Assessment of the physical development indicators in young kickboxers

Introduction: The global interest in kickboxing sports is increasing, underscoring its widespread appeal. This surge in attention emphasizes the sport's considerable popularity on a global scale. The primary aim of this study was to scrutinize the physical development indicators in young kickboxers, considering the distinct physical attributes associated with this sport. Our focus was on gaining a comprehensive understanding of the physical performance of children actively involved in kickboxing. To achieve this, we conducted a study at a sports school for children and teenagers in the Kibray city, Uzbekistan. Materials and methods: Forty-eight kickboxers participated in our study. Anthropometric measurements of 13-14-year-old kickboxers and the indicators obtained during a pedagogical experiment were analyzed separately in 13-14-year-old groups. Results: Among the 13-14-year-old kickboxers, the chest circumference was 76.81 ± 5.52 cm under normal conditions, 77.69 ± 5.84 cm during inhalation, and 73.64 ± 4.85 cm during exhalation. The reliability of statistical differences in chest circumference indicators among these young individuals was not substantial. Significant differences were not observed between the height and body weight results among the 13-14-year-old kickboxers. The average investigated physical development indicators and the dynamics of the training state of the 13-14-year-old kickboxers during the pedagogical experiment period was within the normal. Conclusions: Based on the results of our study, it could be inferred that coaches and trainers positively influence the physical performance of 13-14-year-old athletes training in kickboxing. This holds for children lagging in development compared to their peers and for those progressing in development. The findings suggest that new and modern methods should be developed, and existing ones should be refined to enhance the training effectiveness for young kickboxers.