Kicking ability in pencak silat, reviewed from eye-foot coordination, speed, and ratio of limb length-body height

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the correlation between eye-foot coordination (both single and double), speed, and limb length-body height ratio with the ability to perform (sickle) kicks in pencak silat and how much the contribution of each of these attributes. Correlation study was performed with data collection techniques through performance evaluation tests on each variable. 30 male athletes of Pencak Silat Club of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) with height criteria (163-165cm) were willing to participate in this study. The results showed that each variable had a significant correlation, both single and double. Eye-foot coordination and speed have a significant correlation with kicking ability in pencak silat, both with or without controlling other supporting variables. While the ratio of limb length to body height has a correlation with kicking ability if influenced by eye-foot coordination and speed. Eye-foot coordination makes a relative contribution (52.17%), effective (35.11%), speed makes a relative contribution (35.75%), effective (24.06%), and the ratio of limb length to body height makes a relative contribution (12.02%), effective (8.09%). The total effective contribution of the independent variables to the dependent variables is 67.26%. Thus, to improve the ability to perform kicks in pencak silat, an athlete should be able to take advantage of eye-foot coordination and to exert speed by contributing a good ratio of limb length-body height according to the demands of pencak silat.