Interaction of target distance and movement type on lower limb kinematics in fencing

Introduction Since the distance between opponents constantly changes during fencing bouts, clarifying the relationship between movement type and target distance is important for understanding tactical movement selection. Methods Twelve skilled male foil fencers performed lunges under six conditions combining three target distances (Short, Normal, Long) and two movement types (lunge without advance: LWOA; lunge with advance: LWA). Three-dimensional motion capture (500 Hz) was used to measure hip, knee, and ankle joint angles of the front and rear legs and center of mass (CoM) velocity. For each condition, the trial with the maximum horizontal peak CoM velocity was selected for analysis using a two-factor repeated-measures ANOVA. Results Peak CoM velocity increased linearly with target distance and was consistently higher in LWA than in LWOA. The velocity difference between movement types was greatest at the Short distance and decreased at the Long distance. Correspondingly, rear-leg joint kinematics increased with target distance and were consistently larger in LWA than in LWOA, with significant interaction effects. Discussion These findings suggest that the effectiveness of attack movements in fencing depends on the interaction between target distance and movement type. Fencers should select LWOA or LWA according to tactical distance while emphasizing rear-leg flexion and extension movements during training.