Dynamics of Cadets' Physical Fitness in the Process of Arm Wrestling

Abstract

The article examines the impact of arm wrestling on the level of cadets' physical fitness during their training. The research involved male cadets of the Odessa Military Academy. We formed two groups of cadets to achieve the aim of the research: the experimental (EG) and the control (CG) groups. The EG included cadets who were engaged in arm wrestling during their sporting and mass participation events at the academy (n = 36), and the CG included cadets who were engaged in sporting and mass participation events in compliance with the traditional training methods (n = 36). The level of development of strength qualities was studied according to the following tests: pull-ups on the horizontal bar, hip pull-overs on the horizontal bar, breast-ups on the horizontal bar, kettlebell jerks weighing 24 kg, dip-ups on the parallel bars, push-ups. The speed was studied according to the results of the 100 m run, agility and coordination skills – according to the test on the obstacle course (400 m); endurance – according to the results of the 3 km run. A significantly (p ≤ 0.001) better level of strength development in the EG cadets was revealed at the end of the experiment, compared to the CG cadets, according to the results of all strength exercises. The EG cadets also showed better indicators than the CG cadets according to the tests that characterize other motor qualities (100 m run, overcoming the obstacle course, 3 km run), but the difference was insignificant (p ˃ 0.05).