Maximising punching power is a major goal of striking combat athletes, and as such, optimising training methods to achieve this goal is critically important. Performing resistance training at optimal power loads (the load that maximizes power output) has been shown to improve punching power in previous longitudinal studies. However, the results of these studies may …
OPTIMAL RESISTANCE TRAINING LOAD FOR PUNCHING POWER Read More »
Analysis of physiological responses during actual competition provide a more accurate representation of the demands of the sport, and as such are more useful in guiding training interventions. This study measured the heart rate and lactate concentration of 15 international-level athletes during 3x2min kickboxing bouts conducted under K1 rules. A technical analysis of each match …
BRIEF REVIEW: PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES AND BOUT ANALYSIS IN KICKBOXERS Read More »
Combat sports such as MMA, boxing, and other striking sports involve a high incidence of traumatic impact to the head, which can result in acute alteration in function, as well as the possibility of long-term negative sequelae. Altered vestibular function is thought to be a common factor in the symptoms of acute concussion. The vestibular …
ALTERED VESTIBULAR FUNCTION IN COMBAT SPORTS ATHLETES Read More »
Concussion is common in contact sports, especially combat sports, and can result in an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, as well as further concussion. The latter can have serious consequences. Whilst concussions typically resolve in 1-2 weeks, in some instances symptoms can persist for much longer (Post Concussion Syndrome), in which case secondary effects …
The sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) requires both fast, explosive actions, as well as maximal force contractions, often at ends of ranges. An imbalance between elbow flexor and extensor strength may predispose the athlete injury in this area, due to reduced joint stability. In this study, 23 male BJJ athletes first underwent strength …
BRIEF REVIEW: ELBOW MUSCLE IMBALANCE IN BJJ ATHLETES Read More »
Within the process of rapid weight loss (RWL)/rapid weight gain (RWG) to make weight for combat sports, there is always a trade-off between the advantages of being heavier than the opponent, and the disadvantages of impaired performance and potentially serious negative side effects. 21 competitive male (16) and female (5) Italian Muay Thai athletes underwent …
While the management of hand and wrist injuries will depend on the specific injury, there are some basic management principles that will apply to most cases. The first is one of specific load management. Most injuries will require a degree of off-loading/de-loading. For fractures, this de-loading will be in the form of immobilisation and often …
A common joint injury observed in boxing is a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (ULC) of the 1st ray metacarpophalangeal joint, the ligament that lies on the inside of the thumb (1). This ligament is often damaged when the thumb is caught and bent back during punching or defending. This is commonly referred …
COMMON HAND AND WRIST INJURIES IN STRIKING SPORTS – PART 6 – Thumb ligament injury Read More »
Linear Force Transducers (LFT) are devices designed to measure the displacement and velocity of movement via a tethered cord. They have been utilised extensively in a variety of different sports, and have been shown to be more reliable than accelerometers in measuring linear kinematics. At present, the effectiveness of LFTs in analysing punching technique has …
BACKGROUND Due to the nature of boxing and other combat sports, structural damage to the facial region, including the eyes, is common. Because of this, it is thought that boxing poses a high risk of altered visual acuity. Whilst epidemiological studies have investigated the occurrence of facial and eye injuries, there have not yet …
The rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions is a multi-faceted process that needs to be tailored to the individual patient and needs to take into account personal factors as well as address all relevant contributing factors to the condition. As the primary goal of most patients undergoing rehabilitation is to decrease pain levels, it appears logical that …
BACKGROUND The ability to pace oneself in any physical activity (whether in training or competition) is critical to achieving successful competition results, as well as training in a fashion conducive to optimal outcomes and minimising the risk of overtraining. For endurance training modalities, developing a pacing strategy is fairly straightforward. In multi-faceted activities such as …
BACKGROUND Creatine is one of the most well-researched and commonly used athletic ergogenic aids. It is known to positively benefit singular and repeated high intensity bouts of exercise, muscular endurance, and hypertrophic and strength adaptations to resistance exercise. METHODS The authors of this study primarily applied findings of creatine research in related topics to discuss …
SHORT REVIEW: THE ROLE OF CREATINE IN COMBAT SPORTS Read More »
Effects of Two Different Recovery Postures during High-Intensity Interval Training (1) Michaelson, J; Brilla, L; Suprak, D; McLaughlin,W; Dahlquist, D. TRANSLATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS MEDICINE February 15, 2019 – Volume 4 – Issue 4 – p 23-27 BACKGROUND Combat sports, like many other sports, alternate between periods of physical activity and …
Influence of Mental Fatigue on Physical Performance, and Physiological and Perceptual Responses of Judokas Submitted to the Special Judo Fitness Test Campos, B.T; Penna, E.M; Rodrigues, J.G.S; Mendes, T.T; Maia-Lima, A; Nakamura, F; Vieira, E; Wanner, S.P; Prado, L.S. JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH BACKGROUND The first paper we reviewed made reference to the …
Goal Setting for 2019 Part 3 – Goal Setting as a Process In part 1 and 2 we discussed different types of goals as well as the important attributes that goals need to have (read here if you missed these:https://www.thescienceofstriking.com/mental-training/goal-setting-for-2019-part-2-smart-goals/). However it is not sufficient to merely set a goal and hope for the best. …
Goal Setting for 2019 Part 3 – Goal Setting as a Process Read More »
In the previous post we discussed the importance of goals and the various types of goals that we can set. If you missed this post, jump back and have a quick look:https://www.thescienceofstriking.com/mental-training/goal-setting-for-2019-part-1-types-of-goals/ There are other important considerations when setting goals, and these are often summarised by the acronym SMART. SMART Goals Goals need to be …
The start of the year is when most people assess their current performance in whatever aspect of life it is that they wish to improve, and go about setting goals for the year ahead. Goal setting is an essential part of creating an environment in which an athlete can motivate themselves. It is done by …
The draw for the 50th All Japan open tournament in the Shinkyokushin organisation has just been announced. In my competitive days, viewing the draw was one of the most nerve-racking aspects of the competitive process, seeing the potential match-ups that may occur on the way through the tournament, and imagining how the bouts with specific …
