Maximal punching performance in amateur boxing: An examination of biomechanical and physical performance-related characteristics Item Type Thesis or dissertation Authors Stanley, Edward, R Citation Stanley, E, R. (2020). Maximal punching performance in amateur boxing: An examination of biomechanical and physical performance-related characteristics (Doctoral dissertation). University of Chester, UK. Publisher University of Chester Rights Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Download date 04/10/2021 15:04:11 Item License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10034/623170 Maximal punching performance in amateur boxing: An examination of biomechanical and physical performance-related characteristics Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Chester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Edward Stanley January 2020 Maximal punching performance in amateur boxing: An examination of biomechanical and physical performance-related characteristics The material being presented for examination is my own work and has not been submitted for an award of this or another HEI except in minor particulars which are explicitly noted in the body of the thesis. Where research pertaining to the thesis was undertaken collaboratively, the nature and extent of my individual contribution has been made explicit. …………………………………………………. (Signature) …………………………………………………...(Date) Abstract Punches in boxing are intricate actions requiring the coordinated and synergistic recruitment of leg, trunk and arm musculature. Maximal punches can have a marked impact on the outcomes of boxing contests. Currently, there is an absence of research appraising the biomechanics and physical performance-related qualities associated with boxing punches, and as such, there are no practical guidelines pertaining to resistance training and its impact upon these important characteristics. In this respect, coaches and boxers are reliant consequently upon non-scientific approaches to training and contest preparation. Thus, the purpose of this thesis was to quantify the biomechanics and physical performance-related qualities associated with maximal punching techniques common to amateur boxing, and investigate the extent to which resistance training enhances such features. Study 1 quantified the three-dimensional kinetics and kinematics of maximal punches common to boxing competition to identify the differences between punch types (straights, hooks, and uppercuts), whilst Study 2 investigated the movement variability of these measures across punch types. These studies revealed significant differences for the majority of kinetic and kinematic variables between punch types. High within-subject, between-subject, and biological variability were recorded for the same variables across punch types, independent of the amount of boxing experience. These findings confirm that kinetic and kinematic characteristics vary from punch to punch, with boxers appearing to manipulate kinematic variables in order to achieve a consistent intensity and end-product. Study 3 quantified the relationships between physical performance-related traits and kinetic and kinematic qualities of maximal punches, and revealed moderate-to-large associations with muscular strength and power. From this, Study 4 appraised the extent to which strength and contrast resistance training enhanced maximal punch biomechanics and physical performance-related qualities. The findings highlighted that contrast training was superior among male amateur boxers over a six-week intervention, though strength training alone also brought about improvements. This current research has advanced our understanding of maximal punching and the influence of resistance training on a variety of its determinants. Nonetheless, future research is required to identify if the same findings can be generalised to higher standards of boxing and whether alternative strength and conditioning strategies are equally, or more effective. i Acknowledgements This body of work would not have been possible without the help, support, and guidance of many people, of which I am immeasurably grateful for, and to whom I am forever indebted too. Firstly, to my supervisors, Professor Kevin Lamb, Dr. Edd Thomson and Dr. Grace Smith. Thank you for your guidance, perseverance, and support throughout the duration of my studies. I am extremely grateful for the patience, and what must have felt at times, futile effort you put into supporting me. I feel fortunate to have received your time, expertise, and wealth of knowledge over the past few years. You have always challenged me to make my research the best it can be and I hope I have produced something you are all proud to be associated with. Thank you all. A special mention and thanks also goes to Matt Palmer, whose technical support and biomechanical wizardry has assisted me in ways I can never be thankful enough for. Secondly, to my friends, to whom I am incredibly grateful for the support you have always given me. Despite missing many catch ups and reunions due to my never- ending ‘uni work’, you have always shown an interest in my studies in spite of all of your ever-growing commitments. I very much look forward to spending more time with you fine people in the future and enjoying many more ‘fight nights’ for years to come. A special mention also goes out to my colleagues (Jonty, John, Tom, Chelsea, and Andy), who always made the strains of PhD life far more bearable and enjoyable. It gives me great pleasure seeing you all completing your studies and moving on to bigger and better things. Thirdly, to my family, who have continually supported me and have always been there for me through the high and lows. To my grandparents, whom I miss dearly and ii wish I could share this moment with. To my cousin David who has always been a brother to me. To my dad, who has always supported me in spite of his personal issues. And most importantly, to my mum, who has guided me in more ways than I can begin to mention. The unequivocal love and support you have given me over the years is humbling and I can only aspire to be a tenth of the parent you are with my children. I have always endeavoured to make you proud and can only hope this thesis goes some way towards that. This is for you. I would also like to extend a special thanks to each and every boxer who took part in my research. Your commitment to being a part of my mad scientist experiments is immensely appreciated and I hope I was half as good a researcher and sport scientist as you all were participants and guinea pigs. Thank you all and I hope the findings in this thesis go some way towards informing your training and contest preparations. Finally, but by no means least, to my better half and best friend, Amy. You are by far the most caring, kind-hearted, selfless, loving, and beautiful person I’ve ever known. You may also be madder than a sack of badgers, but there’s no one else I’d rather be institutionalised with. Despite your own adversities, you have always gone out of your way to help me in any and every possible and have sacrificed more than I could ever expect from you to allow me to pursue my studies. For that, I can never express my love and gratitude enough. You are a saint for putting up with me and I love you more than I can or ever could express. I cannot wait to discover what our future together holds (more gigs for one)! iii List of contents Abstract i Acknowledgements ii List of figures and tables xi Abbreviations xiv Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1. Research overview 2 1.2. Statement of aims 8 1.3. Research questions 9 i. Which kinetic and kinematic measures are associated with 9 maximal punching performance across conventional punch techniques? ii. How does movement variability affect maximal punching 10 performance and is it influenced by boxing experience? iii. Are physical performance-related characteristics associated with 11 maximal punching? iv. Can resistance training programmes enhance maximal 12 punching performance? 1.4. Organisation of chapters 13 Chapter 2: Review of literature 15 2.1. Introduction 16 2.2. Boxing synopsis 16 2.2.1. Historical overview 16 2.2.2. Characteristics of competition 18 2.3. Punch techniques within boxing 22 2.3.1. Key performance indicators of traditional punches 29 2.3.2. Jab 32 2.3.3. Rear-hand cross 34 iv 2.3.4. Lead hook 36 2.3.5. Rear hook 38 2.3.6. Lead uppercut 40 2.3.7. Rear uppercut 42 2.3.8. Influence of competition upon punch selection 44 2.4. Biomechanics of punching 47 2.4.1. Kinematics of boxing performance 47 2.4.1.1. Fist velocity 47 2.4.1.2. Punch delivery time 50 2.4.1.3. Acceleration 51 2.4.1.4. Joint angles 52 2.4.1.5. Joint velocities 55 2.4.2. Kinetics of boxing performance 58 2.4.2.1. Ground reaction force (GRF) and impulse 58 2.4.2.2. Punch impact force and impulse 59 2.4.3. The interaction of kinetics and kinematics on maximal punching 64 2.4.4. Proximal-to-distal sequencing 66 2.4.5. Kinetic and kinematic differences between punch types 68 2.4.6. Movement variability 71 2.4.7. Data collection and processing in punching biomechanics 78 2.4.7.1. Motion capture 79 2.4.7.2. Force measurement devices 80 2.4.7.3. Data smoothing and digital filtering 81 2.5. Physical performance-related aspects of punching 83 2.5.1. Physical performance-related characteristics associated with 83 maximal punching performance 2.5.1.1. Muscular strength 84 2.5.1.2. Muscular power 88 2.5.1.3. Speed 92 2.5.2. Physical performance-related measurement methods 93 v 2.5.2.1. Muscular strength 93 2.5.2.2.