Comparative analysis of straight and hook punches in Sanda Wushu: a kinetic and kinematic study

Soumaya Eltifi-Ghanmi; Samiha Amara; Bessem Mkaouer; Soumaya Eltifi-Ghanmi; Samiha Amara; Bessem Mkaouer

doi:10.3934/biophy.2025017

AIMS Biophysics

2025, Volume 12, Issue 3: 313-332. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2025017

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Research article Topical Sections

Comparative analysis of straight and hook punches in Sanda Wushu: a kinetic and kinematic study

1.
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
2.
Department of Individual Sports, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
3.
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman

Received: 17 April 2025 Revised: 11 July 2025 Accepted: 18 July 2025 Published: 28 July 2025

Sanda, a dynamic combat sport rooted in Wushu, relies on diverse striking techniques for competitive success. This study aimed to compare two fundamental Sanda punches (i.e., the straight punch and the hook punch) through kinetic and kinematic analysis to evaluate their effectiveness in terms of force, speed, and execution dynamics. Nineteen elite Sanda athletes (i.e., 14 males and 5 females) from Tunisia's national team participated in the study. Kinematic data were captured using SkillSpector motion analysis software, while kinetic parameters were calculated through inverse dynamics. Linear and angular kinematics (i.e., displacement, velocity, acceleration, segment angles, and angular velocity) and kinetics (i.e., force, power, linear momentum, and inertia) were assessed. The results revealed significant differences between the punches. The straight punch demonstrated superior execution speed, while the hook punch generated greater force. Kinematically, the straight punch emphasized linear dynamics, whereas the hook punch utilized enhanced angular coordination. These findings highlight distinct biomechanical characteristics; the straight punch excels in rapid linear force transmission, while the hook punch maximizes rotational power. This provides valuable insights for optimizing Sanda training and performance.
- Sanda,
- Wushu,
- motion analysis,
- kinetics,
- kinematics,
- straight punch,
- hook punch
Citation: Soumaya Eltifi-Ghanmi, Samiha Amara, Bessem Mkaouer. Comparative analysis of straight and hook punches in Sanda Wushu: a kinetic and kinematic study[J]. AIMS Biophysics, 2025, 12(3): 313-332. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2025017

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Abstract

Sanda, a dynamic combat sport rooted in Wushu, relies on diverse striking techniques for competitive success. This study aimed to compare two fundamental Sanda punches (i.e., the straight punch and the hook punch) through kinetic and kinematic analysis to evaluate their effectiveness in terms of force, speed, and execution dynamics. Nineteen elite Sanda athletes (i.e., 14 males and 5 females) from Tunisia's national team participated in the study. Kinematic data were captured using SkillSpector motion analysis software, while kinetic parameters were calculated through inverse dynamics. Linear and angular kinematics (i.e., displacement, velocity, acceleration, segment angles, and angular velocity) and kinetics (i.e., force, power, linear momentum, and inertia) were assessed. The results revealed significant differences between the punches. The straight punch demonstrated superior execution speed, while the hook punch generated greater force. Kinematically, the straight punch emphasized linear dynamics, whereas the hook punch utilized enhanced angular coordination. These findings highlight distinct biomechanical characteristics; the straight punch excels in rapid linear force transmission, while the hook punch maximizes rotational power. This provides valuable insights for optimizing Sanda training and performance.

Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the athletes and the members of the technical direction of the Tunisian Federation of Wushu Kung Fu, whose participation made this work possible.

Conflict of interest

No conflicts of interest are disclosed by the authors.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, S.E. and B.M.; methodology, S.E. and B.M.; software, B.M.; validation, B.M.; formal analysis, B.M.; investigation, S.E. and B.M.; resources, S.E. and B.M.; data curation, B.M.; writing original draft preparation, S.A.; writing—review and editing, B.M. and S.A.; visualization, S.E., and S.A.; supervision, B.M. and S.A.; project administration, B.M. All authors have read and agreed with the published version of the manuscript.

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