MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Get Lean, Get Strong, Get Endurance: How To Train According To Your Goals

Get Lean, Get Strong, Get Endurance: How To Train According To Your Goals

Will Training Barefoot Make You Stronger?

Will Training Barefoot Make You Stronger?

Quadzilla's Muscle-Bulking Leg Day Routine

Quadzilla's Muscle-Bulking Leg Day Routine

5 Of The Best Fitness Tips From Conor McGregor

5 Of The Best Fitness Tips From Conor McGregor

{headline}

{headline}

Here's How NFL Player Colin Kaepernick Builds Strength

Here's How NFL Player Colin Kaepernick Builds Strength

10 Tips To Absolutely Nail The Pull-Up

10 Tips To Absolutely Nail The Pull-Up

Henry Cavill Has Revealed The Perfect Sport For Getting His Physique

Henry Cavill Has Revealed The Perfect Sport For Getting His Physique

{headline}

{headline}

The 20 Minute Workout That Is Crushing Athletes Around The World

The 20 Minute Workout That Is Crushing Athletes Around The World

Enter Beast Mode With This Insane Full Body Workout

Enter Beast Mode With This Insane Full Body Workout

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

Training One Arm Will Reportedly Boost Muscle Growth In The Other

Training One Arm Will Reportedly Boost Muscle Growth In The Other

At Almost 40 Years Old, Is Roger Federer... Finished?

At Almost 40 Years Old, Is Roger Federer... Finished?

Are You Fit Enough For The FBI? This Test Will Tell You

Are You Fit Enough For The FBI? This Test Will Tell You

7 Reasons Why You’ve Stopped Gaining Strength And Muscle

7 Reasons Why You’ve Stopped Gaining Strength And Muscle

  1. Home
  2. Fitness

Does Grunting In Sport Actually Increase Performance?

Sharapova may be onto something here… - by Scott Henderson
  • 09 Mar 2018
Does Grunting In Sport Actually Increase Performance?
Getty Images

That guy in the corner of the gym grunting through his bench press may not be as much of jerk as you initially thought. He may just be clued into peak performance. Yes, he’s annoying as hell, and almost 100 per cent doing it for the attention, but a recent study published in PLOS One has confirmed that grunting improves your power output, as well as serving to distract your opponent in sport.

While the success of the ‘grunt’ is not new information, previous studies have analysed the effects of grunting in tennis, and had put the success of grunters down to the noise covering the sound of impact with the ball. The theory went that grunting masked the noise made through the racket’s impact with the ball, meaning the opponent didn’t know when the ball was on it’s way.

In The Face Kick GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

However this new study suggests that grunting when lifting, hitting, or kicking actually increases your power, as well as distracting the attention of your opponent. The scientists analysed the force exerted by MMA fighters during a kick, both when they were silent, and when they grunting. Their results showed that grunting increased their force by an astonishing 9 per cent.

In a second component of their research, the fighters were shown videos of opponents kicking in their direction, both silently and with an audible grunt. While proving that yes, the grunt was a huge distraction, the researchers also disproved the previous thought that grunting worked by masking the sound of impact on the ball. There is no ball in MMA.

Yelling GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

How can you harness this information? Easy. Let out a grunt on your next dead lift, growl while smashing that backyard cricket ball for six, and get vocal with your boxing coach. Not only will you increase your output, you’ll distract the hell out of the competition.

  • News
  • Fitness
  • MMA Training
  • Sport

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Get Lean, Get Strong, Get Endurance: How To Train According To Your Goals

Get Lean, Get Strong, Get Endurance: How To Train According To Your Goals

Will Training Barefoot Make You Stronger?

Will Training Barefoot Make You Stronger?

Quadzilla's Muscle-Bulking Leg Day Routine

Quadzilla's Muscle-Bulking Leg Day Routine

5 Of The Best Fitness Tips From Conor McGregor

5 Of The Best Fitness Tips From Conor McGregor

{headline}

{headline}

Here's How NFL Player Colin Kaepernick Builds Strength

Here's How NFL Player Colin Kaepernick Builds Strength

10 Tips To Absolutely Nail The Pull-Up

10 Tips To Absolutely Nail The Pull-Up

Henry Cavill Has Revealed The Perfect Sport For Getting His Physique

Henry Cavill Has Revealed The Perfect Sport For Getting His Physique

{headline}

{headline}

The 20 Minute Workout That Is Crushing Athletes Around The World

The 20 Minute Workout That Is Crushing Athletes Around The World

Enter Beast Mode With This Insane Full Body Workout

Enter Beast Mode With This Insane Full Body Workout

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

Australian Open Qualifier Discovers He Has COVID-19... Midway Through Match

Training One Arm Will Reportedly Boost Muscle Growth In The Other

Training One Arm Will Reportedly Boost Muscle Growth In The Other

At Almost 40 Years Old, Is Roger Federer... Finished?

At Almost 40 Years Old, Is Roger Federer... Finished?

Are You Fit Enough For The FBI? This Test Will Tell You

Are You Fit Enough For The FBI? This Test Will Tell You

7 Reasons Why You’ve Stopped Gaining Strength And Muscle

7 Reasons Why You’ve Stopped Gaining Strength And Muscle

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now