Digital Platforms for Training Process Management in Kickboxing: Opportunities for Planning, Monitoring, and Optimizing Athlete Preparation

Abstract

Kickboxing training is characterized by high variability of training loads and the combination of different session types within a single workout, which complicates objective monitoring and reduces the effectiveness of traditional approaches to training process control. This necessitates the use of digital platforms capable of integrating planning, monitoring, and data analytics within a unified information environment. The purpose of the article is to conduct a comparative analysis of the functional capabilities of digital training management platforms and to substantiate approaches to their adaptation for kickboxing preparation based on the approbation of real training data. Methods. The study employed analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, comparative analysis of the TrainHeroic, Smartabase, and BridgeAthletic platforms according to functionality, access model, and integration capabilities, as well as approbation of comprehensive monitoring on a sample of 12 kickboxers over three consecutive training microcycles. Results. It was found that none of the analyzed platforms individually provides comprehensive control of the training process in kickboxing. The most informative approach is their combined use with a minimally sufficient set of indicators: training load volume, RPE, and punch accuracy in sparring. A reproducible pattern was identified: in the second half of the microcycle, an increase in RPE and peak heart rate, along with slower recovery, is accompanied by a decline in technical-tactical performance. It was demonstrated that a decrease in punch accuracy is one of the most sensitive indicators of accumulated fatigue, often appearing earlier than changes in functional parameters. The main implementation challenges were identified, including insufficient adaptation of platforms to the specifics of combat sports, fragmentation of data across systems, and the lack of standardized criteria for interpreting performance indicators. Conclusions. Effective use of digital platforms in kickboxing training requires a combined application model with a clear functional distribution between systems, standardized threshold guidelines for coaching decisions, and the development of coaches’ analytical competencies.