Kinematic adaptations of the uppercut punch following an eight-week biomechanics-based training intervention in amateur boxers
Abstract
Purpose The uppercut punch is a close-range boxing technique requiring coordinated proximal-to-distal sequencing and efficient kinetic chain function. Insufficient joint angular velocity may limit strike effectiveness in amateur athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate kinematic adaptations following an eight-week biomechanics-based training intervention during execution of the right-hand uppercut punch. Methods Twenty-four male amateur boxers (age 21.25±3.12 years) with 3–4 years of training experience were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=12) and a control group (n=12). The experimental group completed an eight-week (24-session) intervention focused on enhancing joint-specific angular velocity and intersegmental coordination. Three-dimensional motion capture was used to assess maximum angular velocity of the shoulder, elbow, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle joints before and after the intervention. Between- and within-group differences were analyzed using Student’s t-tests, and effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d (p<0.05). Results After eight weeks, the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in angular velocity across upper and lower body joints (p<0.05–0.01), with moderate-to-large effect sizes. Improvements were accompanied by enhanced punch performance, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusions An eight-week biomechanics-based training program significantly improves kinetic chain efficiency and uppercut punch performance in amateur boxers. These findings support the integration of joint-specific velocity training into combat sport conditioning programs.