Comparative Biomechanical Analysis of Dollyo-Chagi Head Strike Kinematics Across Variable Combat Distances in Taekwondo Athletes

Abstract

Research Objectives:

1. Identify selected biomechanical variables of the front roundhouse kick across long and short inter-combatant distances in Taekwondo.
2. Compare selected biomechanical variables, motor response time, and strike intensity (impact force) of the front roundhouse kick between long and short distances between the athlete and opponent in Taekwondo.

Methodology:

The researcher adopted a comparative repeated-measures design suited to the nature of the research problem. The study population comprised senior athletes of the Iraqi National Taekwondo Team across first, second, and third tiers (N = 24). The research sample consisted of (n = 15) athletes selected purposively, representing 62.5% of the total target population.

Conclusions:

1. Inter-combatant distance plays a pivotal role in modulating biomechanical variables, motor response latency, and impact intensity.
2. For offensive maneuvers, executing the front roundhouse kick from short range is preferable via momentum transfer rather than proximal-to-distal kinetic chaining (whip-like energy transfer). This execution—characterized by tighter foot and approach angles, a shorter curvilinear trajectory, and elevated angular velocity—yields high strike speed with minimized motor response time to secure three technical points.

Recommendations:

1. Athletes should systematically train strike executions across all operational distances, tailoring mechanics to specific tactical goals (minimizing motor response latency versus maximizing terminal impact force).

Optimal conditioning protocols for the front roundhouse kick should allocate greater training volume to dynamic boundary conditions—such as explosive ground reaction propulsion, preparatory chambering phases, engagement ranges, and reactive motor response times—while reducing time spent on aerial static kicking phases (the hallmark of traditional Eastern martial arts instructional paradigms).