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Category

Combat Sports

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

Understanding the visual-perceptual-motor skill of an athlete can help optimize the periodization of a training plan. This study was designed to explore the visual-perceptual-motor skill of ten male elite Silat athlete when tasked to react to a set of projected video stimuli comprised of specific combat attack situations; side kicks, roundhouse kicks and crocodiles. A customized stereoscopic video system projected the stimuli in two- and three-dimensions with the latter being added with the aim of improving combat realism. This system synchronously recorded the gaze and movement behaviours of the participants when they responded to the combat situations. No differences in visual search behaviour, quiet eye and reaction time were found when tasked to respond between two- and three-dimensional videos, which may be due to the complexity of the stimulus. There was a significantly higher quantity and longer duration of fixations spent on the trunk of the opponent as compared to other areas of the body. Reaction time was also significantly different in the side kicks (slower responses) as compared to other attacks. Results from this study can pave way for future studies that seek to investigate how visual-perceptual-motor skill differs between expertise levels in the sport of Silat and serve as a basis for targeted coaching to enhance combat Silat performance.

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