Exploring the Impact of Height and Body Shape on Athletic Performance

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of height and body type on sports performance, particularly in the case of combat sports—boxing, mixed martial arts, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu—among young athletes aged between 13 and 18 years in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Although literature identifies the benefits of certain body types in sports such as basketball or gymnastics, little is known about the transferability of these characteristics in combat sports, especially among younger athletes. Using a mixed-methods approach, anthropometric measurements—height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI)—were collected from 28 athletes at a local Mixed Martial Arts gym, with their performance data subsequently analyzed alongside survey results. Results indicate that mesomorphic (muscular) body types correlate with achievement in competitive weight-class athletics; yet, cardiovascular efficiency and joint durability—linked to proportional height-to-weight ratios—are equally valuable. The study refers to a trade-off between innate and trainable physical advantages in showing that while somatotype influences role specialization, intensive training and psychological toughness remain paramount for elite performance. The findings offer practical value to coaches and sporting apparel manufacturers interested in optimizing training programs and equipment design for youth athletes.