Effects of Aikido and Taijiquan Training Among Mixed Martial Arts Players

January 8, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Aikido and Taijiquan Training on Joint Mobility, Reaction Time and Power 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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

It will be a Randomized Clinical Trial study.The sample size of the study will be 34 participants (19 in each group) through non probability sampling technique. Data will be collected from Pakistan sports board coaching center LHR & Roar Martial Arts Fitness Club Lahore.Data will be collected within 10 months after approval of synopsis.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Both male and female mixed martial arts players' age 18-30 years will be included.
  • Participants must engage in physical activity (2-3 times a week) (20).
  • Players have training experience of Aikido and Taijiquan training (21).
  • Participants must have minimum one year experience of mixed martial arts training (22).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants with sustained injuries (fractures, sprains and stress) will be excluded.
  • Pregnant and lactating females will be excluded.
  • Those participants taking medicine will be excluded.
  • Participants with known history of joint disease or chronic illness.
  • Participants engaged in other high intensity physical training outside of MMA.

Data Collection Tools:

  • Hip Joint mobility will be assessed using sit-to-reach test
  • Reaction time will be evaluated through hexagon test.
  • Power will be evaluated through vertical jump test

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

38

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54790
        • Roar Martial Arts Fitness Club

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Both male and female mixed martial arts players' age 18-30 years will be included.
  • Participants must engage in physical activity (2-3 times a week) (20).
  • Players have training experience of Aikido and Taijiquan training (21).
  • Participants must have minimum one year experience of mixed martial arts training (22).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants with sustained injuries (fractures, sprains and stress) will be excluded.
  • Pregnant and lactating females will be excluded.
  • Those participants taking medicine will be excluded.
  • Participants with known history of joint disease or chronic illness.
  • Participants engaged in other high intensity physical training outside of MMA.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Aikido training
This group will receive Aikido training to improve joint mobility, reaction time and power.
Other: Aikido training
This group will receive Aikido training to improve joint mobility, reaction time and power.
Experimental: Taijiquan training
This group will receive Taijiquan training tom improve joint mobility, reaction time and power.
Other: Taijiquan training
This group will receive Taijiquan training tom improve joint mobility, reaction time and power.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sit to reach test
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The Sit and reach test is one of the linear flexibility tests which helps to measure the extensibility of the hamstrings and lower back. The Sit and Reach Test measures lower back and hamstring flexibility, with normal scores varying by age and gender. For men, scores range from 24-34 cm 20-29 age and decrease slightly with age, while women score 27-36 cm in the same age range, also seeing a gradual decline over time. Higher scores indicate above-average flexibility, mid-range scores are average, and lower scores suggest limited flexibility
8 weeks
Hexagon test
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The Hexagon Test is a simple, agility-based fitness assessment primarily used to evaluate an individual's quickness, balance, and coordination. It involves the participant standing at the center of a hexagon marked on the ground, typically with each side measuring about 24 inches. The participant must quickly jump over each line of the hexagon in a specific clockwise or counterclockwise sequence, aiming to complete three laps as fast as possible without stepping on the lines or losing rhythm
8 weeks
Vertical jump test
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The Vertical Jump Test measures explosive leg power by assessing how high an individual can jump from a stationary position. The participant first records their standing reach height, then jumps as high as possible, with the height difference indicating the vertical jump score. High scores suggest strong leg power and athleticism, while lower scores indicate areas for improvement. For males, an "Excellent" jump is over 28 inches, "Above Average" is between 24-28 inches, "Average" is 20-24 inches, and "Below Average" is under 20 inches. For females, an "Excellent" score is over 24 inches, "Above Average" falls between 20-24 inches, "Average" is 16-20 inches, and "Below Average" is less than 16 inches
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Iqra khan, MS-SPT, Riphah International University
  • Principal Investigator: Tasghir Nabi, MS-SPT, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 21, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 2, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

November 2, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 29, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2026

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR & AHS/24/0487

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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