Exploration of martial arts kick initiation actions and telegraphs

A technique in Martial Arts is often indicated by an athlete’s preceding actions, which potentially enables an opponent to detect or counter it. Prior to kicks, fighters attain balance and ease leg elevation by re-distributing their weight (WRT) or ease following sequences by elevating COM (CET). The aim of this study was to define such movements and to compare them by their duration and motion amplitude. The kick preceding actions and regular fighting movements of a kicking combination performed by 44 fighters across different skill levels (advanced to world leading) were compared. The initiation action start was determined by the moment during the preparatory phase, when a joint angle significantly exceeds or subceeds a specific threshold (3Sd). Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis were used to summarise movement types, durations, and amplitudes. T- and Wilcoxon tests were performed to analyse differences in movement start and amplitude between WRT and CET, while Friedman- and Dunn-Bonferroni tests were used between body segments. Results showed that WRTs start earlier, happen more often, and are more subtle than CETs. Furthermore, proximal segments tend to move earlier [Sequence: COM; torso; hips> arms; knees] and with less movement amplitude [Sequence: arms > hips; knees > torso].