Dynamic inertial analysis of the technical boxing gesture of Jab

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 661 - 671
• Main Authors: Izzo, R, Varde'i, C Hosseini, Materazzo, P, Cejudo, A, Giovannelli, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pitesti Universitatea din Pitesti 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Acceleration (Education); Athletes; Boxing; Discipline; Gender; Kinetics; Males; Physiology; Reaction Time; Repetition; Scientific Concepts; Strain gauges; Workloads
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2022.03083

The purpose of this study is to analyze the inertial dynamics of the Jab technical gesture in boxing. The target is to test and establish with the precision of the latest generation inertial technology the real physical parameters of the mechanical components of the technical gesture subjected to analysis to use, in the event of an expected congruence, the parameters obtained as key elements in the project of sports training investigated for performative purposes, given that the literature on this subject is scarce and sometimes with data obtained using non-state-of-the-art equipment and therefore not reliable. Five boxers (n = 5) took part in this research, considered sufficient for an exploratory study, respectively two female (n = 2), (18.5 ± 6.4 years, weight 63.7 ± 0.4 kg, height 169 ± 1.4 cm; arm length 69.5 ± 2.1 cm) and three male (n = 3), (23.0 ± 3.5 years, weight 80.0 ± 7.0 kg, height 184.3 ± 7.1 cm; arm length 79.7 ± 2.5 cm). These athletes were from different levels of experience, also to obtain specific threshold data in the various stadiums, however, all participating in national level competitions (elite level). From the dataset, it's possible to appreciate a different average acceleration value in the Jab execution phase between 8.65 m/s2 (woman) and 13.85 m/s2 (man) of the stroke, statistically significant (p <0.05), even in the small sample. The same situation is true for the torsion phase of the trunk between the best performing male boxer (boxer 1) and the best female boxer (boxer 5) respectively 0.733 vs 0.338 g2 (p <0.05). This allows us to understand how gender and category differences are a key element in relation to the training planning of the discipline and that often turn out to be quite generic and that doesn't take into account accurately and weighed the differences and what are the values to be respected in the specific training workload and also in the performance level of the exercises necessary to achieve those physiological conditions and techniques useful for performance improvement. The differences in this sample were also evident between individuals of the same gender and level.