Kraftskillnad i olika Muay Thai tekniker
händer armbågar och sparkar mot huvudet
Muay ThaiThaiboxingImpactMartial artsAccelerometerMuay ThaiThaiboxningSlagkraftKampsportAccelerometer
Background: In the martial art of Muay Thai, techniques are used with hands, elbows, knees and kicks. The contestants are divided into different weight classes and experience levels. The Swedish martial arts association has decided that techniques with elbow are not allowed in B-class. Why is it so?Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the martial arts delegation decision to restrict techniques with elbows to the head in the B-class is justified. To do this, comparison of peak force and impulse between elbow techniques and already authorized techniques with hand and kick was compared.Method: Ten Muay Thai practitioners of high class (Class A and Class B) hit a punching bag fitted with a triaxial accelerometer. The force was calculated by multiplying the mass of the bag with acceleration resultant. The peak force was taken out and compared between the techniques. A high-speed camera was used to record the techniques. The contact time was calculated through video analysis and through analyzing the power data of the techniques. The contact time was used to calculate the impulse.Results: Peak force for technique with the hand was 135 (SD 757) N greater than for technique with elbow. Peak force for technique with kick was 348 (SD 835) N less than the technique with elbow. The differences were not statistically significant. For impulse calculated by video analysis, technique with hand was 18 (SD 13) Ns greater than for technique with elbow and technique with kick was 13 (SD 27) Ns greater than for technique with elbow. Analysis of the force data showed the same trend. Technique with hand was 14 (SD 9) Ns greater than technique with elbow and technique with kick was 4 (SD 19) Ns greater than for technique with elbow. Impulse difference between hand techniques and elbow techniques was statistically significant.Conclusion: Techniques with elbow does not generate statistically significantly greater peak force or impulse than already permitted techniques. The martial arts delegation decision should be reviewed.