Martial Arts Research and Testing Laboratory

14/04/2026

Why is the ADF interested in research into traditional martial arts?

Because modern training has a limit that ancient martial arts principles can teach us how to go past.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll introduce some of the underlying physiological principles of traditional Kung Fu, share our pioneering research, and show how these relate to enhancing strength, stability, and performance under pressure.

This isn’t about learning martial arts.

It’s about understanding how your body and mind function, and beginning to access latent capabilities that require specialised training to unlock.

📍 Toowoomba Library
📅 14 May, 6:00–7:45pm
💲 $50

👉 Scan the QR code on the flyer to book your place or visit https://www.martialartsresearchandtestinglaboratory.com.au/service-page/the-secret-sciences-of-ancient-kung-fu

11/02/2026

We're excited to share that our latest paper has just been published in JOR Spine (Open Access):

“Reliability of Ultrasonography to Assess Spinal Compression During Heavy Load Carriage.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsp2.70137

We know that physically demanding occupations like defence, emergency services, and many healthcare roles can result in sustained load on the spine. But measuring how the spine responds in real-world settings isn’t easy. Most tools are expensive, complex, or impractical outside of laboratory settings.

In this study, we tested whether ultrasound, a low-cost, accessible tool, can reliably measure changes in lumbar spine geometry during standing under a 25kg load.

We found:
✔️ Good to excellent reliability between assessors
✔️ Detectable compression in the lower lumbar spine
✔️ Evidence that ultrasound could be used in real-world occupational and clinical contexts

This work stems from Sherrilyn's PhD research exploring how we can better assess and manage spinal loading in physically demanding roles, including investigating whether martial arts-based respiratory–motor training and biofeedback can meaningfully influence spinal compression, force production, and stability under load (and the results are promising).

The article is fully Open Access, so feel free to read and share:
🔗 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsp2.70137

This study evaluated the reliability of ultrasonography to measure inter-transverse process distances in the lumbar spine during standing load carriage. Eleven healthy adults underwent ultrasound ass...

28/03/2025

We are excited to share an excerpt from a paper which recently cited our initial study. Authored by researchers from Harvard University and other prominent universities and centres, the article, entitled 'The Science of Tai Chi for Whole Person Health: Advancing the Integration of Mind-Body Practices into Contemporary Health Care', summarises key topics from an international conference held at Harvard Medical School, in which we were cited. Here's more about our paper - https://tinyurl.com/ymdvn6dy.

03/03/2025

We are excited to share that our manuscript, 'Validity and reliability of a novel impulse-based method to analyse human striking performance' has been accepted for publication with the Journal of Sports Sciences, a Q1 journal and the official journal of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
ABSTRACT:
We investigated the criterion validity and within- and between-day reliability of a novel method of human striking performance assessment. The Impulse Block Method allows the measurement and calculation of a range of striking variables using a load cell incorporating an impact absorption block and laser gate timer. To assess criterion validity, we performed repeated drop tests and compared the relationship and agreement between predicted and measured velocity and initial momentum (calculated from impulse) with predicted values using linear regression and Bland-Altman plots (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, 10 healthy adults performed palm strikes against the Impulse Block on two occasions, and within- and between-day reliability was calculated for impulse, initial momentum, velocity, effective mass, kinetic energy, and power. There was a strong linear relationship and high agreement between measured and predicted velocity and initial momentum (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, the within and between-day coefficients of variation were 4.95-10.2% and 6.15-12.1%, respectively, for all variables. Within- and between-day intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.72-0.99 and 0.92-0.99 respectively, for all variables, indicating moderate to excellent reliability. Our findings show that the Impulse Block Method is valid and reliable for analysing a range of striking performance variables in well targeted, perpendicular linear strikes.

17/01/2025

We are excited to share the launch of our new website and our new training arm - MARTEL Training - research-based training targeting human performance and spinal health with specialised programs for healthcare workers, emergency services and military personnel, and professional athletes.

Welcome to MARTEL, a scientific research and training facility that is dedicated to investigating the martial arts and their profound relevance in terms of improving human health and performance.

31/12/2023

28/12/2023

We are seeking volunteers to assist us in assessing a 12-week training program aimed at improving strength and performance, and reducing spinal compression associated with carrying heavy loads. This program is being developed to help improve performance and reduce injury in military and emergency services personnel. We will be starting our last round of training for this study in early 2024 and will have daytime and evening training sessions available. We are also looking for volunteer control participants who will undertake the testing but no training. Control participants will receive gift vouchers to thank them for their time in lieu of the training. Let us know if you are interested in being involved!

05/12/2023

Had a great time presenting this poster at the Defence Human Sciences Symposium in Brisbane today. Lester Walters - more people are now eagerly awaiting our intervention study results, which are looking very promising so far.

04/12/2023

Excited to be presenting our research at the Defence Human Sciences Symposium today. Representing MARTEL and University of Southern Queensland - Australia.

27/10/2023

We are very grateful to everyone who has participated in this study so far. The training and testing is going very well, and we are looking forward to sharing some exciting results next year. We are doing one final run of the 12-week training intervention early next year from mid-late January to April next year, and are looking for some more participants. We will have a daytime and evening group running. We are also looking for control participants to undertake the testing without taking part in the training program. Contact us for more information if you are keen to get involved.