Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces

Michal Vagner; Dan Thiel; Karel  Jelen; Lubos Tomsovsky; Petr Kubovy; James J. Tufano

2018, Volume 14

Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces

Michal Vagner¹, Dan Thiel¹, Karel Jelen², Lubos Tomsovsky², Petr Kubovy², James J. Tufano³

¹Department of Military Physical Education, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague, Czech Republic
²Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague, Czech Republic
³Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague, Czech Republic

Author for correspondence: Michal Vagner; Department of Military Physical Education, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague, Czech Republic; email: vagner@ftvs.cuni.cz

Dan Thiel: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2961-6437

Full text

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Front kicks are often used in hand-to-hand military combat training. To mimic real-life combative environments, personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes a ballistic vest should be worn during training. The aim of this study was the effects of ballistic and weighted vests on front kick kinetics.

Material and Methods: Five male soldiers (22.2 ±1.5 y, 78.8 ±5.8 kg, 180.6 ±4.8 cm) performed six individual front kicks during three conditions: bodyweight with no vest (NV), with a 12 kg ballistic vest (BV), and with a 12 kg weighted vest (WV). Peak force (N), time to reach peak force (s), and impact force (N) were measured during each kick. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and Cohen’s d.

Results: Peak force of BV 6061 ±1176 N and WV 6298 ±1355 N was greater than NV 5201 ±1176 N (p<0.01; d = 0.7 and 0.9, respectively). Time to reach peak force was longer for BV 14.25 ±4.24 ms compared to WV 13.00 ±3.96 ms (p<0.01; d = 0.3), but neither were different than NV 14.02 ±6.71 ms (p = 0.822, p = 0.330, respectively). Impact force was greater for WV 3833 ±790 N and BV 3761 ±930 N compared to NV 3405 ±62 N (p<0.01; d = 0.4 and 0.6, respectively).

Conclusions: As both vests result in similar kinetics, soldiers can use a WV or BV during hand-to-hand combat training to adapt to greater front kick impact forces that likely occur during combat.

Key words: Hand-to-hand combat, military, personal protective equipment, biomechanics

Cite this article as:

AMA:

Vagner M, Thiel D, Jelen K et al. Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces. ARCH BUDO. 2018;14

APA:

Vagner, M., Thiel, D., Jelen, K.., Tomsovsky, L., Kubovy, P., & Tufano, J.J. (2018). Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces. ARCH BUDO, 14

Chicago:

Vagner, Michal, Thiel Dan, Jelen Karel , Tomsovsky Lubos, Kubovy Petr, Tufano James J.. 2018. "Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces". ARCH BUDO 14

Harvard:

Vagner, M., Thiel, D., Jelen, K.., Tomsovsky, L., Kubovy, P., and Tufano, J.J. (2018). Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces. ARCH BUDO, 14

MLA:

Vagner, Michal et al. "Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces." ARCH BUDO, vol. 14, 2018

Vancouver:

Vagner M, Thiel D, Jelen K et al. Wearing ballistic and weighted vests increases front kick forces. ARCH BUDO 2018; 14