News in Press-centre

Rudolf Kang, the founder of taekwondo in Primorsky Krai, President of Russian Taekwon-Do Development Federation (ITF), holder of 8th dan, held experiments on biomechanics in the Motor Performance Research Laboratory of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU). The prominent master will publish the findings in his book, where he is going to describe from scientific point of view all known in the world techniques of this martial art.

Rudolf Kang arrived in Vladivostok to hold a seminar on Biomechanics for Primorsky coaches and their students. During the classes he explained how one can improve her/his skills in taekwondo.

"For five years I have been writing a book on technique and biomechanics of shock action in taekwondo, and felt an acute shortage of expertise and equipment for this activity in Russia. After the seminar, I had to go to South Korea to carry out an experiment there, but just before the takeoff I learned that the system required for us is available in the FEFU School of Arts, Culture and Sports," said Rudolf Kang.

The measurements were made using Xsens equipment designed for research in the field of sports science, sports medicine, and adaptive physical education. The system is a 3D kinematic suit with 17 sensors tracking, measuring, and analyzing the movement of the human body in real time. Miniature trackers accurately capture both the subtle and highly dynamic activity. The system records and replays on the computer the 3D-model and measurement charts for a number of parameters: speed, acceleration, angular, temporal, and spatial characteristics of movements.

"I need to supplement the book with practical experiments, for all future discussions and controversy in this sport to be focused and substantiated. It is important to understand what exactly contributes to an increase in impact force and velocity. I intend to properly describe the performance of technical actions in terms of biomechanics, as of today, this is the right way to create a unified art of taekwondo," Rudolf Kang added.

"Xsens system made it possible to analyze all the indicators that characterize the rationality of impact execution," explained Sergey Popik, Head of the Laboratory. "Using the data received it can be explained how to perform the most powerful blow, expending as little energy as possible, and to make athlete's technique much more efficient."

It should be added that the laboratory of the School of Arts, Culture and Sports established a framework allowing to carry out a comprehensive research in the field of sports science, sports medicine, and adaptive physical education. Due to unique equipment the FEFU faculty and staff have opportunities to develop new methods and technologies of training—both to enhance athletic performance and to rehabilitate athletes after injury. Here they regularly conduct experiments to assess the level of technical training of the participants of the University rowing, football, volleyball, and other sports teams. The methods of athlete training based on hidden reserves of the organism are also developed at the University.