2015, Volume 11

Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study



Ghazirah Mustapha1, Jamaluddin Mahmud1, Muzammer Zakaria2, Wan Ruzaini Wan Sulaiman3

1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia, Shah Alam, Malaysia
2School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Malaysia
3Advanced Material Research Centre, SIRIM Bhd, Kulim Hi-Tech, Malaysia, Kulim, Malaysia


Author for correspondence: Ghazirah Mustapha; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia, Shah Alam, Malaysia; email: ghazirah039[at]ppinang.uitm.edu.my


Full text

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Martial art is a self-defence art. Nevertheless, most martial art  biomechanics studies have concentrated more on the offensive rather than on the defensive aspect of it. An in-depth study of defensive techniques is equally important since the real application of self-defence requires an individual to defend first and counter-attack second. The disproportionate trend of current studies needs to be validated to support future research. The purpose of this paper are trend of research and publications pertaining to defensive techniques in martial arts biomechanics.
Material and Methods: A systematic survey of research publications was conducted in the field of martial art biomechanics. Advanced search was opted to retrieve and filter scientific articles published in four databases which include SportDiscuss, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and ProQuest. An analysis was conducted on the aforementioned publications in order to categorize them based on the martial arts’ classifications for offensive and defensive techniques.
Results: The results show that 89.1 percent of the publications in Martial Arts Biomechanics studies had focused on offensive techniques, compared to only 11 percent on defensive techniques. 
Conclusions: Research in martial arts  biomechanics is expanding, nevertheless it portrays a similar trend that tends to focus on offensive techniques. Supposedly, defensive techniques are of equal importance in martial arts. Therefore, more biomechanics investigations pertaining to defensive techniques in martial arts should be carried out. In addition, the data presented in this review could provide significant knowledge to support future research in martial arts biomechanics.


Cite this article as:

AMA:

Mustapha G, Mahmud J, Zakaria M et al. Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study. ARCH BUDO. 2015;11

APA:

Mustapha, G., Mahmud, J., Zakaria, M., & Sulaiman, W.R.W. (2015). Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study. ARCH BUDO, 11

Chicago:

Mustapha, Ghazirah, Mahmud Jamaluddin, Zakaria Muzammer, Sulaiman Wan Ruzaini Wan. 2015. "Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study". ARCH BUDO 11

Harvard:

Mustapha, G., Mahmud, J., Zakaria, M., and Sulaiman, W.R.W. (2015). Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study. ARCH BUDO, 11

MLA:

Mustapha, Ghazirah et al. "Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study." ARCH BUDO, vol. 11, 2015

Vancouver:

Mustapha G, Mahmud J, Zakaria M et al. Biomechanics research on martial arts - the importance of defensive study. ARCH BUDO 2015; 11