Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of wearing kendo protectors on motor ability. Motor ability tests of power, agility, balance and endurance were administered to kendoists and controls on the condition with or without wearing kendo protectors. The time of “shomen-uchi” was measured by a high speed video and force plate system. The results are as follows;
(1) Significant differences were found in the score of controls' and kendoists' standing long jump between conditions of wearing and non-wearing kendo protectors.
(2) When the subjects wore the kendo protectors, the score of side step test decreased significantly in both controls and kendoists.
(3) No significant differences were obtained in the score of one foot balance test with the condition of wearing and non-wearing kendo protectors between kendoists and controls. The score of dynamic balance test decreased significantly in controls when the kendo protectors were worn.
(4) The score of step test in controls decreased significantly when they wore the kendo protectors.
(5) From the analysis of high speed video and force plate system, wearing kendo protectors was found to effect moving time between the start of motion by force plate and the motion at which the subjects handled the “shinai”.
