US20070015637A1 - Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists - Google Patents
Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070015637A1 US20070015637A1 US11/458,063 US45806306A US2007015637A1 US 20070015637 A1 US20070015637 A1 US 20070015637A1 US 45806306 A US45806306 A US 45806306A US 2007015637 A1 US2007015637 A1 US 2007015637A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- training device
- detector
- module
- signal
- communication system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/20—Punching balls, e.g. for boxing; Other devices for striking used during training of combat sports, e.g. bags
- A63B69/32—Punching balls, e.g. for boxing; Other devices for striking used during training of combat sports, e.g. bags with indicating devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/0053—Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2220/00—Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
- A63B2220/50—Force related parameters
- A63B2220/51—Force
- A63B2220/53—Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
- A63B2225/50—Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2244/00—Sports without balls
- A63B2244/10—Combat sports
Abstract
A training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device is provided. The training device comprises a striker module, a display module and a communication system. The striker module comprises a front, a back, and a detector. The front comprises a flexible material, and is connected to the back to define a space. The detector comprises at least two components, one mounted on the front and the other on the back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another. The communication system sends information from the detector to the display module. A method of assessing an athlete's impact is also provided.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/700,419, filed Jul. 18, 2005, which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- 1. Technical Field
- The invention relates to an apparatus for assessing both the striking force and the reaction time of martial artists. Specifically, the invention is based on a makawari that provides feedback to enable a martial artist to improve their striking technique.
- 2. Background
- Devices for measuring the force of the impact are well known in the art. Such devices include athletic training apparatus that are designed to be struck by an athlete's hands or feet. These athletic training devices are typically adapted to provide the user with an indication of the impact force of his or her punches and kicks thereby providing the athlete with feedback on his or her performance. Accordingly, the feedback enables the user to improve his or her technique and performance.
- Several devices that indicate the force of a strike or the reaction time of a martial artist have been patented. Differences between these devices relate to the structure of the striker module, the sensor(s) used to determine the magnitude of the impact, and the method of displaying this magnitude. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,224 (Impact apparatus, Jul. 25, 1989) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,811 (Hitting device for martial arts, Apr. 18, 1978) have air chambers located inside a striker module. When the striker module is struck air is expelled to an indicating apparatus, which provides a measure of the impact force. These devices are highly inaccurate and do not provide any measurement of reaction time.
- In an attempt to improve upon the technology, U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,970 (Impact measuring apparatus, Apr. 21, 1998), U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,660 (Impact and speed measuring system, Jul. 17, 1990), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,315 (Device for self-defense training, May 9, 1998) use pressure transducers embedded within a striker module. A similar approach was taken in U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,107 (Sports scoring device including a piezoelectric transducer) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,271 (Sports impact measuring device, Nov. 28, 1989) wherein piezoelectric films are mounted on a striker module. Yet another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,833 (Electronic martial arts training device, Dec. 4, 1990) wherein vibrations induced in a speaker-like cone during impact are used to generate a signal indicative of the force of the blow. Unfortunately, the output of all these devices is very sensitive to the location of the strike, and accordingly only provide a rough estimate of the impact force.
- To overcome the foregoing deficiencies, U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,366 (Martial arts practice device, Jan. 21, 1986) uses a series of electrical switches which operate to register the force of the blows delivered to the striker module while U.S. Patent 20030060340 (Impact dynamometer for martial arts and sports training, Mar. 27, 2003) uses a Tachometer sensor comprising a magnet and a Hall effect sensor to determine the velocity of a struck striker module. Although these particular devices measure the motion of the striker module and are therefore less sensitive to impact position they are too elaborate to be commercially viable.
- There is a need for a commercially viable device that will allow martial artists to accurately assess the force of their strikes as well as their reaction times. It is an object of the invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.
- A training device called a powerboard is provided that is based on the traditional makawari (striking board) that is used in the martial arts. The sensor is simple, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The powerboard is a training device for martial artists that enable them to determine the force of their strikes (in terms of board breaking ability) and their reaction time.
- In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device is provided. The training device comprises a striker module, a display module and a communication system. The striker module comprises a front, a back, and a detector. The front comprises a flexible material, and is connected to the back to define a space. The detector comprises at least two components, one mounted on the front and the other on the back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another. The communication system sends information from the detector to the display module.
- In one aspect of the invention the detector comprises a magnet and a wire coil.
- In another aspect of the invention, the front comprises a contact surface and an inner surface, and the contact surface further comprises a resilient layer.
- In another aspect of the invention, the resilient layer is a high density foam layer.
- In another aspect of the invention, the striker module further comprises at least one set of spacers between the front and the back to define a space.
- In another aspect of the invention, there is one set of spacers.
- In another aspect of the invention, the communication system is a wireless communication system.
- In another aspect of the invention, the communication system is via an electrical connection.
- In another aspect of the invention, the front and the back are wooden boards.
- In another aspect of the invention, the display module further comprises a microcontroller.
- In another aspect of the invention, the training device further comprises a start signal.
- In another aspect of the invention, the training device further comprises a warning signal.
- In another aspect of the invention, the start signal and the warning signal are lights.
- In another aspect of the invention, the start signal and the warning signal are auditory signals.
- A method of assessing an athlete's impact is also provided. The method comprises impacting a front of a striker module, flexing the front towards a back of the striker module, urging components of a detector towards one another, inducing a voltage through the detector, and displaying an output.
- In one aspect of the method of the invention, the voltage is electromagnetically induced.
- In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises processing the output to display relative number of boards broken.
- In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises signaling a start time and a processing the output to display a reaction time.
- In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises a warning signal prior to signaling a start time.
- In another aspect of the method of the invention, the warning signal and the start time signal are visual.
- In another aspect of the method of the invention, the warning signal and the start time signal are auditory.
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of a training device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is a side view of the training device ofFIG. 1 . - A powerboard, generally referred to as 10, as shown in
FIG. 1 , is based on the traditional makawari (striking board) that is used in the martial arts. Thepowerboard 10 is a training device for martial artists that enable them to determine the force of their strikes (in terms of board breaking ability) and their reaction time. Thepowerboard 10 has astriker module 12 and a plug-inelectronic display module 14. A high-density foam pad 16 is affixed to afront board 18 at acontact surface 20. Thefront board 18 is in turn joined at aninner surface 22, which opposes thecontact surface 20, viaspacers 24, to aback board 26, to define aspace 27. Theback board 26 is for attachment to a wall or beam. Amagnet 28 is attached to theinner surface 22 of thefront board 18 and awire coil 30 is fastened opposing themagnet 28 to adetection face 32 of theback board 26. Themagnet 28 and thewire coil 30 together form a detector 31. Anelectrical connection 34 from thewire coil 30 connects to theelectronic display module 14, which includes amicrocontroller 36, adisplay screen 38, afirst light 40 and asecond light 42. - When the high
density foam pad 16 is struck, thefront board 18 flexes towards theback board 26. As thefront board 18 flexes towards the back board 26 a voltage is generated in thecoil 30 by themagnet 28 via electromagnetic induction. The magnitude of the voltage increases with the speed at which themagnet 28 moves back towards thecoil 30. The voltage is therefore indicative of the force with which thepad 16 was struck. - The
module 14 has two basic modes of operation, a power mode and a reaction mode. When themodule 14 is in power mode the voltage is converted to a number that correlates to the number of standard martial arts boards that would have been broken. The number is displayed on adisplay screen 38. When themodule 14 is in reaction mode afirst light 40 comes on to warn the user to prepare. Then asecond light 42 will come on at random time later (between 1 to 5 seconds after the 1st light) which triggers the user to strike the highdensity foam pad 16. The time of impact with thestriker module 12 is found by determining when the generated voltage exceeds a set threshold. The time between thesecond light 42 coming on and impact with thestriker module 12 is measured by themicrocontroller 36 and the result is shown on thedisplay screen 38. - In addition to these basic modes the
powerboard 10 may also have several challenge modes. For example, one mode will display a power level that the user will then try to generate. If the user strikes the striker module within a predetermined range of the indicated level the attempt will be considered successful and a new level will be displayed. Another challenge mode will be similar to the reaction mode except that the user must strike the striker module within a predetermined reaction time for the attempt to be considered successful. The unit will keep track and display the success rate of the user. - The foregoing is a description of an embodiment of the invention. As would be known to one skilled in the art, variations that do not alter the scope of the invention are contemplated. For example, the front board may be comprised of wood or any other flexible material or composites that permit quantification of the force of an impact. Similarly, the high density foam can be replaced with another material or composite that is selected to prevent injury to the athlete, but which permits quantification of the force of impact. The number of spacers can be variable, as can their placement. Further, the spacers may be integral with the front board, the back board or both. Another modification is that the electrical connection may be removed and replaced with a wireless communication system.
Claims (21)
1. A training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device, said training device comprising:
a striker module comprising a front, a back, and a detector, said front comprising a flexible material, said front connected to said back to define a space, said detector comprising at least two components, one mounted on said front and the other on said back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another; a display module;
and a communication system whereby information is sent from the detector to the display module.
2. The training device of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a magnet and a wire coil.
3. The training device of claim 2 , wherein said front comprises a contact surface and an inner surface, and said contact surface further comprises a resilient layer.
4. The training device of claim 3 wherein said resilient layer is a high density foam layer.
5. The training device of claim 3 wherein said striker module further comprises at least one set of spacers between said front and said back to define a space.
6. The training device of claim 5 wherein there is one set of spacers.
7. The training device of claim 2 wherein said communication system is a wireless communication system.
8. The training device of claim 2 wherein said communication system is via an electrical connection.
9. The training device of claim 2 wherein said front and said back are wooden boards.
10. The training device of claim 2 wherein said display module further comprises a microcontroller.
11. The training device of claim 2 further comprising a start signal.
12. The training device of claim 11 further comprising a warning signal.
13. The training device of claim 12 wherein said start signal and said warning signals are lights.
14. The training device of claim 12 wherein said start signal and said warning signal are auditory signals.
15. A method of assessing an athlete's impact, said method comprising impacting a front of a striker module, flexing said front towards a back of said striker module, urging components of a detector towards one another, inducing a voltage through said detector, and displaying an output.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said voltage is electromagnetically induced.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising processing said output to display relative number of boards broken.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising signaling a start time and a processing said output to display a reaction time.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising a warning signal prior to signaling a start time.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said warning signal and said start time signal are visual.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein said warning signal and said start time signal are auditory.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/458,063 US20070015637A1 (en) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-07-17 | Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US70041905P | 2005-07-18 | 2005-07-18 | |
US11/458,063 US20070015637A1 (en) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-07-17 | Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070015637A1 true US20070015637A1 (en) | 2007-01-18 |
Family
ID=37662308
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/458,063 Abandoned US20070015637A1 (en) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-07-17 | Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070015637A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100240495A1 (en) * | 2009-03-19 | 2010-09-23 | David Law | Modular Isometric and Speed Training Device |
WO2012066294A2 (en) | 2010-11-17 | 2012-05-24 | Kevin Franklin | An apparatus comprising a strike pad |
US9227128B1 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2016-01-05 | Richard Carfagna, Jr. | Systems and methods for visualizing and analyzing impact forces |
US20170068547A1 (en) * | 2015-09-09 | 2017-03-09 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Semiconductor device, method for designing semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
US20170314801A1 (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2017-11-02 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Control device for air conditioning system, air conditioning system, and method for determining anomaly of air conditioning system |
US10124210B2 (en) | 2015-03-13 | 2018-11-13 | KO Luxembourg SARL | Systems and methods for qualitative assessment of sports performance |
CN112891883A (en) * | 2021-01-15 | 2021-06-04 | 湖南理工学院 | Table tennis sportsman reaction speed training instrument |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4064811A (en) * | 1975-12-22 | 1977-12-27 | Copeland Donald R | Quick disconnect anchor |
US4098315A (en) * | 1977-03-09 | 1978-07-04 | Uniroyal, Inc. | Belted pneumatic tires with zero degree breaker reinforcement, and method of building such tires |
US4565366A (en) * | 1984-02-01 | 1986-01-21 | Struss Thomas G | Martial arts practice device |
US4824107A (en) * | 1985-10-10 | 1989-04-25 | French Barry J | Sports scoring device including a piezoelectric transducer |
US4850224A (en) * | 1986-07-08 | 1989-07-25 | Timme William F | Impact apparatus |
US4883271A (en) * | 1985-10-10 | 1989-11-28 | French Sportech Corporation | Sports impact measuring apparatus |
US4941650A (en) * | 1988-02-01 | 1990-07-17 | Stacker Machine Co., Inc. | Vacuum counter for stacked signatures |
US4974833A (en) * | 1989-05-21 | 1990-12-04 | Kyung S. Shin | Electronic martial arts training device |
US5741970A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1998-04-21 | Rubin; Martin D. | Impact measuring apparatus |
US20030060340A1 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2003-03-27 | Freeman Jeff Brian | Impact dynamometer for martial arts and sports training |
-
2006
- 2006-07-17 US US11/458,063 patent/US20070015637A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4064811A (en) * | 1975-12-22 | 1977-12-27 | Copeland Donald R | Quick disconnect anchor |
US4098315A (en) * | 1977-03-09 | 1978-07-04 | Uniroyal, Inc. | Belted pneumatic tires with zero degree breaker reinforcement, and method of building such tires |
US4565366A (en) * | 1984-02-01 | 1986-01-21 | Struss Thomas G | Martial arts practice device |
US4824107A (en) * | 1985-10-10 | 1989-04-25 | French Barry J | Sports scoring device including a piezoelectric transducer |
US4883271A (en) * | 1985-10-10 | 1989-11-28 | French Sportech Corporation | Sports impact measuring apparatus |
US4850224A (en) * | 1986-07-08 | 1989-07-25 | Timme William F | Impact apparatus |
US4941650A (en) * | 1988-02-01 | 1990-07-17 | Stacker Machine Co., Inc. | Vacuum counter for stacked signatures |
US4974833A (en) * | 1989-05-21 | 1990-12-04 | Kyung S. Shin | Electronic martial arts training device |
US5741970A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1998-04-21 | Rubin; Martin D. | Impact measuring apparatus |
US20030060340A1 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2003-03-27 | Freeman Jeff Brian | Impact dynamometer for martial arts and sports training |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100240495A1 (en) * | 2009-03-19 | 2010-09-23 | David Law | Modular Isometric and Speed Training Device |
WO2012066294A2 (en) | 2010-11-17 | 2012-05-24 | Kevin Franklin | An apparatus comprising a strike pad |
US9227128B1 (en) | 2011-01-26 | 2016-01-05 | Richard Carfagna, Jr. | Systems and methods for visualizing and analyzing impact forces |
US20170314801A1 (en) * | 2014-10-24 | 2017-11-02 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. | Control device for air conditioning system, air conditioning system, and method for determining anomaly of air conditioning system |
US10124210B2 (en) | 2015-03-13 | 2018-11-13 | KO Luxembourg SARL | Systems and methods for qualitative assessment of sports performance |
US20170068547A1 (en) * | 2015-09-09 | 2017-03-09 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Semiconductor device, method for designing semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
CN112891883A (en) * | 2021-01-15 | 2021-06-04 | 湖南理工学院 | Table tennis sportsman reaction speed training instrument |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20070015637A1 (en) | Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists | |
US8447559B2 (en) | Systems and methods for an impact location and amplitude sensor | |
US4883271A (en) | Sports impact measuring apparatus | |
KR880003650A (en) | Sports scoring system and method | |
WO2005110555A3 (en) | Ball with internal impact detector and an indicator to indicate impact | |
JP2009106323A (en) | Motion form evaluation device and motion form evaluation program | |
KR20070058509A (en) | Impact power measuring device | |
JP2000500229A (en) | Apparatus for measuring at least one physical parameter related to a propulsion ball under propulsion | |
US20080215285A1 (en) | Boxing training device for measuring and quantifying the relationship between the force and timing of punches | |
KR101321695B1 (en) | Electronic protector and sensing system of hitting region to electronic protector therefor | |
NL1020131C1 (en) | Method and device for measuring and presenting parameters when striking an object to be moved with the aid of an impact tool. | |
KR101032361B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for detecting throwing violration in dart game | |
KR100941185B1 (en) | System for measuring impact of target plate and measuring method thereof | |
US8021280B1 (en) | Recreational/athletic training system and strike pod therefor | |
US20030017882A1 (en) | Sport apparatus with impact sensing and display | |
CY1112768T1 (en) | BALL FOOTBALL DETECTION DEVICE AND GOLF BALL FITTING MACHINE ABOVE BALL FIT (TEE) | |
JPH0328767A (en) | Instrument for measuring speed of moving object | |
JP2010063863A (en) | Golf practice club indicating hitting point position which has a plurality of pipes or flat plates with different acoustic vibration on back of face portion of head, and method of manufacturing the same | |
CA2511284A1 (en) | Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists | |
US20030047001A1 (en) | Ball speed detecting assembly | |
RU2368411C1 (en) | Method of determining tennis-racket and tennis-ball dynamic behavior | |
JP2002331050A (en) | Restitution characteristics evaluation method of golf club head and golf club | |
WO2003022366A3 (en) | Projectile monitoring apparatus and methods | |
WO2005049154A3 (en) | Target device | |
US7111492B2 (en) | Device for testing balls |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VICTORIA INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, U Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PENNER, ALBERT RAYMOND;WELLER, WILLIAM GEORGE;WALSH, PETER A.;REEL/FRAME:018330/0312 Effective date: 20060920 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |