Martial Arts Research and Testing Laboratory

28/03/2025

We are excited to share an excerpt from a paper which recently cited our initial study. Authored by researchers from Harvard University and other prominent universities and centres, the article, entitled 'The Science of Tai Chi for Whole Person Health: Advancing the Integration of Mind-Body Practices into Contemporary Health Care', summarises key topics from an international conference held at Harvard Medical School, in which we were cited. Here's more about our paper - https://tinyurl.com/ymdvn6dy.

03/03/2025

We are excited to share that our manuscript, 'Validity and reliability of a novel impulse-based method to analyse human striking performance' has been accepted for publication with the Journal of Sports Sciences, a Q1 journal and the official journal of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
ABSTRACT:
We investigated the criterion validity and within- and between-day reliability of a novel method of human striking performance assessment. The Impulse Block Method allows the measurement and calculation of a range of striking variables using a load cell incorporating an impact absorption block and laser gate timer. To assess criterion validity, we performed repeated drop tests and compared the relationship and agreement between predicted and measured velocity and initial momentum (calculated from impulse) with predicted values using linear regression and Bland-Altman plots (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, 10 healthy adults performed palm strikes against the Impulse Block on two occasions, and within- and between-day reliability was calculated for impulse, initial momentum, velocity, effective mass, kinetic energy, and power. There was a strong linear relationship and high agreement between measured and predicted velocity and initial momentum (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, the within and between-day coefficients of variation were 4.95-10.2% and 6.15-12.1%, respectively, for all variables. Within- and between-day intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.72-0.99 and 0.92-0.99 respectively, for all variables, indicating moderate to excellent reliability. Our findings show that the Impulse Block Method is valid and reliable for analysing a range of striking performance variables in well targeted, perpendicular linear strikes.

17/01/2025

We are excited to share the launch of our new website and our new training arm - MARTEL Training - research-based training targeting human performance and spinal health with specialised programs for healthcare workers, emergency services and military personnel, and professional athletes.

Welcome to MARTEL, a scientific research and training facility that is dedicated to investigating the martial arts and their profound relevance in terms of improving human health and performance.

31/12/2023

28/12/2023

We are seeking volunteers to assist us in assessing a 12-week training program aimed at improving strength and performance, and reducing spinal compression associated with carrying heavy loads. This program is being developed to help improve performance and reduce injury in military and emergency services personnel. We will be starting our last round of training for this study in early 2024 and will have daytime and evening training sessions available. We are also looking for volunteer control participants who will undertake the testing but no training. Control participants will receive gift vouchers to thank them for their time in lieu of the training. Let us know if you are interested in being involved!

05/12/2023

Had a great time presenting this poster at the Defence Human Sciences Symposium in Brisbane today. Lester Walters - more people are now eagerly awaiting our intervention study results, which are looking very promising so far.

04/12/2023

Excited to be presenting our research at the Defence Human Sciences Symposium today. Representing MARTEL and University of Southern Queensland - Australia.

27/10/2023

We are very grateful to everyone who has participated in this study so far. The training and testing is going very well, and we are looking forward to sharing some exciting results next year. We are doing one final run of the 12-week training intervention early next year from mid-late January to April next year, and are looking for some more participants. We will have a daytime and evening group running. We are also looking for control participants to undertake the testing without taking part in the training program. Contact us for more information if you are keen to get involved.

25/08/2023

In which I wax a bit lyrical about our trip to Japan and also manage to do a simplified impulse block analysis and discussion regarding the humble front kick...

15/08/2023

We are seeking volunteers to assist us in assessing a 12-week training program aimed at improving strength and performance, and reducing spinal compression associated with carrying heavy loads. This program is being developed to help improve performance and reduce injury in military and emergency services personnel. Our second round of training will be starting next month, and we are also looking for volunteer control participants who will undertake the testing but no training (control participants will receive gift vouchers to thank them for their time in lieu of the training). Let us know if you are interested in being involved!

11/08/2023

It was great having Dan from Southern Cross University in the lab today conducting some reliability testing with the Impulse Block system for his PhD project. The first of three marathon drop test sessions. We hope his left arm gets a good rest before Sunday's session.

01/08/2023

I'm excited to be representing the Martial Arts Research and Testing Laboratory at the International Society of Biomechanics Conference in Fukuoka, Japan. I will be presenting this morning on the findings of our study on the reliability of ultrasonography to asses spinal compression during heavy load carriage.