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Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Turner, Anthony N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5121-432X (2016) Physical preparation for fencing: tailoring exercise prescription and training load to the physiological and biomechanical demands of competition. PhD thesis, Middlesex University. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/18942/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. 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See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy Physical Preparation for Fencing: Tailoring Exercise Prescription and Training Load to the Physiological and Biomechanical Demands of Competition Anthony N. Turner Doctor of Philosophy Middlesex University School of Science and Technology September 2015 i Abstract Sport science based research regarding fencing competition demands and athlete physical characteristics (PC) is sparse; as a consequence, training programme design cannot be optimised. The aim of this PhD thesis therefore, is to describe the PC that best relate to (1) lunge velocity (LV), (2) change of direction speed (CODS) and (3) repetitive lunging ability (RLA). It also sought to analyse (4) the physiological intensity and associated fatigue of competition and (5) the efficacy of the subsequently delivered periodised training programme. Fencers from the Great Britain Fencing squad were investigated. Results revealed that LV and CODS were best predicted by the standing broad jump (SBJ) (r = 0.51 and -0.65 respectively). Through linear regression analysis, CODS and SBJ provided a two- predictor model accounting for 61% of the common variance associated with RLA. Competition intensity and fatigue was measured across two competitions, including subsequent recovery days, where countermovement jump (CMJ) scores and saliva samples (measuring testosterone, cortisol, alpha-amylase and salivary IgA) were taken. On the day of competition, all fencers had their heart rate (HR) recorded and had blood lactate (BL) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) measured after each bout. Average (± SD) scores for RPE, BL and HR (average, max and percentage of time ≥ 80% HRmax) were highest in the knockout bouts compared to the pools (8.5 ± 1.3 vs. 5.7 ± 1.3, 3.6 ± 1.0 vs. 3.1 ± 1.4 mmol/L, 171 ± 5 vs. 168 ± 8 bpm, 195 ± 7 vs. 192 ± 7 bpm, 74 vs. 68% respectively), but only significantly (p < 0.05) so in RPE. CMJ scores measuring jump height, peak power (PP) and peak rate of force development, increased throughout the competition and dropped thereafter. For jump height and PP, the post-knockout score was significantly higher than pre- competition scores, and all scores taken at competition were significantly higher than post- ii competition scores. No significant differences were noted across time-points for any of the measured salivary analytes. Finally, the efficacy of the training programme, designed following the findings of the preceding studies, was analysed. RPE, HR and BL scores from competition bouts were compared to that recorded in training sessions aimed at developing the fencer’s sport-specific fitness. Alongside this, CMJ height, reactive strength index and questionnaires regarding “readiness to train” were completed daily and compared to the prescribed training load (TL) as calculated using session RPE. Only “off-feet” non-sport specific conditioning drills were found to provide an appropriate stimulus (with respect to HR, RPE and BL) for competition based fitness. Using multilevel modelling, no relationships between TL, jump scores and questionnaires were noted. iii Acknowledgements I have enjoyed the challenge of this thesis and very proud to have completed. I have learnt a tremendous amount along the way and excited to apply it within my teaching, practice and future research. Of course, I could not have completed it without the help of so many people. My initial thanks go to my supervisory team, Professor Nic James, Dr. Lygeri Dimitriou and Professor Liam Kilduff. Your advice and support throughout has been invaluable. You have guided my studies and steered my learning. I would also like to thank my Head of Department, Dr. Rhonda Cohen. Your encouragement and our informal chats helped keep me focused. Also, thank you to my colleagues at the London Sport Institute. Always dependable and ready to provide advice and feedback on the numerous problems I faced along the way; they kept the goal in sight. Naturally, this research would not have been possible without the staff and athletes of British Fencing; I’m truly grateful. Thank you to the Performance Director Alex Newton for making me part of the team and allowing this to happen. Thank you to Neil Brown who first got me involved with fencing. Special thanks must also be reserved for the strength and conditioning coaches. Finally, thanks go to my family, my mum, dad, brother and his fiancée, and my wife and two children. In completing this, they gave me a sense of pride far beyond academic achievement. Equally, their help and encouragement stretched far beyond the obvious demands of undertaking a PhD. There were so many achievements that had to first take place before this thesis was even possible, and they were behind every one. Of course, I must give special thanks to my wife Carli, she lived every moment of this with me… we did it! iv Collaborations in Producing this Thesis The completion of this thesis was based on collaborations between Middlesex University, Swansea University and British Fencing. I have worked for British Fencing since 2009, initially this was with what was then called the “National Academy” but now referred to as the “Talent pathway”. In 2012 I was appointed head of Physical Preparation for the senior squads and given the keen interest I had developed in the sport, decided to undertake my PhD in this area. The performance director Alex Newton and the fencing athletes of British Fencing were very supportive of me doing this. For example, in study three, during two competitions, athletes had to return to the “sport science station” after every bout and with a very dry mouth, provide me with a saliva sample; they also had to jump and give blood. This was incredible collaboration, including from the fencing coaches who were not only permissive of this, but also helped round up the athletes for testing; I hope the data I uncovered will go some way to returning the favour. I would also like to thank the S&C coaches who helped me collect this data, namely Geoff Marshall, James Phillips, Conor Buttigieg and Angelo Noto. Also my supervisor Lygeri Dimitriou, who along with Dr Frank Hills, helped me analyse this data back at the university labs. The S&C coaches also helped collect the training load data that was analyzed for volume load prescription as described in study four. As well as the support of British Fencing and my colleagues at the university, I also asked Professor Liam Kilduff of Swansea University to supervise my studies. Professor Kilduff is a renowned expert in the field of sports physiology and his guidance was invaluable. I hope to continue working with Professor Kilduff and learning from him for many more years. v Publications and Presentations from this Thesis Turner, A., Miller, S., Stewart, P., Cree, J., Ingram, I., Dimitriou, L., Moody, J., Kilduff, L. (2013). Strength and Conditioning for Fencing. Strength and Conditioning Journal , 35 (1), 1-9. Turner, A., James, N., Dimitriou, L, Greenhalgh, A., Moody, J., Fulcher, D., Mias, E., Kilduff, L. (2014). Determinants of Olympic Fencing Performance and Implications for Strength and Conditioning Training. Journal of strength and conditioning research , 28 (10), 3001-2011. On 29th January 2015, the chair of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Manuscript Clarification sub-committee informed me that a rebutal to my review article had been submitted. My paper was challenged (mainly) on the grounds of providing insignificant merit to the training of aerobic capacity. This rebuttal and my response are included in the appendicies (Appendix C) and were published on-line in April 2015. At the request of British Fencing, no primary research would be submitted for publication until post Rio Olympics, 2016. However, in-house presentations of experimental study one were permitted and thus conference presentations were as follows: Turner, A. (2013). Identifying and developing the key physical attributes of elite fencers. British Fencing Club and Coach Conference, 6 October, Sandown Park, Surrey, UK Turner, A.