【Introduction】: In Wushu Taijiquan, the “Jumping Lotus Kick （Teng Kong Bai Lian）” movement involves jumping and rotating multiple times around the vertical axis while tapping the feet above the shoulders. Athletes who have difficulty with rotation are often instructed to rotate specific body parts faster. In this study, we aim to objectively identify the differences between the jumping movements of athletes who were able to complete more than one rotation and those who were unable to complete the required rotations to objectively clarify the difference between the two movements.
【Methods】: The study included 10 athletes who successfully, performed the “Jumping Lotus Kick” movement with more than one rotation, and a separate group of athletes who were considered as unsuccessful. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the jumping time and maximum angular velocity between the successful and unsuccessful athletes. Furthermore, the time at which the maximum angular velocity was observed for both groups was visualized.
【Results】: The results showed that the successful athletes were significantly associated with maximum angular velocity at each part （p < 0.05）. However, there was no significant difference in jumping time between both groups. The successful athletes displayed an earlier twisting of the back and waist compared to the unsuccessful athletes from the commencement of the trial to the end.
【Discussion】: This study suggests that rotational velocity is a more critical factor in determining the success of the “Jumping Lotus Kick” movement than jumping height. Additionally, it highlights the importance of rotating in the direction of rotation early in the movement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that objectively analyzes the “"Jumping Lotus Kick” movement in Wushu Taijiquan. This research could contribute to the success of jumping movements in Wushu athletes.
