Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas in Tachi-Waza Technique

Transcription

1 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 DOI: /v Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas in TachiWaza Technique (Study performed on condition simulator) Florin MOŞTOFLEI Ioana BĂNICĂ T he total training process in judo at the junior level assumes in an essential way the improvement of specific psychomotric qualities, the enlargement of technical support and competition experience. The present study is focused on a specific particularity of coordinative ability, namely on its manifestation considering the dominant laterality in imposed working conditions. During several assisted training sessions on the condition simulator, we focused on the (non)/dominant laterality manifestation at a junior female judoka group. We started from the hypothesis which specified that one previous trained TachiWaza technique can be executed with superior control and coordination items by oneorother laterality, related to the athlete s individual particularities. The conclusions of this study led to other hypothesis that will bring (through research) new informational aspects for individual combat sports. Keywords: judo, types of laterality, TachiWaza technique. Introduction Judo practice, regarding Kano s classification ~master creator of martial arts~ presumes functional ambidextry of the athlete, but the reality of judo competition is contradicting the Kanos s affirmation (Galarraga, 2010, p.1) In the competitional judo, the lateralization process is trained from the very beginning, starting with the moment of guard positions lessons. The words normal and reverse guard position is often utilized by the athletes and trainers. Moreover, during the aging process and changing trainers by passing toward new performing levels, the development of athletes ambilaterality can be reorganized on the secondary plan, mainly because the action efficiency is more important in official competitions. Therefore, a part of combat sport athletes becomes specialized on 91

2 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas actions manly executed by specific parts of the body, raising the motor skills level to the mastery rank. The French Judo Federation starts building a database regarding the technical and tactical judokas abilities. Beside other details, the French specialists took notes about judokas preferences in offence situations during TachiWaza and NeWaza techniques. On the other hand, thanks to their tremendous physical qualities and laborious training process, there are judokas who succeed to execute various techniques on both sides (left/right). Regarding the Romanian judo school, the specialists recommendation is that the child orientation towards some techniques can be made on a base of careful appreciation of dominant motric qualities, and also the capacity of physical ability to execute the body movements included in a specific technique. (Muraru, 1985, p. 197) Manescu (quoted by Albu, 2006) specify that the majority of specialists explain the laterality by cerebral dominance. The hypothesis was confirmed by studies realized on persons who suffered brain damage the man confronts the surrounding environment with laterality, not frontal. Practically, a functional asymmetry appears (laterality) strictly related with the dominant function of the cerebral hemisphere. (Albu, 2006, p. 28). After Blaszquez (quoted by Moreno Diaz, 2008) there are more types of laterality: integral left or right, nonintegral (cross laterality), reverse (the man execute learned actions on one side of the body and with the other side the innate moves) and ambidextry (both, left and right arms are used) (Moreno Diaz, 2008, p. 2). Also, the lateral preference. is targeting three levels: manual dominance, ocular dominance and podal dominance. (for a specific foot) (Albu, 2006, p. 204) 92

3 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 Table 1. Types of laterality described by C. Paunescu (quoted by Tudos, 2006, p. 50) The criteria Types Normal Laterality Normally lefthanded, in case the subject is lefthanded as a result of fact that the main brain commands are situated in the right hemisphere. Pathologic Laterality In case the subject is lefthanded and his left hemisphere is damaged, the right hemisphere takes control (similar for righthanded) By their nature By intensity By homogeneity By superior members participation Characteristics, examples the intensity of functional asymmetry Strong laterality iswhen revealed to one of homologous organ Low laterality When ambidextry is identified. Homogeneous laterality On the same side of the body; the subject is righthanded or lefthanded by hand, eye or foot Nonhomogenous laterality (or cross over laterality) It is the opposite of homogenous laterality, when for the same subject the predominant laterality is different for various limbs; for example when the subject is lefthanded and lefteyed but rightfooted; Changed laterality When the laterality is changed by education; Bilateral When feet and arms are simultaneously moving and there is coordination between them Omolateral When the foot and arm from the same side of the body are simultaneously moving Cross over laterality When the arm and the opposite foot are simultaneously moving Multilateral When both arms and feet are simultaneously moving 93

4 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas The most important differentiation must be made between morphological laterality and functional (known as instrumental) laterality. The morphological laterality is manifesting during involuntary moves and in gestural motor answers as well as spontaneous adaptability and functional laterality is the acquired dominant motor skill for a body limb or another (handfoot) by social learning and built during environmental voluntary interaction. (Iglesias Soler, 1999, p. 12) In sport there are various studies regarding laterality. Bilbao and Ona in 2000 (quoted by Del Vale Diaz, 2007) are talking about motor laterality as a trainable ability; Scholzova, Hlusek and Ramacsay, 2002 (quoted by Del Vale Diaz, 2007) explain the laterality process from martial arts point of view. The motric dominance study can be approached as a relative process, not as a result of a structural fixed process but merely as a dynamic neurophysiologic equilibrium for which the experience (learning) amount has a relevant role in asymmetries determination or lateral symmetries. (Garcia Mesa, 2007, p. 2) Strictly related to judo discipline, we appreciate that for some judokas ambilaterality cases we can talk about motric intelligence. Practically, according to M. Epuran affirmation (quoted by Tudos, 2006) the motric intelligence presumes: understanding capacity, discerning capacity, integrating capacity, the exact and precise movements capacity for most appropriate practical situations (that is manifested in different forms and levels), the speed of motric learning, temporal and spatial coordination accuracy, the combining movement ability, the anticipation and coordination capacity (Tudos, 2006, p. 60) The present study reveals the monitoring process of judokas control ability for specific technique execution and for intersegmental coordination in De Ashi Barai technique, execution included in TachiWaza. This special technique, representative for foot processes group (AshiWaza) is often used on tatami. It is executed when the opponent is advancing and more important is pushing the sickle move is executed from the side, from front to back and towards own right foot Concurrent with the sickle move made by left foot, the arms should act too, taking the Uke to the ground by a left oriented semicircular move. (Stefanut, 1983, p. 144) 94

5 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 Methodology Objectives: The following study is focused on: Analyzing if declared laterality as being dominant (normal guard position for each judoka) is responsible for more accurate executions; Identifying those female judokas with real motric abilities who can execute correctly and efficiently one specific technique from the reverse guard position (nondominant laterality); Approaching the issue of ambilaterality from the motric intelligence perspective, specific for junior female judokas; Verifying and building one complementary training methodology for judo, for an agegroup whose fightstyle is not completely finalized, in a combat acyclic sport. Hypothesis: There is a possibility that junior judoka female can manifest superior items of neuralmuscular control and intersegmental coordination on dominant laterality (normal guard position). Subjects: The study group included 12 junior judoka females, component members of National Olympic Centre for Juniors (N.O.C.J.) Cluj Napoca. They were in centralized training camp together with National Olympic judo team female to Poiana Brasov. The juniors have been trained for The Romanian Cup individually and for The National Championship U20. The research study took place from 22nd to31st March

6 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas Table 2. The study group No N/S Weight category (kg) Dominant laterality (declared) The Romanian Cup final results B.R. I.R. E.R. M.C. S.A. O.L. M.A. G.A. P.A. D.R S.A. R.O Right Right Left Left Right Right Right Right Right Left Right Right 52 kg 7th place + 78 kg 5th place 52 kg 3rd place 57 kg 2nd place 63 kg 1st place 48 kg 3rd place 48 kg 5th place 63 kg 7th place Basically, the female athletes came in pair for the assisted training sessions with Thaiso (specific warming state) done and led by head coach from the N.O.C.J. Materials and methods: During the experiment we used the condition simulator, a training device with information possibilities about some quantified parameters of moving (de Hillerin, 1999, p. 164). The subject, watching on the monitor a graphic profile, must execute a traction move, in order to determine a spot light to move according to the initial graphic profile. Watching on the screen the effects of his/her action, based on visual information received, the athlete can control and adapt his/her movement in real time. His/her main task is to reproduce as close as possible the graphic model. The target focuses both on singular body segment and on different other segments, in various combinations executed by the athlete. At the same time, requested exercises had different difficulty degrees, a diverse number of executions, different force and speed steps. (Bănică, 2010, p. 20). 96

7 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 The program: The entire experiment was comprised in 6 training sessions with different tasks and degrees of difficulty. Practically, each training session had its own target that was submitted to the general assistance purpose. The training session no. 1: pretesting (technical details: condition simulator brake at 20% similar condition with the regular judo training sessions) The subjects were firstly investigated regarding the competition bodyweight and present weight, also health state; The pretest included 7 De Ashi Barai executions, from normal guard positions, with the scope of collecting the data to build the condition simulator`s graphic models for each athlete (we established/individualized the length of move and the force items); Our recommendation for the judokas was: the repetitions must be executed constantly as close as regular training techniques (we avoid executions in maximal conditions); in addition, we asked that the debut of technique to imperatively start with arms imbalance followed by Ashi technique (sickle move made by left/right foot). The condition simulator presented the data collected from arms traction move in green and the foot attack move in red ; the arms grip was fixed on two kimono pieces with the scope of approaching the judo specific grip. At the end of pretests we could establish the individual graphic models, separately for attackfoot and arms. We avoided the maximal values both for force items and for the moves length, focusing on above only medium values. Pretest items Graphic models for feet and arms action Figure 1. Example graphic models related to pretest details 97

8 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas The trainingsession no. 2: (technical details: the data was extracted only for arms, brake 20%, we used two steps force for the graphic model)1. The main objective of this session was to realize a comparative study (left/ right) between the arms movement during the De Ashi Barai technique. For this session we used only the green graph corresponding to arms movement. The graphic was designed with two force steps (the second was superior to the first one). The force level and the moves amplitude were related to medium values from the pretests, the graphics must be followed as close as possible during the executions. Each female judoka executed two series of 15 technique repetitions, with the grips asymmetrically fixed (by the lapel and the elbow). One series was executed from normal guard position and the other series from the reverse guard position. Partial conclusions, second training session: For a number of 11 from the total of 12 subjects we succeed to realize the comparative studies between normal guard graphics and reverse ones; For a number of 4 subjects we noticed almost the same control degree during both dominant and non dominant laterality executions. For another 4 subjects the dominant laterality executions were more precise (related to the graphic models). For 3 of them, the non dominant laterality executions emphasized better results from reverse guard position. Normal guard position Reverse guard position Figure 2. Example graphic with better values from non dominant laterality The trainingsession no. 3: (technique details: we focused only on foot moves, brake 20%, two force steps graphics) 98

9 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 In this case we focused on comparative study for left and right foot executions in the De Ashi Barai technique. We recorded data from one single channel wire (red) corresponding to feet movement colored; the arms only simulates the imbalanced action to the opponent; the force graphic models were designed with two ascending steps and the athletes were told to follow them. Each judoka executed two series composed by 15 reps, one from normal guard position and the others from the reverse position. Partial conclusion for third training session: We found various evolutions, even for the same athlete, from exact to chaotic executions; For 4 of the subjects, the results from normal guard position were not significantly different to those from reverse guard position. For 2 of the junior female judokas we noticed better executions on the dominant laterality and for the rest of the 6 subjects better executions on non dominant laterality. Normal guard position Reverse guard position Figure 3. Example Superior control items in foot action on non dominant laterality Normal guard position Reverse guard position Figure 4. Example low control on atack foot action 99

10 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas The trainingsession no. 4: (technical details: armsfoot coordination, brake 20%) This training session was focused on highlighting the junior judokas ambilaterality in combined moves, simultaneously executed by arms and attack foot. We used the same judo technique (De Ashi Barai) and both channels of the simulator: green for arms (asymmetric grabs lapelelbow), red for the foot. The graphics included two force steps (rising in the final action). The athletes executed 2 series of 15 reps from normal and reverse guard position. Partial conclusion for forth session: There were no significant differences between execution from normal and reverse guard positions for 4 of the subjects; We noticed a better control from reverse guard position for 6 of the subjects, but this detail was visible exclusively to the arms actions; 7 subjects proved to have additional control on foot actions from normal guard position; Normal guard position Foot Arms Reverse guard position Foot Arms Figure 5. Example superior values on the arms action from non dominant laterality The training session no. 5: (technical details: arms traction actions, foot sickle action, brake 20%) The main issue of that session included an additional target: the foot starts sickle action simultaneously with the second fixed grip moment by the arms. One 100

11 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 additional partner offers the kimono grab positions, and therefore the subject could start the imbalance actions. The same as anterior sessions, the subjects executed two series of 15 reps form normal and reverse guard positions. Three of the athletes had a different training session with a special theme, and those were not included in our study that time. Partial conclusion for the fifth session: Some athletes proved superior coordination ability from both guard positions; For 2 of the subjects we could obviously notice better results from reverse guard position. (Better control for arms traction moves and also for attack foot sickle action). Normal guard position Foot Arms Reverse guard position Foot Arms Figure 6. Example superior values for the arms and foot attack actions The training session no. 6: Technical details: difficult conditions level, brake 30%) That session was the most difficult from all sessions. Its goal was to analyze ambilaterality in difficult conditions (an additional inertial disk was added to the simulator device for growing the opposition degree to the athlete s moves). During the executions the subjects focused on both graphs (red for foot action and green for arms actions). Those graphics included two force steps, and the arms started their moves after first grip moment. From a total of 30 reps, first 15 were executed from normal guard position and the other 15 form reverse guard position. 101

12 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas Partial conclusion for sixth session: Three athletes proved a superior control, both for arms and feet actions, especially from reverse guard position (non dominant laterality); The rest of 9 judokas executed more precise moves, specially with arms, from normal guard position (dominant laterality); Normal guard position Arms Foot Reverse guard position Foot Arms Figure 7. Example superior values for arms and foot graphics from non dominant laterality Data analysis and interpretation The interpretation of executions quality we have had in relation with the manner of respecting the work tasks by the judokas during the series of 15 reps, such as: touching the force steps required, maintaining the amplitude of moves, bordering the curves into the graphic limits (yellow outline). Practically, as the curves were more united, the better neuromuscular quality controls we ve been consider. Hence, finding better executions to some of the athletes in the case of actions simultaneously performed by arms and foots, reflects the existence of real coordinative ability of those judokas. The comparative research between normal and reverse guard moves/actions presumes an analysis of normal versus non dominant laterality executions. 102

13 B.R. I.R. E.R. M.C. S.A. O.L. M.A. G.A. P.A. D.R. S.A. R.O foot Error NG=RG NG RG NG RG arms pretest A3 foot arms foot NG A5 Special session Special session Special session NG RG NG RG NG RG arms A4 A6 foot Absent RG NG RG NG RG arms Note: dominance in laterality; NG/RG normal/reverse guard position; insignificant results (better/worst values for both laterality sides) Judocas No A2 A1 Table 3. Data base of junior judoka results Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August

14 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas After all training sessions (Table 3) we included the information into a database and the first observations were the following: Though the trained judo technique was the same for everyone during the whole period (De Ashi Barai), the judokas response to the working tasks was different (some days, the same athletes recorded superior control values on normal guard position, and other days on reverse guard position); For a number of 9 from the total of 12 subjects (75%) the exercises executed on nondominant laterality recorded better values from 50 up to 100% than dominant laterality (normal guard position). From a total of 58 valid items, 36 emphasize a more precise series on nondominant laterality. Our research hypothesis was not confirmed the extracted data led to the conclusion that for judoka junior females included into present study (from a percentage point of view) there were superior neuromuscular control items, as well as intersegmentar body coordination on nondominant (reverse guard position), with an informational feedback condition; Some of the subjects (O.L., M.C., I.R., and G.A.) executed with accuracy the working tasks both form normal and reverse guard positions. These aspects prove their ability in exercising moves with great control regardless of the complexity effort. Even so, I.R. (100%), G.A. (75%), O.L. (83,3%) made executions with additional precision characteristics on nondominant laterality. Regarding the dominance of laterality of the junior female judokas, we emphasize the following: The existence of better execution from reverse guard positions (nondominant laterality) is a result of (probably) motric intelligence which some athletes proved during working tasks. This new hypothesis (which will be verified in the future) issues the idea that to some athletes (that are practicing combat sports) the motric intelligence may be emphasized by the following: one previous learned move mainly executed on one laterality (normal guard position) can be immediatly accomplished with superior coordination items on the other laterality (reverse guard position) in the condition of one informational feedback who could inssure a better self control and a quickly move adjustment; Repeated training of one specific judo technique on dominant laterality will lead in time to one complex motric expression that will include 104

15 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 the exercising ability of the same technique to the opposite laterality. Besides, Mikheev and co. (2002), on a base of one research made on high performance judokas, say that during the learning process of motor and postural abilities (long term judo training) the lateral dominance is changing, probably because of neural plasticity. (Mikheev, 2002, p. 1) We can speak, for instance, about a transfer process which for motric activity represents ~as M. Epuran affirmed (quoted by de Hani, 2003) the favorable influence exercised by one motric action to another (Hani, 2003, p. 1). This is a very important aspect because in particular cases of combat sports, such as judo, the action symmetry could cause for the competitor a strategic advantage (Dopico, p. 1) The positive values of intersegmentar body coordination on non dominant laterality emphasizes that some junior female judokas (more or less consciously) prove to have a motric potential that can be used in special conditions. In the event that the judo training scope (at junior or cadet age) is not mainly focused on early specialization (2 or 3 throwing techniques perfectly executed only from one single laterality) but is oriented on multilateral and diverse trainings and enrichment of technical luggage on both body sides (left/right), then maybe emphasizing the motric potential on a specific body laterality can be very useful; The intermediary results of our training sessions could emphasize only partial (podal dominance) the individual laterality of every single subject of the study. In the present study we did not try to emphasize a specific relationship between arms and feet execution items especially for each laterality. Therefore, we can consider that in the future it will be useful to establish the laterality manifestation to all body limbs. Regarding the arms laterality manifestation there are studies that proved that the left hand is superior manifesting than right hand both for spatial orientation function as for stimuli localization Le Doux, 1977; Flanery and Balling, 1979; Paoletti, 1982 (quoted by Gomez Castano, 1998, p. 14) Conclusions 1) The training methodology we used (the condition simulator was adapted to the subjects training level, weight category, age and to the judo s effort particularities) allows highlighting the proper laterality to all subjects. 2) At the end of the assisted training sessions, we could extract data regarding the quality of executions for De Ashi Barai technique, made both on dominant and nondominant laterality; we hope this information will be useful for coaches 105

16 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas during training process. In addition, we succeeded to realize a comparative study between normal and reverse guard position executions2. 3) Based on the above experiment we started gathering information for a database (for the moment, only for the junior age level) regarding intersegmentar body coordination while executing one specific Tachi Waza technique related with competitional judo. 4) We should verify in future research if certain exercises effectuated on nondominant laterality (reverse guard position) are an outcome of motric intelligence manifestation or a result of local muscular fatigue. 5) It is possible to elaborate a test for highlighting the dominant judokas body laterality (on arms and foot s level) which should be applied at the beginning of training process (child age category) in order to determine the motric potential of each individual athlete. Endnotes The reason why we have choosen to construct the reference graphics with two force steps was that the first step, inferior to the second one, could be an equivalent of a false attack move, followed by a final and optimal action. Generally, each athlete starts the exercise series from normal guard position (dominant laterality) and after that from reverse guard position but there where situations of changed successions; we did not follow this aspect and therefore we cannot issue any hypothesis or extract conclusions about order impact for quality executions. References Albu, C. (2006). Psihomotricitatea [Psychomotricity]. Iaşi: Institutul European. Bănică, I., & Moştoflei, F., (2010). Raport de asistenţă ştiinţifică judo feminin [Scientific assistance report female judo]. Federaţia română de judo. De Hillerin, P., (1999). Creşterea eficienţei învăţării actelor motrice prin utilizarea protezării tehnicoinformaţionale (teză de doctorat) [Growth of motric acts learning efficiency by utilizing technical informational prosthesis]. Bucureşti: Academia Naţională de Educaţie Fizică şi Sport. Del Valle Diaz, S., & De La Vega Marcos, R. (2007). Lateralidad en el deporte de full contact. Cambios en diferentes condiciones. [Laterality in full contact sport. 106

17 Sport Science Review, Vol. I, No. 34, August 2010 Changes in different conditions] revista25/artlateralidad44.pdf (retrieved ). Dopico, J., Amador, F., Iglesias, E., Tuimil, J., & Rodriguez, A. (2002). Estudio de la predominancia lateral en la ejecucion de habilidades especificas de judo en la seleccion gallega [Study about side dominance in judo techniques execution at galleg athletes]. RD/ED/6lateral.pdf (retrieved on ). Galarraga, I. (2010). Analisis de la zurdera en la competicion de judo [Analysis of lefthanded athlets in judo competitions]. congreso/04%20val/pdf/c112.pdf (retrieved on ). Garcia Mesa, J. C. (2007). El problema de la lateralidad y la actividad fisica [Laterality problem and the physical activity]. lateralidad/lateralidad.shtml (retrieved on ). Gomez Castano, A., & Agudelor Velasquez, C. (1998). Correlacion entre los coeficientes de entradas y lanzamientos en judo y el coeficiente de lateralidad manual en judokas antioquenos [Correlation between the inputs, projections coefficients and hand laterality coefficient in judo athletes]. pdf/102correlacion.pdf (retrived on ). Hani, A., & Văduva, L. (2003). Confirmări experimentale privind transferul capacităţii de control al echilibrului dinamic [Experimentally confirmation regarding the capacity transfer control of dynamic balance]. html/reviste_2003_352.html (retrieved on ). Iglesias Soler, E. (1999). Estudio de la lateralidad funcional en la ejecucion de habilidades especificas de judo a partir de dos modelos de entrenamiento (tesis doctoral) [Study about the functional laterality in the execution of specific judo techniques starting from diffrent training models (doctoral thesis)]. Universidade de Coruna, Mikheev, M., Mohr, C., Afanasiev, S., Landis, T., & Thut, G. (2002). Motor control and hemispheric specializationin highly qualified judo wrestlers. nih.gov/pubmed/ Moreno Diaz, R., (2008). Judo: el trabajo de la lateralidad a traves del Nage no Kata [Judo laterality training through Nage no Kata]. com/efd121/judoeltrabajodelalateralidadatravesdelnagenokata.htm (retrieved on ). 107

18 Ambilaterality Manifestation at Junior Female Judokas Muraru, A. (1985). Judo [Judo]. Bucureşti: SportTurism. Ştefănuţ, S. (1983). Antrenamentul sportiv în judo [Training in judo]. Craiova: Scrisul românesc. Tudoş, Ş., & Mitrache, G. (2006). Inteligenţă motrică şi învăţare psihomotrică note de curs [Motric intelligence and psychomotric learning notes]. Bucureşti: Academia Naţională de Educaţie Fizică şi Sport. Ioana BĂNICĂ is an Experimental Psychotherapist and Head of the Psychology Department within the National Institute for Sport Research since She has gathered over 15 specialized papers published in sportthemed journals and conferences and is interested in the psychological aspects of coachathlete relationship and attention improvement on performance athletes. address: Florin MOŞTOFLEI is a member of the Methodology Department at the National Institute for Sport Research and is specialized in wrestling. He is interested in combat sports and has worked as a federal coach for wrestling but is also experienced in coaching judo, wrestling and box. Furthermore, in 2007 he has published (coauthor) two books Developing motricity through specific and nonspecific methods and Wrestling Basic Course. address: florin.mostoflei@sportscience.ro 108