.   This study sought to test the reliability of a novel TKD-specific test, with a triaxial

WHAT IS “ANIMAL CONTEST THEORY”? Animal contest theory assumes that animals possess accurate information about their own fighting ability or resource-holding potential (RHP) and, under some models, that of their opponent. In the animal model, defeat is often indicated when one animal surrenders and retreats. RHP may also be applied to humans, and in a combat sporting environment is not just only interpreted by the individual athlete, but also by judges and spectators.   This study was an interesting application of the animal contest theory to MMA. Results from all UFC matches between Feb 2019 and March 2020 were analysed

THE PUNCHER’S CHANCE In combat sports, the puncher’s chance refers to the scenario whereby a combatant who is thought to be inferior in ability prior to a bout, or who is being outclassed during a bout, still has the ability to win the bout via KO or TKO.   Researchers in Australia analysed the statistics from all UFC bouts between 1997 and June 2020 that ended in KO and TKO. These statistics were correlated to equate an odds ratio for a fighter who is losing a match, based on the proportion of significant strikes landed.    Where a fighter is

Due to the repeat high intensity burst nature of combat sports, they are highly reliant on glycolytic mechanisms for energy production. Glycolysis results in intramuscular H+, which needs to be buffered via intracellular (phosphates, carnosine) and extracellular (bicarbonate) buffers and a dynamic buffering system.  Supplementary Sodium Bicarbonate and Beta Alanine have both been shown to increase intermittent high intensity exercise performance in other sports. Sodium bicarbonate acts as an alkalizing agent, and helps attenuate exercise-induced decrease in intracellular pH. Beta alanine is an amino acid, the ingestion of which has been shown to increase muscle carnosine content, which helps in

Physical preparation for any sport requires a thorough understanding of the specific physical demands and dominant energy systems. BJJ is a sport consisting of repeated, intermittent, high-energy bursts of activity, and as such, requires contribution from all energy systems.  This study sought to investigate the relative energy systems contribution using a sample of 10 male international-level (Purple-black belt) BJJ athletes. Preliminary assessment involved an incremental treadmill VO2 Max test, and a time-to-exhaustion treadmill test at 110% of VMAx.  They then underwent 3 sessions of BJJ assessment with a partner of similar body mass, each consisting of one set each of

Concussion is an extremely prevalent condition in contact sports and is one with potentially serious long-term consequences. In other sports where concussion has been identified as a major issue, such as American Football, head kinematics has been studied with the use of helmet-based accelerometry.  An alternative for measuring head impact in MMA athletes, who do not wear helmets during competition, is a specially designed mouthpiece/mouthguard. In this study, 13 professional/semi-professional MMA athletes were analysed during 19 sparring sessions and 11 competitive bouts, while fitted with the stanford instrumented mouthguard, which contains a triaxial accelerometer.  In the second part of the

Previous studies have shown correlations between lower limb force and power outputs, and punching speed and power in individual strikes from a static position. This study sought to investigate whether such correlations exist with punches thrown in combination, and also with punches thrown from more dynamic, fight-specific positions.  10 national-level male Italian karate athletes underwent 3 separate testing sessions, where smith machine squat and bench press peak concentric power was measured at 40, 60, & 80% 1RM using a “FreePower” triaxial inertial measurement system. Punching velocity was measured using HD video recording at 50 frames per second, where the athletes

Grip strength is an important physical characteristic of successful grappling athletes from all disciplines, with higher handgrip measurements seen in high-level, compared to lower-level athletes in BJJ, judo and wrestling. Furthermore, grip strength may also be seen as an important factor in injury reduction in these sports.  The high-intensity nature of gripping actions in grappling is primarily governed by peripheral, as opposed to central fatigue, and there are a number of factors that contribute to this, including: Impaired Ca 2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.  Waste product accumulation from anaerobic glycolysis Impaired blood flow delivery due to intramuscular pressure from

The force with which an upper limb striking technique such as a punch is delivered with is a major determinant of the impact of the strike and its potential for damage and effectiveness. Previous research has shown greater levels of mean and maximum punching force in winning vs. losing boxing contestants. A great variety of different upper limb striking techniques exist across a range of different combat disciplines. The use of different strikes within a sporting environment may be governed by the rules and tactical requirements of the individual sport, aside from sports such as MMA, where most striking techniques

Combative choking techniques (more accurately described as strangulations) are commonly used techniques in a wide range of combat sports and arts, as well as in law enforcement. The goal of a strangulation is to cause bilateral compression of the carotid artery and jugular vein, decreasing the cerebral perfusion pressure and leading to a loss of consciousness (LOC). An understanding of the likely time to LOC is important both for athletes looking to maximise the effectiveness and safety of their technique, as well as for law enforcement officers looking to minimise potential harm. Previous research in compliant (not defending/resisting the technique)

Visual, non-automated time-motion analysis has been used as a method of analysing performance in both competition and training conditions in a variety of sports, including combat sports, and is thought to have some utility in detecting change in performance as a result of training interventions.  Two separate studies were conducted on high-level Brazilian judo athletes. The first study had 25 male athletes perform 2 5-minute simulated matches, one week apart, and compared performance in these matches with measures of blood lactate and heart rate. The second study had 12 male athletes perform 4 5-minute simulated matches, 72 hours apart, and

The force with which an upper limb striking technique such as a punch is delivered with is a major determinant of the impact of the strike and its potential for damage and effectiveness. Previous research has shown greater levels of mean and maximum punching force in winning vs. losing boxing contestants.  A great variety of different upper limb striking techniques exist across a range of different combat disciplines. The use of different strikes within a sporting environment may be governed by the rules and tactical requirements of the individual sport, aside from sports such as MMA, where most striking techniques

Christopher Kirk , David R Clark , Carl Langan-Evans & James P Morton Journal of Sports Sciences 2020;23-1 BACKGROUND The optimal preparation for any sport depends in part on the known determinants of success and the methods employed to achieve these determinants. As mixed martial arts (MMA) is a relatively new sport, the research base related to its performance factors is still in its infancy. The Applied Research Model for the Sports Sciences (ARMSS) was proposed by Bishop in 2008 (1) as a method of structuring the evidence-gathering process. It consists of eight interacting stages that guide the logical progression

BACKGROUND Most musculoskeletal injury is multifaceted, with biomechanics, i.e. the way we move, one potential aspect that may lead to the occurrence of either a gradual-onset or acute-onset injury. It is thought that suboptimal biomechanics (tightness, weakness, impaired motor control etc.) in certain areas of the body may lean to increased mechanical load in other areas.  The prevalence of lower back pain in judo athletes has been reported to be as high as 62% (1). The sport requires a high volume of rapid rotation, particularly into internal rotation of the hip of the supporting leg. Decreased hip rotation range of

BACKGROUND  Hand and wrist injuries are the most commonly reported injuries in boxing. Previous studies have looked at shoulder and elbow joint angles in punching, but none have investigated movement at the wrist METHODS An 6-degree-of-freedom electromagnetic tracking system was used to measure wrist movement during punching, which was compared to a mechanical surrogate and static wrist angle measurements. The electromagnetic system was deemed more appropriate than other commonly used systems such as those using reflective markers (difficult due to the presence of boxing gloves) and electrogoniometers (prone to technical errors).  29 national-level british boxers (23 male, 6 female) were

BACKGROUND  Rapid weight loss followed by rapid weight gain strategies are commonly employed by combat sports athletes of all disciplines. The amount of weight lost and subsequently gained is generally greater in MMA athletes than other combat athletes  Previous studies have shown the amount of weight regained to be predictive of success in judo, but not in boxing. One small study in MMA athletes also identified a potential advantage to greater levels of regained weight, however the small sample size in this study indicates the need for further investigation.  METHODS The researchers in this study took advantage of the fact

BACKGROUND  Vascular neck restraint (VNR) is a common method of both submission in combat sports such as jiu jitsu and MMA, as well as a controversial restraint technique used by law enforcement officers. The ultimate objective with VNR is to induce a loss of consciousness (LOC). The common understanding in terms of mechanism of LOC is that the internal branches of the carotid arteries on each side are compressed, causing a decrease in blood flow to the brain. The objective of this article was to clarify some of these common misconceptions and add some other potential theories. FINDINGS Cerebral perfusion

Body Composition of Elite Olympic Combat Sport Athletes (1) Reale​, R;​ Burke​, LM;​ Cox​, GR &​ Slater​, G. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE Volume 20, 2020 -​ ​Issue 2 BACKGROUND We jump from the previous study looking at a far less common performance trait in the form of genetic characteristics, to a more commonly measured and understood measure in terms of body composition. When analysing frequently observed and optimal body composition in sports, at either end of the physiological performance spectrum there are obvious advantages to different body types in different athletic activities, These have been supported empirically, with low