A Comparative Study of Specific Reaction Time in Elite Boxers: Differences between Jabs and Crosses

Abstract

A Comparative Study of Specific Reaction Time in Elite Boxers: Differences between Jabs and Crosses Objective: Reaction time (RT) is the ability to react to a stimulus in the shortest time possible. Despite its importance in boxing performance, no study has investigated specific RTs in boxers executing different fighting techniques. This study compared the RT presented by elite boxers to perform two types of punches (i.e., jabs and crosses). Methods: Twenty-two athletes, members of the Brazilian national team, were positioned in front of a body opponent bag (BOB). A trigger-light device was positioned behind the BOB and connected to a sensor attached to the athletes’ gloves. After a visual stimulus, the boxers were required to hit the BOB as quickly as possible. Athletes performed ten attempts at each type of punch and the six best results were considered for further analysis. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted between jabs and crosses (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our data indicate that boxers are able to react faster when performing jabs than when performing crosses.