Anthropometric and Physiological Profile of Elite Iranian National Kickboxing Team: A Comparison of Ring-Style and Tatami-Style Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a physically demanding combat sport. Understanding elite national team kickboxers’ anthropometric and physiological characteristics are crucial for enhancing performance and designing eective training programs. The aims of the present study are to (a) prole anthropometric and physiological characteristics of the male Iranian National Kickboxing Team and (b) examine dierences between Ring (uncontrolled) and Tatami (controlled) Kickboxing styles. Materials. A total of twelve male athletes, comprising six Tatami and six Ring-style kickboxers, with an average age of 26.9 ± 3.3 years, joined the Iranian national team in 2019 and were recruited for this study. The following parameters were measured at Iran’s Olympic Academy Center: body composition, muscle strength, muscle endurance, aerobic power, exibility, speed, agility, reaction time, anaerobic power, and explosive leg power. Research methods. The data were analyzed with mean and standard deviation, and the independent t-test was used to compare the data of both styles. Results. Ring-style kickboxers outperformed Tatami-style kickboxers in fat-free mass, body fat percentage, arm span, relative squat, relative chest press, relative deadlift, relative handgrip, modied pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, vertical jump, exibility, VO2max, arm and leg Wingate (p<0.05). Both groups had high levels of physical tness, except for aerobic capacity, which was lower than expected in both groups. Conclusion. These ndings suggest that Iranian elite kickboxers have ideal physical tness components. Coaches should design specic training programs to improve the aerobic capacity of these athletes, which is vital to enhancing their performance. The study’s results can contribute to the Kickboxing community, including coaches, trainers, and athletes, by optimizing eective physical tness programs.Keywords: Martial Arts, skill-related physical tness, Wingate; Vo2 max.