Effect of Uncertainty on the Reaction Response in Fencing

Abstract

Purpose: The objective was to determine the way in which the level of uncertainty produced during the execution of al unge attack with target change (two or four possible responses) affects reaction-response time parameters and kinematic factors involved in the technical coordination of the attack. Method: Seventeen fencers from the Spanish National Men's Fencing Team participated in the study, which involved performing alunge attack against a moving circle as fast as possible, while attempting to place the tip of the sword inside the circle that appeared in the plastron's center of symmetry. Two force platforms were used to record the anteroposterior component of force and the initiation of movement. Kinematics were measured with at hree-dimensional motion-capture system that recorded the spatial positions of 11 markers. An electronic signal was used to time-synchronize all of the systems.Results: The results demonstrate asignificant increase in reaction time, p , .01, and choice reaction time, p , .001, when uncertainty increases, while movement time, precision, and segmental participation sequence during movement are not affected when uncertainty increases. Conclusion: It is worth stressing the importance of uncertainty-reduction strategies for fencers' performance to reduce the reaction-response time. Although increased uncertainty has little influence over precision and segmental participation sequence of the movement pattern used in attacks executed by elite fencers, caution should be used when generalizing these results for fencers of alower technical level than that of the participants in this study.

Original research papers. Kinematic Characterisation of the Lunge and the Fleche in Epee Fencing: Two Case Studies

“…Take-off time (tt) was similar in both techniques and oscillated around 0.5 s. A significant difference, however, was observed in VCoG in the lunge, for which Vmax oscillated between 1.8 and 2.3 m/s. Similar results (1.36-2.08 m/s) were obtained for the direct-thrust attack by Gutierrez-Davila et al [12,13]. On the other hand, the values of the fleche velocity were in the range between 2.6 and 2.9 m/s.…”

“…They concluded that perpendicular foot placement with the front foot pointing forward is the optimum position for achieving peak power and velocity of the body during a lunge. Other researchers have discussed the significance of the timing parameters of the reaction response time (RRT) in the fencer's efficiency [4,12,13]. They found that the relationship between the RRT and the kinematic parameters of a lunge depends on target change [15].…”

Valoración del punto de no retorno en el tiempo de elección bajo condiciones de incertidumbre en el pase en baloncesto

“…As mentioned above, TCT (tx) (x=0,..,4) for each player was deined as x/5 MT + RT (being MT, RT median values of such player. his result contradicts the hypothesis of previous studies that uncertainty resulting from target change increases movement time (Borysiuk & Waskiewicz, 2008;Gutiérrez-Dávila et al, 2013;Sanderson, 1983).…”

Psycho-physiological symptoms of stress and fatigue in elite male fencers during one-day tournament. A pilot study

“…The most frequently blood indices used for detection biological responses to an athletic competition or the other psychophysical stimuli are blood levels of steroidal hormones cortisol (C), testosterone (T) and so-called anabolic-catabolic in - Fencing belong to that sport family, which required from a contestant mostly good special orientation, time response, visual search ability, movement accuracy and explosive strength of lower limbs. Indeed, these fencers` attributes have been examines extensively [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], while biological cost of a fencing tournament, which usually lasts the whole day is poorly explored. This study was aimed to explore biological cost of participation in a one-day fencing tournament based on study of the behaviors of blood cortisol, testosterone, lactate (LA) creatine kinase (CK), and state anxiety, mood state and physical well-being throughout the entire competition.…”