Device for measuring the striking force and reaction time of martial artists

Abstract

A training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device is provided. The training device comprises a striker module, a display module and a communication system. The striker module comprises a front, a back, and a detector. The front comprises a flexible material, and is connected to the back to define a space. The detector comprises at least two components, one mounted on the front and the other on the back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another. The communication system sends information from the detector to the display module. A method of assessing an athlete's impact is also provided.

1 . A training device for measuring the impact of an athlete on the training device, said training device comprising: 
 a striker module comprising a front, a back, and a detector, said front comprising a flexible material, said front connected to said back to define a space, said detector comprising at least two components, one mounted on said front and the other on said back, such that upon flexing of the front, the components approach one another; a display module;    and a communication system whereby information is sent from the detector to the display module.    
   
   
       2 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein said detector comprises a magnet and a wire coil.  
   
   
       3 . The training device of  claim 2 , wherein said front comprises a contact surface and an inner surface, and said contact surface further comprises a resilient layer.  
   
   
       4 . The training device of  claim 3  wherein said resilient layer is a high density foam layer.  
   
   
       5 . The training device of  claim 3  wherein said striker module further comprises at least one set of spacers between said front and said back to define a space.  
   
   
       6 . The training device of  claim 5  wherein there is one set of spacers.  
   
   
       7 . The training device of  claim 2  wherein said communication system is a wireless communication system.  
   
   
       8 . The training device of  claim 2  wherein said communication system is via an electrical connection.  
   
   
       9 . The training device of  claim 2  wherein said front and said back are wooden boards.  
   
   
       10 . The training device of  claim 2  wherein said display module further comprises a microcontroller.  
   
   
       11 . The training device of  claim 2  further comprising a start signal.  
   
   
       12 . The training device of  claim 11  further comprising a warning signal.  
   
   
       13 . The training device of  claim 12  wherein said start signal and said warning signals are lights.  
   
   
       14 . The training device of  claim 12  wherein said start signal and said warning signal are auditory signals.  
   
   
       15 . A method of assessing an athlete's impact, said method comprising impacting a front of a striker module, flexing said front towards a back of said striker module, urging components of a detector towards one another, inducing a voltage through said detector, and displaying an output.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said voltage is electromagnetically induced.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising processing said output to display relative number of boards broken.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising signaling a start time and a processing said output to display a reaction time.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising a warning signal prior to signaling a start time.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said warning signal and said start time signal are visual.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said warning signal and said start time signal are auditory.