2023, Volume 19
The effectiveness of hand-to-hand combat is not determined by the need for a high level of aggressiveness
Jarosław Klimczak1, Andrzej Chodała2
1Department of Physiotherapy, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
2Faculty of Physical Education, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
Author for correspondence: Andrzej Chodała; Faculty of Physical Education, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland; email: andrysz@poczta.onet.pl
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Abstract
We use the term ‘hand-to-hand combat’ to encompass all physical confrontations between individuals and small groups (micro-scale): combat sports and non-sport confrontations, including gladiatorial combat – in historical analyses – and neo gladiators in real life. The purpose of this specific narrative review is to argue empirically that the hypothesis, which is also the title of this work, is true.
The most unequivocal evidence comes from the results of JR Syska's unique nine-month experiment (2002-2003) based on a combination of modern gymnastics and dance forms with elements of self-defense. Among 23 female students, from three different faculties, only in those (n = 6) who won all the test fights modeled on the sumo formula, the level of aggressiveness (diagnosed by the clinical method and unique INNOAGON tools) was statistically significantly negatively correlated (r = −0.856 and −0.849, p<0.05, respectively) with the more accurate indicator of the effectiveness of these test fights: S-Index (the percentage of scuffles won relative to all scuffles conducted by the given subject). Also, only their anxiety level was statistically negatively correlated with the S-Index (r = −0.966, p<0.01).
Although the results of an eight-month experiment conducted 10 years earlier by RM Kalina (1992-1993) are not based on precisely documented observations of either sumo-modeled fights or judo training fights (randori), a great many of which were fought among themselves by the military cadets of the experimental group (n = 19), the final result, which provides evidence of reduced aggressiveness, indirectly positively verifies the hypothesis. The selection criteria, out of 182 students enrolled in the first year of military engineering studies, for the experimental group were the highest possible level of aggressiveness (diagnosed by the Buss-Durkee Questionnaire) and the desire to train judo or self-defence.
Already not so unequivocally verified this hypothesis are the results of observations by S. Dadało during a project to determine the professional competence of Lithuanian security guards (n = 118). All test fights (out of 24 selected competition groups) were won by 19 guards (79% of the theoretical score), which accounted for 16% of the total subjects. Dadeło did not correlate the S-Index with 'bravery/aggressiveness' separately for this subgroup of 19 protectors. However, statistically significantly correlated (r = 0.21, p<0.05) the generalized indices of ‘hand-to-hand combat effectiveness’, with 'mental qualities' (where one of the three components is the ‘bravery/aggressiveness’ index).
Key words: bravery, innovative agonology, modern gymnastics and dance forms, self-defence