THE BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF STRAIGHT AND FLEXURAL LEG SWING OF THE CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS JUMPING FRONT KICK

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Jumping Front Kick is not only an important movement that combines jumping movement and leg technique in Chinese martial arts routines, but is also required in the contents of routines of Wushu event in the Asian Games. In view of the different kicking technical features, there are different styles of attack based upon the consciousness of actual combat between kicking with a straight leg swing and kicking with a flexural leg swing. The purpose of this study was to analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the two different Jumping Front Kicks during kick between elite Chinese martial arts players and physical education major students. METHODS: Ten Chinese martial arts players (height: 168±5cm; weight: 62±4kg; age: 20±3years) with six flexural leg swing and four straight leg swing technique, and ten PE major students (height: 175±5cm; weight: 73±8kg; age: 23±5years) with four flexural leg swing and six straight leg swing technique were served as the subjects for this study. Peak Performance video Motion Analysis System (120Hz) was used to record the movements of the Jumping Front Kick performed by subjects. The selected variables for kick leg were test by completely randomized design two-way ANOVA at a=.05 significant level. RESULTS: The results indicated that the flexural leg swing were significantly faster in maximal knee joint vertical velocity (5.27±0.52m/s), maximal flexion knee angular velocity (784±145deg/s), and maximal extension knee angular velocity (1010±240 deg/s) than the straight leg swing. There was no significant difference between flexural leg swing and straight leg swing in maximal toe velocity and maximal ankle velocity. However, there was significantly different on time to the maximal toe velocity and time to maximal ankle velocity between the flexural leg swing and the straight leg swing. In addition, the PE major students had significantly greater maximal ankle velocity (9.58±0.62m/s) than the Chinese martial arts players. This may due to the PE major students had longer lower extremity than the Chinese martial arts players, which in agreement with the Chinese martial arts players had significantly greater maximal flexion hip velocity (757±149deg/s) than the PE major students. The data also indicated that the flexural leg swing had two maximal values on ankle and toe vertical velocity. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated the flexural leg swing technique may have advantage during actual combat situation. The data suggested that there was no difference on lower extremity velocity when perform the flexural leg swing and straight leg swing. Finally, the PE major students seem to have more attack potential than the Chinese martial arts players.