Does Physical Fitness Predict Future Karate Success? A Study in Young Female Karatekas

Abstract

Objective: To assess the discriminative ability of several fitness dimensions and anthropometric attributes for forecasting competitive success in female karate athletes. Methods: Fitness and anthropometric data from 98 female junior karatekas obtained during the training camps of the Spanish National Karate Federation between 1999 and 2012 were used. Binary logistic-regression models were built to ascertain whether the set of fitness and anthropometric variables could predict future sporting-performance levels. For this purpose, participants were classified as elite (medalist in World or European Championships in the senior category) or subelite (at least a medalist in Spanish National Championships in cadet or junior but not included in the elite group), according to the results achieved up to 2019. Results: Participants who were subsequently classified as elite karatekas showed significant differences in agility, upper- and lower-body muscle power, and general fitness in comparison with those who were classified as subelite in the senior category. A total of 57 junior female karatekas who were subsequently classified as elite (7) or subelite (50) were included in the binary logistic-regression analysis. Resultant models showed significant capacity to predict karate performance. Conclusions: Assessing physical fitness in junior categories can be a useful resource to determine future karate success. Coaches in this sport should pay special attention to the levels of muscle power and agility shown by their athletes, as both fitness dimensions could be indicators of future sportive success.

Effects of 4 Weeks of a Technique-Specific Protocol with High-Intensity Intervals on General and Specific Physical Fitness in Taekwondo Athletes: An Inter-Individual Analysis

“…In other agility tests-specifically change of direction as assessed by the T-test-significant increases in performance are also reported four weeks following the application of repeated four-week sprint-based HIIT protocols in taekwondo athletes [9]. Consequently, agility is considered a relevant complex skill in combat sports and a prerequisite in taekwondo for success in high performance, enabling technical-tactical movements in multiplanar directions [23,38]. This skill is characterised by the ability to maintain and control body position correctly while rapidly changing position through a series of movements [23].…”

Morphological and Motor Fitness Determinants of Shotokan Karate Performance

“…Achieving championship-level performance requires undertaking long-term training to ensure the body is properly, morphologically and physiologically, conditioned. Successful performance in karate is known to depend on many factors, such as the competitor’s somatic build, fitness, level of technical preparation and mental state [ 4 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Anthropometric and fitness normative values for young karatekas

“…Reference fitness values are a great help for conditioning trainers, coaches and sports scientists, since they provide valuable information for orientating the training process [ 7 ] and for selecting the best young people in talent identification programmes [ 8 ]. Physical fitness data of young competitors are available for several sport modalities, ranging from the less well-known disciplines, such as canoeing and kayaking [ 9 ], to the most popular ones, such as football [ 10 ].…”