ORIGINAL ARTICLE The effectiveness of kickboxing techniques and its relation to fights won by knockout Authors’ Contribution: Tadeusz Ambroży1ABCD, Łukasz Rydzik1ABCD, Andrzej Kędra1BCD, A Study Design 1BD 2DE 2DE 2BCD B Data Collection Dorota Ambroży , Marta Niewczas , Ewa Sobiło , Wojciech Czarny C Statistical Analysis D Manuscript Preparation 1 Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Institute of Sport, University of Physical Education in Krakow, Krakow, Poland E Funds Collection 2 College of Medical Sciences, Institute of Physical Culture Studies, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland Received: 29 December 2019; Accepted: 21 January 2020; Published online: 17 February 2020 AoBID: 13154 Abstract Background and Study Aim: Ratio of fights won is important to kickboxers on professional and amateur levels. Knockout is the most eco- nomical way of winning the fight. The objective of the paper is the effectiveness of kickboxing techniques and their impact on winning the fight by knockout. Material and Methods: There were 156 participants in the study (61 amateurs and 95 professionals). Their total number of fights won by knockout was 188 and the amateur competitions they participated in complied with the K-1 ruleset. Fighters were 19 to 32 years old and their training experience was on the average 7.36 yrs. ±3.24 yrs. The shortest training lasted 3 yrs. and the longest one 18 yrs. The study was conducted using the analysis of vid- eos of professional fights as well as diagnostic survey conducted in a group of amateur fighters. The survey in- cluded questions about training experience and techniques used in a fight won by knockout. The video anal- ysis also included the techniques used in a fight won by knockout. Results: Hook high and roundhouse kick high were the most effective kickboxing techniques in winning fights by knock- out. The comparison of techniques used in a knockout between amateur and professional fighters did not bring any statistically significant differences. It was shown however that professional fighters used the most effective techniques: more often than amateurs. Conclusions: During the training the fighters should pay special attention to constructing combinations of punches and kicks using hook high and roundhouse kick high techniques. Using proper techniques as well as numerous rep- etitions of the most effective techniques should be a part of any training of a kickboxing fighter. Key words: amateur fighters • kicks • professional fighters • punches Copyright: © 2020, the Authors. Published by Archives of Budo Conflict of interest: Authors have declared that no competing interest exists Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee at the regional medical chamber in Krakow number: 309/KBL/OIL/2019 Provenance & peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer-reviewed Source of support: The research was supported from the funds of College of Medical Sciences, Institute of Physical Culture Studies, University of Rzeszow, Poland Author’s address: Łukasz Rydzik, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Institute of Sport, University of Physical Education in Krakow, al. Jana Pawła II 78, 31-571 Krakow, Poland; e-mail: [email protected] © ARCHIVES OF BUDO | SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS 2020 | VOLUME 16 | 11 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license. Original Article INTRODUCTION Knockout – noun 1. (in boxing) martial arts fighters proved that knockout was a punch that knocks an opponent down for a count of Kickboxing is a combat sport where two types usually a result of a direct fist hit on the head [9]. ten and so wins a contest of fights occur: light-contact and full contact. Analysis of 40 boxing bouts proved the hooks 2. A sports competition in which a person or team There is no limitation on the strength of kicks were most common punches [10]. Another anal- beaten in one game or match and punches in the latter type. Full contact kick- ysis of boxing fights proved that hooks were most is eliminated from the entire competition [25]. boxing has a number of different rulesets such common punches and uppercuts were the best as: full contact (or American kickboxing), Low scoring punches [11]. Machado et al. [12] ana- Kick – verb 1. to strike a ball Kick or K-1 [1]. Fighters competing in this type lysed the strength of kicks of kickboxing and with the foot 2. to strike something or somebody with of sports have a number of possible events both taekwondo fighters. The results proved simi- the foot, e.g. in martial arts in amateur or professional level. The best fight- lar strength of kicks in fighters of both combat 3. to make a thrashing movement with the legs, e.g. ers collect the titles and have a good ratio of the sports [12]. A study of elite karate fighters proved when fighting or swimming fights won. Depriving the competitor the pos- that punching techniques were much more effec- 4. (in cricket) to bounce up high and quickly [25]. sibility of continuing the fight (aka knockout) is tive than kicking ones. Moreover the duration of the most economical way of ending the fight. It an attack in a karate fight was assessed. It was Kick – noun 1. a blow with the is also a spectacular show of fighter’s skills [2]. equal to less than 2 seconds on average [13]. foot, e.g. in martial arts 2. a thrashing movement with The quick ending of a fight can be achieved by the leg when swimming both punching or kicking techniques. The ade- The objective of the paper is the effectiveness of 3. the striking of a ball with the foot [25]. quate launching of attack requires mastering of kickboxing techniques and their impact on win- techniques as well as proper flexibility and per- ning the fight by knockout. Roundhouse kick – a type of kick executed into three fect fitness [3]. Comprehensive movement and height zones (low, middle, adjusting the tactics to competitor’s skills are pri- high) by the change position orities [4]. Kickboxing techniques include kicks in the hip joint. MATERIAL AND METHODS and punches according to the rules [5]. Punches Punch verb to strike someone include jabs, crosses and hooks, flying punches There were 156 participants in the study (61 or something with the fist, e.g. in boxing or martial arts [25]. or spinning back-fists. Kicks used in the fight amateurs and 95 professionals). Their total num- include front kicks, side kicks, roundhouse kicks, ber of fights won by knockout was 188 and the Fighter – noun a competitor axe kicks, heel kicks and knee kicks [6]. The effec- amateur competitions they participated in com- in a full-contact sport such as boxing or taekwondo [25]. tiveness of the attack depends not only on mas- plied with the K-1 ruleset. Fighters were 19 to tering the technique but also strength, velocity 32 years old and their training experience was Technique– noun a way of performing an action [25]. and endurance of the combatant. Psychological on the average 7.36 yrs. ±3.24 yrs. The shortest aspects as well as proper motivation of the fight- training lasted 3 yrs. and the longest one 18 yrs. Tactics – plural noun the art ers are also very important. On particular occa- of finding and implementing means to achieve immediate or sions (like during the fight) fighters can behave The training experience of the half of the par- short-term aims [25]. aggressively, which is quite often [7]. ticipants was at least 6 years. Fighters who took part in European Championship as the most pres- Skill – noun an ability to do perform an action well, To develop a solid training plan for a kickboxer tigious event they participated in had the lon- acquired by training [25]. it is necessary to use own experience result- gest training experience (8.67 yrs. ±1.72 yrs.). ing from the analysis of a sport combat and Subsequentially fighters participating in Polish the effectiveness of used techniques. To assess Championships had the training experience of and analyse the fight a regular observation, 7.75 yrs. ±5.13 yrs. and those participating in which gives information on the level of mas- World Championships had 6.55 yrs. ±1.4 yrs. tering the fight techniques, is necessary. The 29 fighters (47.5% of the respondents) partic- level of technical skills used in a fight and the ipated in World Championships, 12 fighters level of fitness matching the model characteris- (19.7% of the respondents) participated only in tic of a kickboxing fight are assessed. The nec- European Championships and 20 fighters (32.8% essary data are collected by monitoring of the of the respondents) participated only in Polish most effective techniques used in a fight, their Championships (Table 1). value in the final scoring and their impact on the result of the fight. The video analysis of 95 professional fights com- plying with the K-1 ruleset which ended with Studies done during World Championships in knockout was made. The study included fight kickboxing in 2009 and 2011 proved that jabs in the following federations: Glory, K1 World are the most common punches while round- Grand Prix, DSF Kickboxing Challenge and HFO. house kicks were the most common kicks [8]. The results of the study and the video analysis Other study concerning professional mixed were compared. 12 | VOLUME 16 | 2020 www.archbudo.com Ambroży A et al. – The effectiveness of kickboxing... Table 1. Training experience (2013-2019).