Features of the manifestation of psychophysiological functions in qualified athletes of different combat sports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15391/ed.2026-3.06Keywords:
combat sports, freestyle wrestling, taekwon-do, qualified athletes, psychophysiological indicatorsAbstract
Purpose: to determine the specific features of the manifestation of psychophysiological functions in qualified athletes representing different combat sports. Material and Methods. The study involved 25 qualified combat athletes (Candidate Master of Sports of Ukraine, Master of Sports of Ukraine): freestyle wrestlers (n=11; 17.5±1.04 years) and taekwon-do athletes (n=14; 17.6±0.76 years). To assess psychophysiological functions, five mobile tests were used: «Visuomotor Choice Reaction» - choice reaction; «Reaction Go/No-go» - inhibitory reaction; «Test ST Memory» - short-term visual memory; «Spatial Perception» - spatial perception; and «Size Test» - reaction to changes in object size. The following integral indicators were analyzed for each test: reaction time (ms), standard deviation (SD, ms), percentage of errors (%), accuracy of task performance (%), and task duration (s). Statistical analysis was performed in RStudio (version 2026.01.0+392). Descriptive statistics were presented as mean (Mean), standard deviation (SD), median (Me), and the first and third quartiles (Q1, Q3). Between-group differences were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: the results of psychophysiological testing in qualified combat athletes were obtained. It was found that the distributions of the integral psychophysiological indicators in taekwon-do athletes and freestyle wrestlers were generally similar. In taekwon-do athletes, the median reaction time values in the Go/No-Go, Spatial Perception, and VCR tests were slightly lower, indicating a tendency toward faster sensorimotor responses. At the same time, freestyle wrestlers demonstrated slightly higher median values of overall short-term visual memory accuracy. In general, the results showed substantial overlap of the interquartile ranges in the two groups, confirming the similarity of the studied indicators. According to the comparison of the integral psychophysiological indicators between taekwon-do athletes and freestyle wrestlers using the Mann-Whitney U test, no statistically significant between-group differences were found (p>0.05). This indicates an overall similarity in the level of development of the studied psychophysiological functions in athletes of both groups. Conclusions. The obtained results indicate the absence of statistically significant differences in the level of development of integral psychophysiological functions between qualified taekwon-do athletes and freestyle wrestlers (p>0.05), which points to their overall similarity. At the same time, a tendency toward higher sensorimotor response speed was observed in taekwon-do athletes, whereas freestyle wrestlers demonstrated slightly better short-term visual memory indicators. The substantial overlap of interquartile ranges confirms high individual variability of psychophysiological characteristics within each group. The identified features may be associated with the specificity of competitive activity and the nature of the training process in different combat sports. The obtained data should be taken into account when individualizing training and improving the system of pedagogical control of athletes.
References
Євтифієв, А. С., Бочкарев, С. В., Євтифієва, І. І., Донець, Ю. Г., Недбайло, І. А., & Натарова, В. В. (2023). Кореляційний аналіз психофізіологічних показників борців вільного стилю як фактор успішності змагальної діяльності. Науковий часопис НПУ імені М. П. Драгоманова, 7(167), 84-88. http://doi.org/10.31392/NPU-nc.series15.2023.7(167).16
Мартинюк, Ю. Є., Мулик, К. В., Бойченко, Н. В., Джерелій, В. В., & Середа, Н. В. (2025). Взаємозв`язок показників змагальної діяльності та психофізіологічних реакцій у кваліфікованих борців. Освіта. Інноватика. Практика, 6(13), 50-56. https://doi.org/10.31110/2616-650X-vol13i6-007
Bajkowski, D. S., & Cynarski, W. J. (2024). Testing factors influencing handgrip strength and reaction time to visual stimulus inselected martial arts. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 105(34), 46-59. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0054.3260
Chaabene, H., Negra, Y., Bouguezzi, R., Mkaouer, B., Franchini, E., Julio, U., & Hachana, Y. (2017). Physical and Physiological Attributes of Wrestlers: An Update. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 31(5), 1411-1442. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001738
Chen, W-Y., Wu, S. K., Song, T-F., Chang, Y-C., & Goodbourn, P. T. (2017). Perceptual and Motor Performance of Combat-Sport Athletes Differs According to Specific Demands of the Discipline. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 124(1), 293–313. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512516681342
Coswig, V., Sant'Ana, J., Coelho, M. N., & Moro, A. R. P. (2019). Diefenthaeler F. Development of a mobile phone app for measuring striking response time in combat sports: Cross-sectional validation study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7(11), e14641. https://doi.org/10.2196/14641
De la Fuente, A., Gómez-Landero, А. & Rodríguez, L. A. (2019). Motor differences in cadet taekwondo athletes according to competition level. Revista Internacional de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Fisica y del Deporte, 19(73), 63–75. https://doi.org/10.15366/rimcafd2019.73.005
Demirkan, E., Koz, M., Kutlu, M., & Favre, M. (2015). Comparison of Physical and Physiological Profiles in Elite and Amateur Young Wrestlers. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 29(7), 1876-1883. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000833
Hausegger, T., Christian, V., & Ernst-Joachim, H. (2019). Peripheral Vision in Martial Arts Experts: The Cost-Dependent Anchoring of Gaze. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 3(41), 137–145. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0091
Gierczuk, D., Bujak, Z., Rowiñski, J., & Dmitriyev, A. (2012). Selected coordination motor abilities in elite wrestlers and taekwon-do competitors. Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, 19, 230-234. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10197-012-0022-1
Korobeynikov, G., Potop, V., & Korobeinikova, I. (2020). Relation between typological characteristics of nervous system and high sport achieving of wrestlers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 1621-1627. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.03221
Korobeynikov, G., Baić, M., Potop, V., Korobeinikova, L., Raab, M., Starčević, N., ... & Danko, T. (2022а). Comparative analysis of psychophysiological states among Croatian and Ukrainian wrestling. Journal of Physical Education and Sport (JPES), 22(8), 1832-1838. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.08230
Korobeynikov, G., Korobeinikova, L., Raab, M., Korobeinikova, I., Danko, T., Kokhanevich, A., Cynarski, W. J., & Mytskan, T. (2022b). Psychophysiological state and decision making in wrestlers. Ido Movement for Culture, 22(5), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.14589/ido.22.5.2
Korobeynikov, G., Korobeinikova, L., Raab, M., Baić, M., Borysova, O., Korobeinikova, I., Shengpeng, G., & Khmel-nitska, I. (2023). Cognitive functions and special working capacity in elite boxers. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 27(1), 84-90. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2023.0110
Lee, J., Kim, S., & Song, Y. (2010). Visual search patterns and reaction movement in Taekwondo according to expertise. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 32, S. 99-S100.
Miarka, B. (2016). Technical-tactical and physiological demands of wrestling combats. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 211(1), 18–31. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v11i1.3309
Miarka, B., Soto, D. A. S., Aedo-Muñoz, E., Fernandes, J. R., Brabec, L., & Brito, C. J. (2020). Effects of Competitive Wrestling Bouts on Physiological Measures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 36(1), 34-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orthtr.2020.01.005
Muiños, M., & Ballesteros, S. (2014). Peripheral vision and perceptual asymmetries in young and older martial arts athletes and nonathletes. Atten Percept Psychophys, 76, 2465–2476. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-014-0719-y
Pashkov, I., Tropin, Y., Romanenko, V., Goloha, V., & Kovalenko, J. (2021). Anlysis of competitive of highly qualified wrestlers. Slobozhanskyi herald of science and sport, 9(5), 30-39. https://doi.org/10.15391/snsv.2021-5.003
Podrigalo, L., Romanenko, V., Podrihalo, O., Iermakov, S., Huba, A., Perevoznyk, V., & Podavalenko, O. (2023). Comparative analysis of psychophysiological features of taekwondo athletes of different age groups. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 27(1), 38-44. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2023.0105
Podrigalo, L., Iermakov, S., Romanenko, V., Baibikov, M., Galimskyi, V., Shutieiev, V., & Merdov, S. (2025). Prediction of success in taekwondo based on psychophysiological testing results. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 29(4), 350-356. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2025.0412
Quinzi, F., Modica, M., Berchicci, M., Bianco, V., Perri, R. L., & Di Russo, F. (2022). Does sport type matter? The effect of sport discipline on cognitive control strategies in preadolescents. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 177, 230–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.05.016
Romanenko, V., Piatysotska, S., Tropin, Y., Rydzik, Ł., Holokha, V., & Boychenko, N. (2022). Study of the reaction of the choice of combat athletes using computer technology. Slobozhanskyi Herald of Science and Sport, 26(4), 97–103. https://doi.org/10.15391/snsv.2022-4.001
Romanenko, V., Рiatysotska, S., Lytvynenko, A., Baibikov, M., Boychenko, N., & Ponomarov, V. (2024а). Methodology for assessing the reaction of combat athletes to a moving object. Slobozhanskyi Herald of Science and Sport, 28(2), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.15391/snsv.2024-2.003
Romanenko, V., Piatysotska, S., Podrigalo, L., Baibikov, M., Boychenko, N., & Volodchenko, O. (2024b). Methodology for evaluating the “Go/No-Go” reaction in martial arts. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 24(12), 2139–2146. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.12312
Romanenko, V., Cynarski, W. J., Tropin, Y., Kovalenko, Y., Korobeynikov, G., Piatysotska, S., Mikhalskyi, V., Holokha, V., & Gaziyev, S. (2025а). Methodology for Assessing Spatial Perception in Martial Arts. Appl. Sci, 15, 3413. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063413
Romanenko, V., Tropin, Y., Podrigalo, L., Boychenko, N., Abdula, A., Sereda, N., & Yatsiv, Y. (2025b). Specific features of cognitive skill development in athletes of situational sports. Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports, 29(3), 194-203. https://doi.org/10.15561/26649837.2025.0305
Sarmet Moreira, P. V., Franchini, E., Fernandes Ervilha, U., Cardozo, A. C., & Gonçalves, M. (2018). Relationships of the expertise level of taekwondo athletes with electromyographic, kinematic and ground reaction force performance indicators during the dollyo chagui kick. Archives of Budo, 14, 59-69.
Tropin, Y., Latyshev, M., Saienko, V., Holovach, I., Rybak, L., & Tolchieva, H. (2021). Improvement of the Technical and Tactical Preparation of Wrestlers with the Consideration of an Individual Combat Style. Sport Mont, 19(2), 23-28. https://doi.org/10.26773/smj.210604
Tropin, Y., Romanenko, V., Korobeynikova, L., Boychenko, N., & Podrihalo, О. (2023). Special physical training of qualified wrestlers of individual styles of wrestling. Slobozhanskyi Herald of Science and Sport, 27(2), 56-63. https://doi.org/10.15391/snsv.2023-2.001
Turlykhanov, D., Korobeynikov, G., Korobeinikova, L., Raab, M., & Korobeinikova, I. (2022). Psychophysiological state and decision making in elite wrestlers. International Journal of Wrestling Science, 12(1), 28-32.
Xianyu, W., & Korobeynikov, G. (2024). Peculiarities of Functional Preparation in Wrestling Athletes of High Qualifications. Physical Education, Sport and Health Culture in Modern Society, 3(67), 58-66. https://doi.org/10.29038/2220-7481-2024-03-58-66
Yao, Q. (2022). The reaction speed of different types of training on fencing athletes. Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte, 28(2), 141–143. https://doi.org/10.1590/1517-8692202228022021_0453
