PhD, Associate Professor P.I. Krivoshapkin¹
N.N. Rozhin¹
E.N. Starostin^1
1Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk

Corresponding author: pi.krivoshapkin@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to contribute to theoretical basics of the postural control biomechanics in modern freestyle wrestling.

Methods and structure of the study. We made, for the purposes of the study, a theoretical analysis of the postural-control-related freestyle wrestling study reports and fight videos of the global freestyle wrestling elite. It is believed that minor fluctuations are normally controlled by an ankle control strategy i.e. the ankle joint adaptation to the minor off-balancing stresses; whilst the higher-amplitude, strong and frequent fluctuations are controlled by a hip control strategy with the special hip joints fixing and movement skill set [8]. We used a database of the freestyle wrestling elite fight videos to analyze the best postural control strategies. To underline the importance of the body mass center in postural control, we call it herein a dynamic center as different from a static center.

Results and conclusion. Based on the theoretical analysis with respect to the stability theory we grouped the postural control strategies into the (1) ankle control strategy; (2) hip control strategy also referred to as the dynamic center (hip mass center) controlling reverse pendulum; and (3) neutral (trunk-fixing) control strategy also referred to as the static center with a straight pendulum, changeable ground contact and pelvic control.

The study data and analyses showed the postural control skills with special static / dynamic center control being paramount for success, with the force vector generally pointed towards the static center whilst the hands fix the dynamic center. This pattern of the movement sequence was found typical for every top-ranking freestyle wrestler and may be viewed as indicative of the skill level and experience.

Keywords: sport, wrestling, maintaining balance, maintaining balance model, body mass center.

Background. Special priority in the modern freestyle wrestling skill sets is given to the ability to feel and analyze the opponent’s postural control strategies i.e. the body balancing patterns when opposing the attacker’s off-balancing actions (thrusts, pulls, twists etc.) [6].

Objective of the study was to contribute to theoretical basics of the postural control biomechanics in modern freestyle wrestling.

Methods and structure of the study. We made, for the purposes of the study, a theoretical analysis of the postural-control-related freestyle wrestling study reports and fight videos of the global freestyle wrestling elite. It is believed that minor fluctuations are normally controlled by an ankle control strategy i.e. the ankle joint adaptation to the minor off-balancing stress; whilst the higher-amplitude, strong and frequent fluctuations are controlled by a hip control strategy with the special hip joints fixing and movement skill set [8]. We used a database of the freestyle wrestling elite fight videos to analyze the best postural control strategies. To underline the importance of the body mass center in postural control, we call it herein a dynamic center as different from a static center.

Results and discussion. Based on the theoretical analysis with respect to the stability theory [1, 5, 7, 8, 9], we grouped the postural control strategies into (1) ankle control strategy; (2) hip control strategy also referred to as the dynamic center (hip mass center) controlling reverse pendulum; and (3) neutral (trunk-fixing) control strategy also referred to as the static center with a straight pendulum, changeable ground contact and pelvic control.

The study of the back throw biomechanics by Master of Sports PhD C.T. Ivankov found the attacker’s shoulder girdle and head leading accelerations of the throwing bodily elements, with the pelvis/ legs speed being much slower. The shoulder girdle speed was tested to peak in the late phase 1 when the pelvis/ leg speeds fall to the minimum; followed by some speed-up of the pelvis at the start of phase 2. In phase 3, the shoulder/ head speeds were tested still growing, whilst the pelvis/ leg speeds falling down and stabilizing [3].

Within the static / dynamic center terms and meanings, we would say that the chest static center rotation speed and force are leading in the above sequence followed by the shoulders and head as the associating bodily segments. In phase 2, when the attacker strives to off-balance the joint (both fighters’) body mass center, a special role is played by the dynamic center (with the pelvis speed growing), since the joint body mass center is composed of the attacker’s and defender’s body mass centers [2, 4]. When the joint system tips over, the move is heavily contributed by attacker’s pelvis as the segment closest to the joint body mass center.

“Movement dynamics analysis shows the attacker’s TTA designed to off-balance the joint body mass center by pulling the opponent onto or ducking under (with the latter meaning the attacker’s body mass center moved under the defender’s)” [2, 4]. Note than in both cases the pelvic dynamic center is critical for success of the joint body mass center off-balancing move. “The EMG analysis shows the shoulder muscles being activated first as their electrical activity by far exceeds that of the lower limb muscles; with the efforts and contributions of the shoulder muscles being paramount for the goals of the throw” [3, 4].

In terms of the static center concept, leadership of the shoulder muscles in the freestyle wrestling actions appears typical of every attack/ defense action: see Figures 2, 3.

Figure 2. Pull-in by the shoulder girdle with a twist around the static center

Figure 3. Defense plus counterattack by pull-in and twist around the static center

Figure 2 shows the Khadzhimurat Magomedov’s defending from a dangerous grip by pulling-in the shoulder girdle with a twist around the static center to win the Olympic Champion’s title. Figure 3 demonstrates the Nachyn Kuular’s defense and counterattack by pull-in and twist around the static center. Figures 4, 5 hereunder show the attack vector redirected from dynamic center via static center versus the both wrestlers’ body mass center.

Figure 4. Attack vector redirection by Kyle Dyck

Kyle Dyck from the US first strives to push behind the static center (phase 1); then changes the direction (phase 2 in between the static and dynamic center); and then controls the static center by the shoulders and head and dynamic center by hands: Figure 4. And Figure 5 shows an attack by the three-time World Champion Haji Aliyev (Azerbaijani) who controls the both centers by pushing the chest static center and fixing the pelvis.

Figure 5. Attack by Haji Aliyev

Conclusion. The study data and analyses showed the postural control skills with special static / dynamic center control being paramount for success, with the force vector generally pointed towards the static center whilst the hands fix the dynamic center. This pattern of the movement sequence was found typical for every top-ranking freestyle wrestler and may be viewed as indicative of the skill level and experience.

References

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