THE EFFECT OF SPECIAL STRENGTH EXERCISES BASED ON THE FRENCH CONTRAST METHOD ON SELECTED BIOMOTOR CAPACITIES AND ON THE SPEED AND ACCURACY OF THE LUNGE WITH THE FOIL WEAPON AMONG FENCERS UNDER 18 YEARS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/4r61wa44Keywords:
Special Exercises, French Contrast Method, Biomotor Capacities, Foil Fencing, Explosive Power, Lunge Accuracy, Youth AthletesAbstract
The present study aimed to design special strength exercises using the French Contrast Method and to determine their
effect on selected biomotor capacities and on the speed and accuracy of the lunge with the foil weapon among fencers
under 18 years, as well as to identify the more effective approach between the proposed method and the coach's customary
programme. The researcher adopted the experimental method using a design of two equivalent groups (experimental and
control) with pre- and post-tests, in alignment with the nature of the research problem. The sample was selected
purposively from foil fencers under 18 years, comprising fourteen (14) fencers who were randomly divided into two groups
of seven (7) fencers each. The experimental group performed the special strength exercises based on the French Contrast
Method, while the control group continued training in accordance with the coach's customary programme. The training
programme extended over eight (8) weeks at a rate of three (3) sessions per week (Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday), for
a total of twenty-four (24) training sessions. The research tests covered selected biomotor capacities — namely power
speed strength, explosive power, agility, and balance — as well as the speed and accuracy of the lunge together with
spatial and temporal perception. The data were treated statistically using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
(SPSS). The results revealed statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-tests in favour of the post-tests
for both groups, together with the superiority of the experimental group over the control group across all study variables.
The researcher attributes this finding to the effect of the special strength exercises based on the French Contrast Method
and to the neuromuscular adaptations they produced, which contributed to developing the fencers' biomotor capacities
together with the speed and accuracy of the lunge. In light of these results, the researcher concluded that special strength
exercises grounded in the French Contrast Method are effective in developing biomotor capacities and the speed and
accuracy of the lunge with the foil weapon, and recommended that this method be adopted in the training of fencers under
18 years and that similar studies be conducted on different age categories and weapons.
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