Execution time, kinetics, and kinematics of themae-gerikick: Comparison of national and international standard karate athletes

Abstract

Little is known of the performance characteristics of the shotokan karate mae-geri kick. The aim of this study was to compare the execution time, the lower limb kinetics and kinematics, and their respective repeatability in the mae-geri kick of karate athletes of two different standards. Seventeen adult black belt karate competitors (9 national and 8 international athletes) performed six kicks with their dominant lower limb on a striking surface, combining maximum force impact and velocity. Execution time of movement and lower limb kinematics were recorded with a high-speed camera. Maximum force at impact and the forces exerted on the ground were measured using three force plates. The duration of the kick was significantly shorter for international than for national standard athletes. However, no significant difference in the maximum impact force of the kick was observed between the two groups. In addition, significant kinematic differences were observed between the groups, with two angles of motion and one velocity peak occurring sooner in the kick movement for the international athletes, specifically for the knee joint. International athletes also performed the kick with a significantly higher repeatability for duration and kinematics, specifically during the pre-loading phase that precedes the attack phase. We conclude that the duration of the kick and repeatability of lower limb kinematics could be useful in selecting top-level karate athletes and monitoring their training status.

The impact of the initial stance position on lower limb joint kinetics in the taekwondo roundhouse kick

“…In the transversal plane, positive peak power is mainly generated by the muscles that cause the moment of the external rotation of the hip joint (Figure 3). Our study provides specific and complementary information supporting the findings of Pozo et al (2011), suggesting that coaches and taekwondo trainers should focus their peak power training on the muscle groups that cause the extension, adduction and external rotation of the hip joint in the stance position.…”

“…In the case of kicks, the initial stance phase could provide key information for developing optimum execution (Pozo, Bastien, & Dierick, 2011). Figure 1 shows that there is an extension angular velocity in the hip joint at the instant of the peak net power generation in the sagittal plane, and at the same time the hip joint extensors develop the extensor moment of force from each of the examined stance positions.…”

“…This guard position allows athletes to get ready for attacking and counterattacking. The stance phase (the period of time that accounts attacking foot in contact with the floor prior to take off) maintaining the guard position is one of the most important phases necessary to produce the best kick (Pozo, Bastien, & Dierick, 2011). During the kick, the short period of the execution stance time (the period of time between the instants of reaction and instant at which the kicking foot left the floor) and the high magnitude of the peak foot velocity place great demands on the production of the maximum muscle power in the roundhouse kick.…”

Diferencias en el salto vertical y la velocidad de patada mae-geri entre karatekas internacionales y nacionales

“…Por ello, las necesidades de producir fuerza a altas velocidades son elevadas pues, entre otros factores, la velocidad de ejecución de los movimientos es un criterio fundamental de puntuación en las competiciones de katas (World Karate Federation, 2013). En concreto, la fuerza explosiva del tren inferior cobra una gran relevancia en los estudios del perfil físico de los karatekas, dada la cantidad de técnicas que exigen patadas veloces y saltos elevados (Busko & Wit, 2002;Pozo, Bastien, & Dierick, 2011;ScattoneSilva, Lessi, Lobato, & Serrão, 2012;VencesBrito, Rodrigues Ferreira, Cortes, Fernandes, & PezaratCorreia, 2011;Young Kwan, Yoon Hyuk, & Shin Ja, 2011). Así, en los estudios existentes en la literatura sobre la valoración de la fuerza en karatekas es muy frecuente encontrar análisis de la capacidad de salto vertical y de la velocidad de patada (Chaabène et al, 2012;Ravier, Grappe, & Rouillon, 2004;Wong et al, 2010).…”

Characterization of kinesiological patterns of the frontal kick, mae-geri, in karate experts and non-karate practitioners

“…In karate, the few studies available in the literature on the frontal kick are focused on repeatability, in the kinetic and kinematic structure of the lower limb task or in the neuromuscular control activity in national and international athletes (Pozo, Bastien, & Dierick, 2011;Sbriccoli et al, 2010;Sforza et al, 2002), suggesting that those indicators can be used in the athletes selection.…”