Red coloured outfit enhance heart rate and strength in a combat sport

Abstract

Research in combat sports like boxing, taekwondo and wrestling shows a positive influence of red colour on the outcome, especially if fighters have similar abilities (Hill & Barton, 2005). Hagemann, Strauss & Leißing (2008) have shown that referees in taekwondo favours athletes dressed in red coloured jerseys. Feltman and Elliot (2011) have shown that wearing red enhances one self's perception of dominance and threat, which leads to the hypothesis that also fighters are influenced by their own jersey color. Therefore, in this study we investigate whether wearing red coloured taekwondo equipment has an influence on heart rate and strength. An artificial, experimental combat situation was created. 14 pairs of athletes with similar weight, height and age, had to fight twice against each other using so called smash sticks, once in a red jersey and once in a blue. Heart rate was measured during the fights and strength before the fight started. We found that participants have a higher heart rate (Mred = 162.00, SDred = 12.96; Mblue = 155.71, SDblue = 15.04), t(27) = 2.55, p < .01, d = 0.48 (one-tailed) and higher values on the strength test before the contest (Mred = 194.38, SDred = 49.15; Mblue = 175.84, SDblue = 45.66), t(27) = 1.92, p < .05, d = 0.36 (one-tailed) when wearing red equipment. The outcome of the combats weren't influenced by the colour. Pre-Experiences in combat sports and order of fights had no significant effects. As it's already evident that referees' assessment is influenced by jersey colour (Hagemann et al., 2008), our results now show that opponents' physiological parameters are also influenced by wearing red equipment. Further studies should take emphasise on the question, whether it is an influence of the colour, somebody wears or that, which they see at their opponent (possible relaxing factor of colour blue).