comparison of mental toughness and power test performances in high-level kickboxers by competitive success

Background: kickboxing is a high-intensity intermittent striking combat sport, which is characterized by complex skills and tactical key actions with short duration. objectives: the present study compared and verified the relationship between mental toughness (mt), countermovement jump (cmj) and medicine ball throw (mbt) power tests by outcomes of high-level kickboxers during national championship. materials and methods: thirty two high-level male kickboxers (winner = 16 and loser = 16: 21.2 ± 3.1 years, 1.73 ± 0.07 m, and 70.2 ± 9.4 kg) were analyzed using the cmj, mbt tests and sports mental toughness questionnaire (smtq; based in confidence, constancy and control subscales), before the fights of the 2015 national championship (16 bouts). in statistical analysis, mann-withney test and a multiple linear regression were used to compare groups and to observe relationships, respectively, p ≤ 0.05. results: the present results showed significant differences between losers vs. winners, respectively, of total mt (7(7;8) vs. 11(10.2;11), confidence (3(3;3) vs. 4(4;4)), constancy (2(2;2) vs. 3(3;3)), control (2(2;3) vs. 4(4;4)) subscales and mbt (4.1(4;4.3) vs. 4.6(4.4;4.8)). the multiple linear regression showed a strong associations between mt results and outcome (r = 0.89), mbt (r = 0.84) and cmj (r = 0.73). conclusions: the findings suggest that mt will be more predictive of performance in those sports and in the outcome of competition.