Anthropometric and Physiological Profile of Elite Iranian National Kickboxing Team: A Comparison of Ring-Style and Tatami-Style Kickboxing
Authors:
Hamid Amni1*, Azin Zargham2, Behdad Tondpa3, Sadegh Amani-Shalamzari3
1University of North Carolina Greensboro
Greensboro, United States
ORCID: 0000-0001-5272-595X, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
2Laurentian University
Greater Sudbury, Canada
ORCID: 0009-0003-4386-6461, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3Kharazmi University
Tehran, Iran
ORCID: 0000-0001-5996-1170, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3021-8970, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract:
Kickboxing is a physically demanding combat sport. Understanding elite national
team kickboxers’ anthropometric and physiological characteristics are crucial for enhancing
performance and designing effective training programs. The aims of the present study are to (a)
profile anthropometric and physiological characteristics of the male Iranian National Kickboxing
Team and (b) examine differences between Ring (uncontrolled) and Tatami (controlled)
Kickboxing styles. Materials. A total of twelve male athletes, comprising six Tatami and six
Ring-style kickboxers, with an average age of 26.9 ± 3.3 years, joined the Iranian national team
in 2019 and were recruited for this study. The following parameters were measured at Iran’s
Olympic Academy Center: body composition, muscle strength, muscle endurance, aerobic
power, flexibility, speed, agility, reaction time, anaerobic power, and explosive leg power.
Research methods. The data were analyzed with mean and standard deviation, and the
independent t-test was used to compare the data of both styles. Results. Ring-style kickboxers
outperformed Tatami-style kickboxers in fat-free mass, body fat percentage, arm span, relative
squat, relative chest press, relative deadlift, relative handgrip, modified pull-ups, push-ups, situps,
vertical jump, flexibility, VO2max, arm and leg Wingate (p<0.05). Both groups had high
levels of physical fitness, except for aerobic capacity, which was lower than expected in both
groups. Conclusion. These findings suggest that Iranian elite kickboxers have ideal physical
fitness components. Coaches should design specific training programs to improve the aerobic
capacity of these athletes, which is vital to enhancing their performance. The study’s results can
contribute to the Kickboxing community, including coaches, trainers, and athletes, by optimizing
effective physical fitness programs.
Keywords:
students, transport higher education establishment, physical training, physical culture, variants, conditions.
DOI: 10.14526/2070-4798-2023-18-1-145-154.