Upper Limb Strikes Reactive Forces in Mix Martial Art Athletes during Ground and Pound Tactics

Vaclav Beranek, Petr Stastny, Vit Novacek, Petr Votapek and Josef Formanek
Additional contact information
Vaclav Beranek: Department of Rehabilitation Fields, Faculty of Health Care Studies, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Petr Stastny: Department of Sport Games, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 16252 Prague, Czech Republic
Vit Novacek: Biomechanical Human Body Models, New Technologies—Research Centre, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Petr Votapek: Department of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Josef Formanek: Department of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: Athletes of mixed martial arts use a ground and pound strategy with the strikes in the dominant ground position. The aim of this study was to compare the average peak force (F peak ) among three punches and to estimate the probability of achieving a skull bone fracture force of 5.1 kN for each type of strike in male and female athletes. A total of 60 males and 31 females (26 ± 8 years, 75 ± 20 kg, 177 ± 11 cm) practicing professional self-defense at the advanced and professional levels performed 15 strikes on a force plate. The analyses of 1360 trials showed significant differences among the strikes F peak in females ( p < 0.01) and males ( p < 0.01). Straight punches had lower F peak than palm strikes and elbow strikes in both genders, and palm strikes had higher F peak than elbow strikes in females. No difference was observed between palm strikes and elbow strikes in males ( p = 0.09). The ground and pound strikes resulted in higher impacts than previously reported strikes in the standing position. Male athletes can deliver a F peak above 5.1 kN with a probability of 36% with elbow and palm strikes. Such forces can cause head injury; therefore, the use of these strikes in competition should be carefully considered.

Keywords: mixed martial arts; system of self-defense; straight punch; palm strike; elbow strike; ground striking; head injuries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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