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Some the scientific research that has been conducted on martial art related subjects

Variation in resistive force selection during brief high intensity cycle ergometry: implications for power assessment and production in elite karate practitioners

J. Baker and B. Davies
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2006) 5 (CSSI), 42 - 46

The purpose of this study was to measure power values generated in 11 elite karate fighters during brief high intensity cycle ergometry when resistive forces were derived from total - body mass (TBM) or fat - free mass (FFM). Body density was calculated using hydrostatic weighing procedures with fat mass ascertained from body density values. Participants were required to pedal maximally on a cycle ergometer against randomly assigned loads for 8 seconds.

Conclusions. This study suggests that when high intensity cycle ergometer resistive forces are derived from FFM, greater peak powers can be obtained consistently in karate athletes. Resistive forces that relate to the active muscle tissue utilized during this type of exercise may need to be explored in preference to protocols that include both lean and fat masses. The findings have implications for both exercise prescription and the evaluation of experimental results concerning karate athletes. 

An investigation of leg and trunk strength and reaction times of hard-style martial arts practitioners

O. O'Donovan, J. Cheung, M. Catley, A. McGregor, and P. Strutton
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2006) 5 (CSSI), 2 - 12

The purpose of this study was to investigate trunk and knee strength in practitioners of hard-style martial arts, and to examine reaction times in these participants by measuring simple reaction times (SRT), choice reaction times (CRT), and movement times (MT). Thirteen high-level martial artists and twelve sedentary participants were tested under isokinetic and isometric conditions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Response and movement times were also measured in response to simple and choice auditory cues.

Results indicated that the martial arts group generated a greater body-weight adjusted peak torque with both legs at all speeds during isokinetic extension and flexion, and in isometric extension but not flexion. In isokinetic and isometric trunk flexion and extension, martial artists tended to have higher peak torques than controls, but they were not significantly different. During the SRT and CRT tasks the martial artists were no quicker in lifting their hand off a button in response to the stimulus [reaction time (RT)] but were significantly faster in moving to press another button [movement time (MT)].

Conclusions. The results reveal that training in a martial art increases the strength of both the flexors and extensors of the leg. Furthermore, they have faster movement times to auditory stimuli. These results are consistent with the physical aspects of the martial arts. 

Comparison of normalized maximum aerobic capacity and body composition of sumo wrestlers to athletes in combat and other sports

M. Beekley, T. Abe, M. Kondo, T.i Midorikawa, and T. Yamauchi
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2006) 5 (CSSI), 13 - 20

Sumo wrestling is unique in combat sport, and in all of sport. This study examined the maximum aerobic capacity and body composition of sumo wrestlers and compared them to untrained controls. It also compared "aerobic muscle quality", meaning VO2max normalized to predicted skeletal muscle mass (SMM), between sumo wrestlers and controls and among previously published data for male athletes from combat, aerobic, and power sports.

Sumo wrestlers, compared to untrained controls, had greater  body mass, percent fat, fat-free mass, predicted SMM, and absolute VO2max. Mean VO2max /SMM  was significantly differentamong aerobic athletes, combat athletes (which was not different from untrained controls), power athletes, and sumo wrestlers. There was a strong negative correlation between percent body fat and VO2max /SMM.

Conclusions. Sumo wrestlers have some of the largest percent body fat and fat-free mass and the lowest "aerobic muscle quality", both in combat sport and compared to aerobic and power sport athletes.

Evidence of nationalistic bias in Muay Thai

T. Myers, N. Balmer, A. Nevill, and Y. Al-Nakeeb
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2006) 5 (CSSI), 21 - 27 

Muay Thai is a combat sport with a growing international profile but limited research conducted into judging practices and processes. Problems with judging of other subjectively judged combat sports have caused controversy at major international tournaments that have resulted in changes to scoring methods. Nationalistic bias has been central to these problems and has been identified across a range of sports. The aim of this study was to examine nationalistic bias in Muay Thai.

Data were collected from the International Federation of Muay Thai Amateur (IFMA) World Championships held in Almaty, Kazakhstan September 2003 and comprised of tournament results from 70 A-class Muay Thai bouts each judged by between five and nine judges. Bouts examined featured 62 competitors from 21 countries and 25 judges from 11 countries.

Conclusions. Results suggested that nationalistic bias was evident. The bias observed equated to approximately one round difference between opposing judges over the course of a bout (a mean of 1.09 points difference between judges with opposing affiliations). The number of neutral judges used meant that this level of bias generally did not influence the outcome of bouts. Future research should explore other in-group biases, such as nearest neighbor bias and political bias as well as investigating the feasibility adopting an electronic scoring system. 

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