| Combat
Sports Special Issue Research article |
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HOW BOXERS DECIDE TO PUNCH A TARGET: EMERGENT BEHAVIOUR IN NONLINEAR
DYNAMICAL MOVEMENT SYSTEMS
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Robert
Hristovski1
, Keith Davids2, Duarte Araújo3 and Chris Button4 |
1Faculty
of Physical Culture, University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Zeleznicka
BB, Skopje 1000, Republic of Macedonia
2School of Human Movement Studies, Queensland University of Technology,
Brisbane, Australia
3Faculty of Human Kinetics, Technical University of Lisbon, Estrada da
Costa 1495-688, Cruz Quebrada, Lisbon, Portugal
4School of Physical Education, University of Otago, 46 Union Street,
West Dunedin, New Zealand
©
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2006) 5 (CSSI), 60
- 73
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| ABSTRACT |
| Previous research has shown how dynamical systems theory provides
a relevant framework for investigating decision-making behavior in
sport. The aim of this study was to adopt concepts and tools from
nonlinear dynamics in examining effects of boxer-target distance and
perceived punching efficiency on emergent decision-making during a
typical practice task in boxing. Results revealed the existence of
critical values of scaled distances between boxers and targets for
first time appearance and disappearance of a diverse range of boxing
actions including jabs, hooks and uppercuts. Reasons for the diversity
of actions were twofold: i) abrupt (qualitative) changes in the number
of the possible punches, i.e. motor solutions to the hitting task;
and ii), fine modification of the probabilities of selecting specific
striking patterns. Boxers were able to exploit the emerging perception
of strikeability, leading to a changing diversity of selected actions
and a cascade of abrupt changes in the perceptual-motor work space
of the task. Perceived efficiency of a punching action by the participants
also changed as a function of the scaled distance to a target and
was correlated with the probability of occurrence of specific boxing
actions. Accordingly, scaled distance-dependent perceived efficiency
seems an important perceptual constraint in the training task of punching
a heavy bag in boxers.
KEY
WORDS: Martial arts, boxing, affordances, decision-making, action
selection.
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