Effects of Aikido and Taijiquan Training Among Mixed Martial Arts Players

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a physically demanding sport that requires athletes to maintain high levels of strength, flexibility, rapid response, and power. However, the intense focus on strength and endurance training in MMA can often result in neglecting joint health, flexibility, and relaxation techniques. Traditional martial arts, such as Aikido and Taijiquan, offer a complementary training approach emphasizing fluid movement, balance, and relaxation, which could be beneficial for MMA athletes. Aikido focuses on harmonizing movement and using an opponent's momentum to neutralize their power, while Taijiquan emphasizes controlled movements and internal power ("qi") to enhance body awareness and relaxation. This study investigates the effects of Aikido and Taijiquan on joint mobility, reaction time, and power among MMA athletes, aiming to determine whether these martial arts can enhance performance and reduce injury risk. This randomized clinical trial will involve 17 MMA athletes divided into two groups: Group A (Aikido training) and Group B (Taijiquan training). Over an eight-week period, each group will engage in three weekly training sessions lasting 60-75 minutes. Key performance indicators, including joint mobility (Sit and Reach Test), reaction time (Catch the Ruler Test), and power (Vertical Jump Test), will be measured before and after the training program. Statistical analyses will be conducted using SPSS software, with significance set at p=0.05, employing the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test for within-group and between-group comparisons, respectively.