Anthropometric Characteristics Associated with Fencing Performance in Young Foil And Épée Fencers

Lim, Yi Herng (2016) Anthropometric Characteristics Associated with Fencing Performance in Young Foil And Épée Fencers. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Fencing is one of the oldest sports and was admitted to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens as a sports activity in 1896. Some findings stated that anthropometric characteristics have low degree of correlation with fencing performance. However, previous researches studied the problem from perspective of gender and level of playing, rather than types of weapon. Besides that, their subjects are European, ranged from adolescent to adult. This study therefore investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and fencing performance in young foil and épée fencers. The convenience sampling method was used in the sampling procedure where the subjects who participate in the competition volunteer to take part in this study. 27 fencers (20 males, 7 females) who aged 10-14 years old from Selangor Youth Fencing Open 2014 were recruited to collect their anthropometric data (Humerus breath, Femur breadth, Arm flexed and tensed girth, Calf girth, Arm length, Leg length, BMI and Body fat percentage). Multiple regression was then used to determine the relationship between anthropometric data of fencers and their ranking in the competition. The result showed that there was no high correlation was identified in all the 3 groups (Foil U12, Foil U14 & Épée U12). This finding is correspond to previous studies. As a conclusion, future study should expand the sample size and focus on bilateral deficits and morphofunctional asymmetries from perspective of weapon in young Asian fencers.