Development and assessment of technical actions in muay thai athletes during the pre-competition phase for the world combat games

Aim. This paper aims to assess the tactical proficiency (Fight IQ) of members of the Russian national Muay Thai team during their preparation for a major international competition. Materials and methods. A systematic video analysis of technical actions was performed to evaluate athlete decision-making. A specific protocol was developed to provide a clear demonstration of the techniques used by an athlete. Results. Athletes were given a paired drill during the main segment of a training session. During a controlled three-minute round, one athlete initiated with a mandatory straight punch to the head, while the other was required to immediately counter with a single, self-selected punch. Conclusions. The findings demonstrate that the proposed Fight IQ test is an effective tool for developing and evaluating neural plasticity in combat athletes. Its implementation contributes to a significant expansion of an athlete’s technical arsenal.