Physiological Testing Battery for Amateur Boxing

Physiological Testing Battery for Amateur Boxing

Danny Wilson MSc BSc ASCCAlan Ruddock CSci MSc BSc

2014

Sport and Exercise Science

The scientific study of factors that influence our ability to perform

exercise or physical activity

Physiology of Sport and ExerciseThe scientific study of how the body responds and adapts to exerciseTo adapt practice to a specific sport, a sport scientist has to perform a Needs Analysis.

Needs Analysis

Boxing Example

Physical Characteristics can be Monitored and Assessed by Physiological Testing...

MSc Project Title:

Physiological Testing Battery for Amateur Boxing

The Importance of Physiological Testing

Identify strengths and areas for

improvement

Assist Talent ID and selection

Evaluate and prescribe training

interventions

Appropriate Tests..

Repeated Sprint Test

Yo Yo Intermittent Recovery

Appropriate Tests..

Medicine Ball Throw

Vertical Jumps

Appropriate Tests..

Body Fat Percentage

Anthropometric Assessments

Appropriate Tests..

Push Up Test10-m Sprint

What Do The Numbers Say?

Main Findings – Juniors vs Seniors• 0.7-0.9 ICC means that the testing

battery had moderate to excellent test-retest reliability scores (0.7 to 0.9)

• Large differences (0.8) between seniors and juniors during press ups, MB throws and Yo-Yo.

• Moderate differences (0.2) between seniors and juniors following vertical jump height and sprint times.

This means..That the differences between senior and junior boxers show that the tests are valid for physical performance in boxing.

Main Findings – Age vs. Competitive Experience• Majority of the tests correlated with

age• Only MB backhand throw distance

and Yo-Yo final level strongly correlated with both age and competitive experience

• There were only small correlations between competitive experience and impulse, acceleration and upper body strength.

This means..Traditional Boxing Training Methods only Develop Endurance and Punching Force. Acceleration and Impulse is only developed by maturation.

Main Findings – Punch Force Predictors• Large correlations were found for

MB backhand throw distance with vertical

• When scaled to body mass, relative lean mass of the trunk was the main contributor to MB backhand throwing distance, in turn, estimated pound for pound punching force.

This means..Developing core musculature and strength is important for pound for pound punching force. Furthermore, the higher you jump the harder you can punch.

Training Recommendations

Resistance / Olympic Lifting

3DMovement

Punch Specific Exercises

High Intensity Interval Training

What’s Next?

Future Research• Future research should

extend study by recruitment of elite amateur and professional boxers.

• Finding appropriate technology to incorporate punch force.

• Defining an appropriate assessment for anaerobic performance.

Influencing the Next Generation of Boxing

THANK YOU