Anthropometric and Physical Performance Profiles of Elite Karate Kumite and Kata Competitors

Abstract

Karate tournaments consist of two equally important karate disciplines: the kumite and kata competitions. Due to being based both on the distinctive selection of movement techniques and their kinematic and kinetic patterns, we hypothesized that the elite kumite and kata competitors could differ regarding their anthropometric and physical performance profiles. Thirty-one senior male karate competitors of the national karate team (kumite n = 19; kata n = 12) participated in this study. The tests applied included both the assessment of anthropometric (body height, mass and body mass index) and the following physical performance measurements: the adductor and hamstring flexibility (sideward leg splits test), speed and acceleration (20-m sprint test with 10-m acceleration time), explosive power (countermovement and standing triple jump), agility (“T”- test) and aerobic endurance (20-m multistage shuttle run test). The kumite competitors revealed a larger body size through body height (p = 0.01) and mass (p = 0.03), while the differences in body composition were non-significant. The kumite competitors also demonstrated higher acceleration (p = 0.03) and explosive power (standing triple jump; p = 0.03). A 6-7° higher flexibility of the kata competitors remained somewhat below the level of significance (p = 0.09). The findings could be interpreted by the distinctive differences in the movement techniques. Specifically, a higher explosive power could be beneficial for kumite, while both a smaller stature and higher flexibility (particularly of the lower extremity) could be important for the exceptionally low postures of the kata competitors. Although further elucidation is apparently needed, the obtained finding could be of importance for both the early selection and training of karate competitors.

Physiological Responses and Performance Analysis Difference between Official and Simulated Karate Combat Conditions

“…Since the development of tournament competitions at national and international level, karate has gained growing popularity [1, 2] . Additionally, the first scientific article dealing with karate was published in 1966 [3] .…”

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis of Body Composition in Karate Athletes Regarding The Preparatory Period // Analiza telesnog sastava karatista bioelektričnom impedansom pre i posle pripremnog perioda

“…Polish male karate athletes with similar general characteristics as our subjects ( (Gloc, Plewa, & Nowak, 2012). Koropanovski et al (2011) reported an analysis of anthropometrics and physical performance in 31 male karate competitors of the Serbian national karate team. The athletes were at similar age as our subject and had lower BMI compared to our results (24.55±2.1 kg/m 2 ).…”

“…A great number of methods have been used in order to perform accurate evaluation and valid comparison analyzes of different anthropometric indices and body composition in martial arts practitioners (Pieter, Bercades, & Kim, 2006;Amusa & Onyewadume, 2001;Koropanovski et al, 2011).…”

Comparison of Whole Body Reaction and Anticipation Reaction Time Between Kata and Kumite in Karater

“…This is due to improvements in the anticipation reaction, the better the decision-making when the match. According to [5,10] "Reaction time has been considered as a key strategy in competitive sports the which require fast reactions such as karate," not just in kumite or kata. …”