Technological foundations and current status of a modified, low-risk form of competitive boxing (Box'Tag^®)

Abstract

Boxing-related activities are commonly used for fitness enhancement, but for many people fear of injury precludes participation in competitive boxing. Over the past six years, technological developments have contributed to the emergence in Australia of a modified, low-risk form of competitive boxing called Box'Tag^®. The rules of Box'Tag^® prohibit impacts to the head and any impacts above a moderate level of force. Contestants wear instrumented equipment that, in combination with a dedicated software package, allows automated impact detection and real-time display of scores. Participatory action research methods are being used to guide iterative technology refinements, with success evaluated based on feedback obtained through constant, direct interaction with the technology end-users. In concert with technological advances, the popularity of Box'Tag^® is steadily increasing, with programmes now established in three Australian states and about to be initiated elsewhere. Box'Tag^® is attracting demographically diverse participation and injury rates are low. Physiological and perceptual data recorded during contests show Box'Tag^® to be a highly intensive activity and an excellent vehicle for building physical fitness. There is scope for further technological improvements, but the Box'Tag^® initiative is already demonstrating potential to add a new dimension to boxing and has been adopted by Australian boxing authorities.

Keywords:

• Box'tag
• modified sports
• boxing
• scoring
• interactive textiles
• wearable sensors

Acknowledgements

The work summarised in this paper has been supported by grants from the Australian Institute of Sport, the joint research fund of CSIRO and the Australian Sports Commission, and the Queensland Academy of Sport Centre of Excellence for Applied Sport Science Research. The authors also wish to acknowledge that they have built upon work initiated by the Cooperative Research Centre for Microtechnology, in which Griffith University, RMIT University and Swinburne University were the primary academic institutions. Inputs from several Australian technology companies have also been important, particularly PWP Designs, Catapult Sports and Hydrix. Two honours students from Victoria University – Henner Bruch and Brendan Lazarus – have made notable contributions to the collection and analysis of data. Special thanks are due to the staff and members of the Strongarm Boxing & Fitness Club in Sydney, where much of the field-testing of the Box'Tag^® scoring technology has been performed.