Abstract

TARRAGO, Rafael; IGLESIAS, Xavier; LAPRESA, Daniel  and  ANGUERA, M. Teresa. Complementarity between diachronic T-pattern relationships and behavioral patterns in elite male fencing. CPD [online]. 2016, vol.16, n.1, pp.113-128. ISSN 1989-5879.

The aim of this study was to establish possible diachronic relationships in the tactical analysis of assaults in male fencing using three complementary methods. We employed a nomothetic, point, multidimensional observational design in which we analysed eight assaults by two fencers in the final stages of the Men's World Fencing Championships in Budapest (2013) and Kazan (2014). The ESGRIMOBS observation instrument was used. A total of 407 phrases (sets of related actions and reactions in a fencing conversation) were recorded and coded in LINCE v.1.1. The methodological analysis was performed with the software THEME v.6 Edu, GSEQ5 and HOISAN. This complementary analysis provided interesting tactical and strategic insights. The tactical analysis (intra-phrase analysis) established links between tactical thinking and technical execution (and efficacy). This analysis was performed by lag sequential analysis at lag 0 (co-occurrences) and T-pattern analysis. The strategic analysis (inter-phrase analysis) provided information about the bidirectional relationship (prospective and retrospective) between fencing actions in relation to their efficacy. The inter-phrase analysis was performed by lag sequential analysis at lags -1 to -5 and +1 to +5, analysis of T-pattern clusters, and polar coordinate analysis. The above tools allowed us to identify direct relationships between different tactical actions and their efficacy (in terms of score) and provided information on successful strategies used by fencers during competitions. Information of this kind could help fencers to take better decisions during assaults.

Keywords : Tactics; lag sequential analysis; polar coordinates; T-patterns; observational methodology.

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