Pre-competitive anxiety, self-confidence, and technical-tactical performance in professional kickboxing athletes: differences between winners and defeated athletes

Purpose To compare pre-competitive anxiety and self-confidence levels, as well as technical–tactical aspects, between winning and defeated professional kickboxers, and to examine the association of these variables with match outcomes. Methods Twenty professional kickboxers (19 males and 1 female) participated in the study, including 10 winners and 10 defeated athletes. Somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, and self-confidence were assessed using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). Technical–tactical variables (attacks, efficiency, and efficacy) were analyzed using video recordings of the matches. Data were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests, linear mixed models for repeated measures, and binary logistic regression, with effect sizes and reliability indices reported. Results There were no significant differences between winners and losers in psychological variables ( p > 0.05). However, winners demonstrated a higher attack volume ( p = 0.040; Cohen's d = 0.98) and greater efficacy ( p = 0.024; d = 1.10), while no differences were found in efficiency between groups ( p > 0.05). Additionally, offensive output was descriptively lower in the final round in both groups, although this reduction did not reach statistical significance. Finally, only attack volume showed a trend toward association with victory ( p = 0.052), corresponding to an approximately 2% increase in the odds of victory (95% CI 1.000 to 1.042). Conclusion Competitive success in professional kickboxing is related to greater offensive volume and efficacy, whereas striking efficiency and pre-competitive psychological variables do not differentiate winners from defeated athletes in our sample universe.

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