Comparison of response behavior in karate kumite between real world and virtual reality

Abstract

Virtual reality is increasingly applied to support physical training and improve athletes’ performance in sports. Nevertheless, there is a research deficit in that, especially in martial arts, it has not yet been shown to what extent the response behavior of athletes in virtual reality is the same as in the real world. If this can be confirmed, a transfer of VR-adapted skills to RW can be expected and sports training in a virtual environment can be applied to improve sports performance. Since the response behavior is essential for many sports, this study compares it in karate kumite to the competition-important attack (Kizami-Zuki) of a real and a virtual opponent. Experienced karate athletes wore a head-mounted display and were asked to respond quickly and efficiently to 22 karate attacks, of which eight were Kizami Zuki’s attacks. Using a video-based movement assessment, karate experts quantified the response behavior with the parameters ‘time for response’, ‘response quality’ and ‘kind of response’. Results show no significant differences in ‘time for response’ and ‘kind of response’ between both conditions (virtual reality vs. real world). Only the ‘response quality’ was rated better in real world than in virtual reality. It is concluded that the ‘time of response’ and ‘kind of response’ for karate kumite athletes in virtual reality are similar to that in the real world.

The Use of Immersive Technologies in Karate Training: A Scoping Review

“…Τhe studies were conducted from 2018 to 2022, a finding which is in full agreement with the results of a recent bibliometric analysis [25]. Most of the studies, with regards to the main variables included, followed a quantitative methodology [20,21], [23,26,27], one followed a qualitative methodology [22], and one was a mixed-method study [24]. Most of the studies demonstrated good methodological quality in terms of design, data collection, and reporting (for more details, see Appendix A).…”

“…A summary of the key characteristics and relevant findings of each of the included articles is included in Table 4. The assessment instruments and methodologies utilized in these studies exhibited a diverse spectrum, featuring techniques such as reaction time assessments [20,21,26], motion capture technology [20,23,27], performance analysis [21,26], scoring systems [23], and qualitative evaluations [22,24]. A summary of the key characteristics and relevant findings of each of the included articles is included in Table 4.…”

“…Most studies featured a mix of male and female participants, while only one [20] did not explicitly mention the gender of the participants. Finally, most of the studies were conducted in Germany [21][22][23][24]26,27], while only one was conducted in Egypt [20]. For more information regarding demographic data, age, the number of participants, and the country of the research conduction, refer to Table 4.…”

“…Moreover, immersive systems have emerged as effective tools for assessing karate performance parameters, including response time, response quality, and the type of response [26,27]. Hybrid training approaches, combining VR experiences with conventional training methods [21,23], demonstrate the potential to maximize training benefits and enhance athletes' responses.…”

“…VR training has been utilized to improve the response behavior of karate athletes. These technologies offer a platform for athletes to practice responding to specific karate attacks, enhancing their reaction times and overall responsiveness [26,27]. More specifically, [27] found that the time of response and kind of response for karate athletes in virtual reality is like that in the real world, but response quality was better in the VR environment (p value < 0.001).…”