AUTHOR=Yamashita Daichi , Arakawa Hiroshi , Wada Takahiro , Yumoto Kenichi , Fujiyama Kotaro , Nagami Tomoyuki , Shimizu Seshito 

TITLE=Whole-Body Mechanics of Double-Leg Attack in Elite and Non-elite Male Freestyle Wrestlers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.00058

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2020.00058

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=This study examined the movement characteristics of the double-leg attack in elite and non-elite wrestlers. Twenty light-weight male wrestlers were divided by skill level: the Elite group (n = 11) who participated in international-level competitions and the Non-Elite group (n = 9) consisting of college-level wrestlers. They performed the double-leg attacks against a defender. Three-dimensional coordinates of anatomical landmarks and the ground reaction force (GRF) at the trailing limb were analyzed, and joint torques were calculated by a standard inverse dynamics method. Ne group differences were observed for joint angles and torques. No Significant differences were observed between groups for movement duration and distance (upper body forward displacement). There were no group differences in peak forward velocity of the whole-body center of mass and the 7th cervical spine (C7), which represent the upper body, or the peak forward GRF. However, the C7 forward velocity at 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30 s and the C7 forward displacement at 0.25 and 0.30 s after the start of the attack was significantly greater in the elite wrestlers compared to that in the non-elite wrestlers (p < 0.05). This disparity in forward velocity made a difference in forward displacement by 0.08 m at 0.35 s. Also, the time-to-peak resultant GRF was shorter, and peak resultant GRF was greater at the trailing limb in the elite wrestlers compared to that in the non-elite wrestlers (p < 0.05). Thus, during a double-leg attack, elite wrestlers quickly move their upper body forward while quickly pushing-off the trailing foot, thus reaching the defender’s legs in advance of defensive actions, irrespective of the interpersonal distance. These characteristics may improve the success rate of the double-leg attack.