No. 8, pp. 44–44

Published: 28.07.2026

CC BY 4.0

Keywords: high school students, universal combat, physical fitness, health, functional state, obstacle course.

Introduction. Modern research notes a decrease in motor activity and the interest of high school students in physical education. More than 40% of students have a low level of physical qualities development, especially endurance and speed-strength abilities. Under these conditions, a promising direction is the use of elements of universal combat, which includes running, jumping, climbing, throwing, and overcoming obstacles, which contributes to the comprehensive development of physical qualities and the formation of a stable motivation for physical exercises.

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of training sessions with elements of universal combat on the level of physical fitness and functional state of high school students.

Organization of the study. The research was conducted in a secondary school with the participation of 46 students in grades 7–8, divided into a control (n=27) and an experimental (n=19) group. For 32 weeks, the control group trained according to the standard program, while the experimental group performed exercises with elements of universal combat twice a week: running, jumping, climbing, throwing, and circuit strength training complexes. The load was regulated by heart rate (up to 165 bpm). The indicators of the 30 m sprint, standing long jump, pull-ups (push-ups), 1000 m run, as well as BMI, vital capacity, Stange test, and heart rate recovery in 1 minute were evaluated.

Results and discussion. Before the experiment, the differences between the groups were statistically insignificant (p>0.05). After the cycle of classes, the EG students showed a positive dynamics in most indicators. The results of the 30 m sprint improved from 6.03±0.45 to 5.62±0.41 s, the standing long jump from 165.8±11.4 to 178.3±10.6 cm, pull-ups (or push-ups) from 8.1±2.4 to 9.5±2.1 reps, and the time to complete the obstacle course decreased from 56.8±3.9 to 51.0±3.7 s (p<0.05). Functional indicators also improved: BMI decreased from 21.7±1.4 to 21.2±1.3 kg/m², vital capacity increased from 2.9±0.3 to 3.3±0.3 L, the Stange test increased from 32.1±5.8 to 39.0±5.5 s, and heart rate recovery in 1 minute improved from 30.2±4.6 to 36.1±4.3 bpm (p<0.05). In the CG, changes did not exceed 2–3%. This confirms that classes with elements of universal combat have a pronounced effect on the physical fitness and functional capabilities of schoolchildren.

Conclusion. The obtained experimental data allow us to recommend the use of adapted complexes with elements of universal combat as a variable module of the school physical education program.

References

1. Guba V.P., Voronov Yu.S., Presnyakov V.V. Fizicheskaya aktivnost' i razvitie intellektual'nykh sposobnostey shkol'nikov mladshego i srednego vozrasta [Physical activity and the development of intellectual abilities of primary and middle school students]. Sportivno-pedagogicheskoe obrazovanie. 2024. No. 4. Pp. 19-26.