Effects of Kickboxing Competitive Level in Anthropometrical Profile and Physiological Attributes with Comparisons by Gender

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare kickboxing competitive levels and genders in anthropometrical, anaerobic attributes and aerobic capacity. The sample was composed of four groups (subelite: 6 men and 4 women; amateur: 10 men and 8 women). Anthropometric measurements, 20-meter Shuttle Run aerobic test, Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Medicine ball throw (MBT), Bench press and Back Squat Maximal Strength, and Wingate-test for upper (UB) and lower-body (LB) were used. We found that the subelite male and female kickboxers achieved significantly higher MBT (male: subelite = 4.6±0.3 vs. amateur = 4.1±0.4 m; female: subelite = 3.9±0.4 vs. amateur = 3.2±0.5 m) and UB (male: subelite = 6.1±0.6 and 7.6±0.8  vs. 5.2±0.7 and 6.5±0.9 W.kg^-1, respectively; female: subelite = 4.8±0.6 and 5.9±0.8 vs. amateur = 3.7±0.8 and 4.1±1.1 W.kg^-1, respectively), LB mean and peak power (male: subelite = 8.5±0.9 and 10.9±0.9 vs. 7.1±1.1 and 9.3±1.2 W.kg^-1, respectively; female: subelite = 6.5±0.8 and 8.6±1.1 vs. amateur = 5.3±0.9 and 6.7±1.4   W.kg^-1, respectively) and maximal oxygen uptake (male: subelite = 54.6±4.3 vs. amateur = 49.1±4.6 ml.min^-1.kg^-1; female: subelite = 47.6±3.2 vs. amateur = 42.2±3.8 ml.min^-1.kg^-1) than amateur kickboxers. The effects demonstrated significant difference between male and female amateur kickboxers for anthropometric, physical and physiological performance (P<0.05) and a sexual dimorphism when compared the female subelite level with male groups. The performance of male and female kickboxers primarily depends on the anaerobic alactic power, explosive power, and aerobic power.