Special fitness level of combat sports athletes: mixed martial arts (MMA) and thai boxing (muay thai) in the aspect of training experience

Introduction: The best test of the technical skills and special physical fitness of the combat sports athlete is his or her response to the specific effort that occurs in a sports fight during tournaments. The aim of the study was to assess the variation in the level of special fitness and technical skills of modern combat sports athletes from the Legion Team Tarnów sports club. Material and Method: The research was conducted in a group of 30 athletes of two different fighting styles in terms of techniques and tactics: mixed martial arts (MMA, group 1, N=15) and Thai boxing (group 2, N=15). Measurements of basic somatic body build characteristics were performed. The fitness of the participants was measured using the special kickboxing fitness test (SKFT). The strength of the correlation between special fitness level and training experience was also evaluated. Results: The analyses revealed that the body build of the athletes of different combat sports does not significantly differ between each other. The athletes of both groups (MMA and Thai boxing) presented similar levels of basic somatotype characteristics. The level of special fitness in the MMA and Thai boxing groups significantly differed between the athletes of these sports in terms of the second series of punches (p = 0.030) and the second series of kicks (p = 0.011). A higher level of these elements of special fitness was displayed by Thai boxing athletes. The MMA group showed a very high strength of correlation that was statistically significant between training experience and first series of punches, second series of punches, and final HR. Furthermore, the first series of kicks and the second series of kicks showed high and significant strength of correlation. In the Thai boxing group, statistically significant relationships were found, with very high strength of correlation, in the first series of punches, first series of kicks, second series of punches, second series of kicks, and HR measured after one minute. Conclusions: The results allow for the initial diagnosis and interpretation of special fitness competencies along with the level of technical skills in the application of basic striking techniques in MMA and Thai boxing, which promotes optimization and enhances the quality of coaching control.