Characteristics of Hand and Foot Preference in Judoists and Kendoists

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics of hand and foot preference in Judoists and Kendoists. The subjects for this study were fifteen sport clubs,167 male athletes (included 11 Judoists and 19 Kendoists) of the University of Tsukuba, aged 18-23 years.
Survey by the questionnaire was made on 25 items and 15 items concerning the laterality of the arm and leg. They were tested in ten morphological and motor skill tests; 1) difference of bi-acromion height,2) weight distribution on left and right foot,3) grip strength,4) arm flexion strength,5) tapping,6) target accuracy test,7) leg strength,8) foot tapping,9) picking up pencil and 10) one foot balance with eyes closed.
The results were as follows:
(1) The right shoulder of Judoists and Kendoists had a tendency to be on the downward. The overweight tendency to right foot were shown in Kendoists, but a tendency to left foot overweight was observed in Judoists.
(2) As for the grip strength, arm flexion strength, tapping and target accuracy test, Judoists showed superiority in the right hand, but Kendoists did not showed significant superiority.
(3) In the case of right foot preference, leg strength, foot tapping, picking up pencil and one foot balance with eyes closed showed more superiority in the right foot on Judoists than its on Kendoists. (4) In the case of left foot preference, leg strength showed superiority in the left foot on both groups, but foot tapping showed superiority in the right foot on the other hand. As for the picking up pencil, Judoists showed superiority in the right foot, but Kendoists showed the inversed tendency.