title: Choices enhance punching performance of competitive kickboxers.
abstract: While self-controlled practice has been shown to enhance motor learning with various populations and novel tasks, it remains unclear if such effects would be found with athletes completing familiar tasks. Study 1 used a single case-study design with a world-champion kickboxer. We investigated whether giving the athlete a choice over the order of punches would affect punching velocity and impact force. Separated by 1 min of rest, the athlete completed 2 rounds of 12 single, maximal effort punches (lead straight, rear straight, lead hook and rear hook) delivered to a punching integrator in a counterbalanced order over six testing days. In one round the punches were delivered in a predetermined order while in the second round the order was self-selected by the athlete. In the choice condition, the world champion punched with greater velocities (6-11 %) and impact forces (5-10 %). In Study 2, the same testing procedures were repeated with 13 amateur male kickboxers over 2 testing days. Similar to Study 1, the athletes punched with significantly greater velocities (6 %, p < 0.05) and normalised impact forces (2 %, p < 0.05) in the choice condition. These findings complement research on autonomy support in motor learning by demonstrating immediate advantages in force production and velocity with experienced athletes.
authors.affiliation: Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. Israel.halperin@ausport.gov.au.|Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia. Israel.halperin@ausport.gov.au.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.affiliation: Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.|Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Dale W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, USA.|University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lewthwaite
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wulf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001914:Boxing / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*