Physical and Morphological Differences between Young Elite Taekwondo and Karate Players

Abstract

The different nature of taekwondo and karate actions involves sport-specific actions with different physical demands and a typical morphological profile. The aims of the current investigation were to compare body composition and strength factors between young karate and taekwondo players and to investigate the body proportionality of each discipline. Twenty-five young taekwondo fighters (18 boys and 7 girls) and twenty-eight karate athletes (19 boys and 9 girls) volunteered for the study. A battery of anthropometric measurements were obtained for each individual (heights, weight, girths, lengths, and sum of skinfolds). Upper-body and lower-body strength were determined using the handgrip test and counter-movement jump test, respectively. In boys, significantly greater Σ 6 skinfold, wrist, and maximum thigh girth measurements were observed in taekwondo athletes (p < 0.05; d > 0.59), while karate competitors revealed larger muscle mass values (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, girls only showed significant differences with respect to anterior-posterior chest breadth, age at peak height velocity (APHV), and head girth (p < 0.05). Proportionality analysis revealed that both sexes presented lower skinfold thicknesses and breadths than the normal population. Therefore, in both disciplines, similar profiles were determined, but young karate athletes seemed to exhibit a tendency towards a more robust and compact profile with greater body strength.

Special Issue Athletes’ Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts

“…The results indicate differences in body composition and muscle strength between these two disciplines. This can help coaches and athletes better tailor their training to the specific requirements of their sport and identify the benefits of cross-training in different martial arts [31]. The sixth and final article, "Analysis of Combat in Sport JU-JITSU during the World Championships in Fighting Formula", focuses on the analysis of combat in the sport ju-jitsu during the World Championships in the fighting formula.…”