european college of sport science

Saturday, June 27th, 2009
14:15 - 15:15
Poster presentations
PP-SA03 Sport Statistics and Analyses 3
THE STATE OF THE ART OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN COMBAT SPORTS
DISTASO, M., MAIETTA, A., GIANGRANDE, M., VILLANI, R.
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF CASSINO - MOTOR SCIENCES FACULTY
Introduction: The aim of the study is to analyse the current situation of the scientific research in combat sports. The study was conducted
considering the number of publications and their topics for each discipline. We compared the publications submitted to the ECSS congresses
over the last 9 years, to trace the state of the art of scientific research in combat sports and in every specific discipline.
Methods: The research was carried out considering all the abstracts books of ECSS congresses of the last 9 years (1999-2008). Each
publication on combat sports was catalogued in specific grids in order to collect data divided into discipline, publication chronological
order and lastly scientific type (physiology, refereeing, regulations, tests, training, technique and tactics, etc..).
We analysed statistically the grids by comparing the publications divided into discipline and topic. We calculated percentages and reliability
Results: The total number of articles about combat sports from 1999 to 2008 at ECSS congresses is 171. The majority of the articles deals
with Judo (64; 37%;p> 0,01), follow TKD (22; 13%;p>0,01), karate (20; 12%; p>0,01), boxe (n.17; 10%; p>0,01) wrestling (13; 8%;p>0,01), kick
boxing (10; 6%;p>0,01), muay thay (4; 2%; n.s.), thai chi chuan (4, 2%; n.s.), sanda - kung fu (2; 1%; n.s.), shoot boxe and MMA (2; 1%; n.s.),
and lastly capoeira, kendo and thai boxe with a little percentage of published articles. (1; 1%; n.s.).
We pointed out a significant growth in the number of experimentations in combat sports, in spite of a fair variability in the studies carried
out from 1999 to 2008 (1999: 7; 2000: 2; 2001: 23; 2002: 14; 2003 :11; 2004: 18; 2005: 27; 2006: 26; 2007: 17; 2008: 26 ). From 1999, in
effect, ECSS congresses had been showing an ever growing interest in combat sports.
With regard to the topics, the physiological state was dealt with more often (34; 22%), follows the psychological state (16; 11%), injuries and
traumas (15; 9%), technique and tactics (14; 9%) , dietary habits (12; 7%), strength tests (10; 6%), athletic training (9; 6%), balance test (8; 5%),
athletes comparison (7; 4%), supplements (7; 4%), biomechanics tests (6; 4%), competitions and matches(5; 3%), trainer’s methods (4; 2%),
endurance tests (4; 2%), speed tests (10; 6%).
Conclusions: We can state that the number of publications in the field of combat sports is rather limited when compared with the publications
about other sports. This trend, however, contrast with the high number of athletes who practise such disciplines. The low interest in
combat sports showed by researchers can be put down on the lack of funds assigned to research in that field or to the low popularity of
martial arts and combat sports in the academic area. Our research group “Combat Sport Study and Research Center” has been working
for over 7 years trying to fill the lack of scientific studies in such disciplines.
References
Abstract books of the ECSS Congress (from 1999 to 2008)
THROWING VELOCITY DIFFERENCES IN TRAINING VS. EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE WATER POLO SPANISH
FEMALE NATIONAL TEAM
ALCARAZ, P., FERRAGUT, C., ABRALDES, A., VILA, H., ARGUDO, F., RODRÍGUEZ, N.
UNIVERSIDAD ALFONSO X EL SABIO;UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA SAN ANTONIO DE MURCIA; UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIA; UNIVERSIDAD
AUTONOMA DE MADRID
INTRODUCTION: The velocity component of accurate, overhead water polo throws, especially in the act of goal shooting, is an important
ingredient of successful scoring ability. It seems that when a tactical situation (goalkeeper) is included the speed has been smaller. However,
there are no studies that presents if differences are found in performance between training or real play situations. PURPOSE: To
compare the throwing velocity differences in training vs. European championships in the Water Polo Spanish female national team.
METHODS: Eleven healthy woman sub-champions of Europe (22.5 ± 2.9 years; 65.0 ± 8.0 kg; 171.7 ± 7.5 cm) were tested at training (precompetitive
period), or at the Europe Championships (competitive period), always in a indoor swimming pool. For the training test, a
radar, placed ten meters behind the goal, and aligned with the penalty line, registered two throwing at maximum intensity from the
penalty line. The shooting was carried out with a goalkeeper. The best shot was selected for the analysis. For the championships test, the
same position of the radar was allowed. We analyzed all the shots carried out from the penalty line in the last five matches. T-test for
dependent samples was used (P ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: There were no between-situations differences. The data confirm that the throwing
velocity was similar in the training situation (15.46 ± 1.15 m•s-1), when they were compared to the championship condition (15.55 ±
2.24 m•s-1). CONCLUSION: The throwing velocity is similar when a water polo player performs a shot from the penalty line with goalkeeper,
independently the situation: training vs. international championship. In this sense, the control of the throwing velocity over the
training can be a very reliable method of the championships shots velocities. REFERENCES: 1. Bloomfield J, Blanksby BA, Ackland T, et al.
The influence of strength training on overhead throwing velocity of elite water polo players. Aust J Sci Med Sport, 1990; 22: 63-7. 2. Triplett
T, Fleck SJ, Smith SL, et al. Isokinetic torque and throwing velocity in water polo. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 1991; 23: S11. 3. Smith SL. Applied
physiology of water polo. Sports Med, 1998; 26: 317-34. 4. Van Der Wenden K. The effects of game-specific task constraint on the outcome
of the water polo shot. New Zeland: Auckland University of Technology, 2005. 5. Vila H, Ferragut C, Argudo FM, et al. Relationship
between anthropometric parameters and throwing velocity in water polo players. J Hum Sport Exerc, 2009; 4: 57-68.
OSLO/NORWAY, JUNE 24-27, 2009 599