Relationship between Men-striking reaction time and stretch shortening cycle performance in university Kendo players

Abstract

In competitive sports such as Kendo and Karate, it is necessary to attack rapidly before the opponent initiates attack or defense situations. This study investigated the relationship between Issokuitto-Men (IM), Tsubazeriai-Hiki-Men (HM), and Toma-Men (TM)’s striking reaction time (RT) and lower-extremity stretch shortening cycle (SSC) performance. Twenty-four university male Kendo players aged 18 to 20 years participated in this study. All participants completed the simple and choice reaction times on the whole body (WB), IM, HM, and TM conditions, rebound jump (RJ), standing broad jump (SBJ), single leg drop jump (SLDJ) for stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) performances. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated between simple and choice reaction times and SSC variables. Significant relationships were only found between SJ with single leg backward direction (r=-0.449). Furthermore, there was no difference in the simple and choice reaction times of the various strikes between regular and non-regular players, and it is possible that their abilities are close. These results indicate that the simple and choice men’s striking reaction times are not related to Kendo players’ SSC performance.