2024, Volume 20
Innovative method for predicting the chances of effective self-defence against physical aggression among children and adolescents based on the results of testing fights in a vertical posture
Michał Kruszewski1, Artur Kruszewski1, Wojciech Niedomagała2
1University of Physical Education J. Pilsudski, Warsaw, Poland
2Department of Physical Education and Sport, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
Author for correspondence: Artur Kruszewski; University of Physical Education J. Pilsudski, Warsaw, Poland; email: artur.kruszewski@awf.edu.pl
Abstract
Background and Study Aim: The phenomenon of out-of-sport physical confrontations not only among children is not limited by age, 'weight category', gender, permissible means of physical pressure (this praxeological term also includes hitting) etc. The cognitive aim of this pilot study is to resolve, on the basis of laboratory observations, whether girls are likely to defend themselves effectively against physical aggression from boys their own age.
Material and Methods: In this research, we adopted the option of forming testing group (TG) of either four or three people based on the following inclusion criteria: participation is voluntary and verbally confirmed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor: in each competition group, at least one person is of a separate gender (e.g. three boys and one girl); no health contraindications; the right to refuse further bouts at any time during the competition; identical calendar age of the participants in each competition group; as little variation in body weight as possible, but not identical; possibility of identical motor tests for girls and boys. We used ‘testing fights in a vertical posture’ (TFVP) – non-apparatus test: four sumo fights according to the simplified formula, in the system of ‘everybody with everybody else’. fight is conducted on a soft surface until one of the competitors wins in four scuffles. The contest area is made of space within a circle with a diameter of 3.6 m. Each scuffle aims at pushing the opponent outside the contest area or making him/her touch the ground with a part of the body other than feet. Prior to the TFVP subjects performed a ‘Rotation Test’ (RT) not preceded by a warm-up, then, after an individual short warm-up of three trials: standing broad jump, bent arm hang, sit up (30 seconds). Winning fights (F-Index) and the sum of scuffles (the S-Index) were documented. The raw results of the trials were referred to the Physical Fitness Score Tables of Polish Youth winners of the respective competition group.
TFVP was implemented by 4 four-person groups: children aged 7, 8, 9 and 11 years (8 girls and 8 boys). In 2 three-person TGs: 4 boys and 2 girls. A total of 22 children were observed with TFVP.
Results: Of the 6 TGs, all the fights among the eight-year-olds were won by a girl, Among the seven-year-olds (three girls, one boy) no one won and no one lost all the TFVPs. The other 4 TFVPs were won by boys. Among the children who lost all TFVPs were 3 boys and 2 girls. In two four-person TGs, F-Index correlated positively with standing broad standing broad jump score: 8-year-olds TG (r = 0.949, p<0.05); 9-year-olds TG (r = 0.930, p<0.05 with directional test) and in 11-year-olds TG F-Index correlated positively with bent arm hang score (r = 0.994, p<0.01). In a three-person TG of 9-year-olds F-Index correlated positively with the sit up hang score (r = 0.999, p<0.01). There were no statistically significant associations of F-Index with physical fitness index scores for both children who won all TFVPs (n = 5) and those who did not win any TFVPs (n = 5).
Conclusions: The few F-Index associations and the lack of statistically significant S-Index correlations with physical fitness indices are an important premise, that the TFVP is a simple tool for predicting the chances of effective self-defence against physical aggression among children and adolescents. An important methodological finding is that identical physical fitness tests should be used for girls and boys, and the decomposition of raw scores should be based on the norms provided for the age of the TG winner. In further studies, TG should be established with girls and boys with a variety or similarities of empirical variables (e.g. identical age and body weight, different age and different body weight).
Key words: INNOAGON, non-apparatus test, ‘Rotation Test’, sumo, testing group