Is It Possible to Predict an Athlete’s Behavior? The Use of Polar Coordinates to Identify Key Patterns in Taekwondo

Menescardi, Cristina; Falcó, Coral; Estevan, Isaac; Ros, Concepción Ros; Morales‐Sánchez, Verónica; Mendo, Antonio Hernández

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01232

Cited by 10 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…As such, it is difficult to compare our results with those of previous studies. The main findings of the present study are that there are specific behaviors used by taekwondo elite athletes to achieve different scores, in accordance with previous studies that consider tactics, techniques, and the kicking zone to be related to score (Matsushigue et al, 2009;Falcó et al, 2012;Falco et al, 2014;Sledweski et al, 2015;Menescardi et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…In addition, anticipatory counterattacks and spinning kicks were related to effective two-point actions, while threepoint actions were related to circular techniques, the most frequently performed in competitions (Matsushigue et al, 2009). Finally, Menescardi et al (2019) found different patterns between male and females in one-point actions: female scored one point after cut, direct attacks with circular techniques to the chest, while males scored after spinning anticipate counterattack and dodges. Females scored two points after direct attacks while males used simultaneous counterattacks to the head.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The ability to execute effective patterns through a combination of cognitive, perceptual, and motor skills is one of the most important aspects of an athlete's performance (Ali, 2011). Only five studies have analyzed patterns in taekwondo, two of which used lag sequential analysis (González-Prado et al, 2015; while the last three (López-López et al, 2015;Menescardi et al, 2016Menescardi et al, , 2019 used polar coordinate analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Technical-Tactical Actions Used to Score in Taekwondo: An Analysis of Two Medalists in Two Olympic Championships

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Research in taekwondo has traditionally focused on specific aspects athletes' overall technical and tactical skills, while ignoring other important issues such as identifying how successful athletes score points. The aim of the current study was to follow two medalists through two Olympic Championships (2012 and 2016) to discover the effective patterns associated with scoring in taekwondo using an observational methodology. An ad-hoc taekwondo observational tool was used to codify the actions performed by the athletes. An observational descriptive and multivariate analysis of 1,688 actions performed by the athletes was conducted. A lag sequential and polar coordinate analysis was performed that considered tactics, techniques and the kicking zone as factors related to score (one to four points). The results showed that one point was scored with direct attacks (DIAs) and actions to the chest where DIAs also occurred prior to scoring. After scoring one-point, opponents tended to gain points by kicking the opponent's head. Two points were scored with simultaneous spinning kicks. Cuts occurred prior to and after scoring while posterior counterattacks (PCAs) occurred after. Three points were scored by performing indirect attacks and PCAs to the head. Cuts, dodges, and linear actions preceded the three-point score while dodges, DIAs, and linear actions to the chest also occurred after the three point-actions. In conclusion, these two athletes not only mastered the whole tactics but also used specific strategies to score. That is, they anticipated the opponent's attack to score one point by kicking the opponent directly and performed spinning kicks from short distances when they perceived an opponent's cutting action to score two points. Finally, these athletes indirectly attacked the opponent when they dodged by kicking their head and counterattacked posteriorly when an opponent's cut was perceived to score three points. Thus, they used the most difficult tactics to achieve the highest score. It is suggested that coaches and psychologists train athletes in better decision-making by preparing them to not only prepare their own attacks but to systematically use the intended attacks by their opponents to score their own points in accordance with the successful patterns extracted in this study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Technical-Tactical Actions Used to Score in Taekwondo: An Analysis of Two Medalists in Two Olympic Championships

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“…Taekwondo researchers and trainers have already started working on modeling to "provide objective data on competitive behavior" (Menescardi et al, 2019). Their study focuses on technical and tactical behaviors and the regulations that need to be made concerning their inclusion in trainings, and of course, in bouts.…”

Section: Points Scored Simultaneously Flags and Senshumentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Menescardi et al (2019), "objective data regarding successful behavioral patterns, (. .…”

Section: Current Situation Penalties Possible Strategic Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategy and Decision Making in Karate

2020

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Karate will be included in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo as an additional sport. The inner logic of this activity includes a specific scoring system and way of modeling. Three hundred and nine bouts were observed in the competition context, which resulted in new perspectives on training and competition. The scoring of punches (43.7% of total scored points) and face kicks (37.9%) appears to be more significant (p ≤ 0.01) than that of body kicks (15.3%, p ≤ 0.01) and leg-sweeping (3.1%, p = 0.31). Penalties appear to be very significant and associated with victory when "scored" by the competitor against himself or herself (p ≤ 0.01). Competitors must score points and penalties. This zero-sum game induces a simple rivalry, whose purpose is domination and which must rely on a predefined strategy and initiative. Karatekas have to make decisions, such as when taking the risk to score points and penalties, whether or not they lead the score. Karatekas may decide to expose or protect themselves, create situations, or simply remain realistic and adhere to the plan. The question of decision making, which is central to this work, forces us to focus our future work on the notions of expectations and self-fulfilling prophecies.

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Why do female and male taekwondo athletes win the bout? An analysis based on the Olympic weight category and the result of the bout

Menescardi

Liébana

Falcó

2020

Rev. artes marciales asiát.

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<p>Combat sports such as taekwondo, where athletes compete against an opponent require control of technique and tactics, as well as knowing the optimal performance of opponents to win the bout. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse the Olympic competitors (London Olympic Games), according to the weight category (fly, feather, light and heavy) and according to the performance in their fighting (winner vs. loser) in each gender. An observational methodology was used, following a nomothetic, follow-up and multidimensional design of 302 individual performances. The statistical analysis used an ANOVA and T Student test for comparing frequencies. The results obtained indicate significant differences between weight categories, that is, lighter competitors performed more actions than heavier ones. Female heavier competitors performed more defensive actions (blocks and cuts) than lighter competitors. Regarding their performance, winners performed more anticipated, 1 and 3-point actions than losers who performed more indirect and spinning actions with back leg. Therefore, there is a different technical-tactical behaviour between taekwondo athletes depending on the categories and the result of the combat, suggesting to emulate winners, performing more anticipated actions to both trunk and head, as well as training the most used technical-tactical actions according to the athletes’ competition weight category.</p>

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Is It Possible to Predict an Athlete’s Behavior? The Use of Polar Coordinates to Identify Key Patterns in Taekwondo

Cited by 10 publications

References 41 publications

Technical-Tactical Actions Used to Score in Taekwondo: An Analysis of Two Medalists in Two Olympic Championships

Technical-Tactical Actions Used to Score in Taekwondo: An Analysis of Two Medalists in Two Olympic Championships

Strategy and Decision Making in Karate

Why do female and male taekwondo athletes win the bout? An analysis based on the Olympic weight category and the result of the bout

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