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<p>Thirty male senior <em>kata</em> athletes representing the karate styles <em>Shotokan </em>(<em>n</em>=10), <em>Gojuryu </em>(<em>n</em>=10)<em> </em>and <em>Shitoryu </em>(<em>n</em>=10), were recruited to verify their neuromuscular response to a simulated competition comprised of five different successive <em>kata</em>. They executed the medicine ball throw test and the countermovement jump test in two days, a control and a <em>kata</em> condition. For the upper-body muscle power, there was an effect of moment (F_9,486 = 3.55, <em>p</em> ˂ 0001, η_p² = 0.062, medium) with higher values pre 1 compared to pre 5 (<em>p</em> ˂ 0.001; <em>d = </em>0.31, small). For the lower-body muscle power, there was a moment and condition interaction effect, with higher values pre <em>kata </em>1 compared to pre <em>kata</em> 3 (<em>p</em> = 0.002; <em>d = </em>0.34, small) and pre <em>kata</em> 5 (<em>p </em>˂ 0.001; <em>d = </em>0.41, small). Conversely, higher values post <em>kata</em> 5 compared to pre <em>kata</em> 5 (<em>p</em> ˂ 0.001; <em>d = </em>0.31, small). There was no interaction among moment, style and condition. The <em>kata</em> simulated competition did not affected the upper-body power performance but the athletes started the third and fifth <em>kata</em> executions with reduced lower-body muscle power. Conversely there was an improvement in legs muscle power after <em>kata</em> 5 comparing to the pre <em>kata</em> 5. These results provide important information about the category and how the athletes are affected during a simulated competition.</p>

PurposeThe main aim of the study was to describe the key factors involved in the preparation process of the Brazilian bronze medal kata team for the 2019 Pan American Games, focusing on the athletes’ perceptions.MethodsThree male athletes from the Brazilian team performed a semistructured interview to identify the following topics: specific time for preparation, training organization, supplementary support, and perception and suggestion about the efficiency of the preparation process.ResultsData from interviews were gathered and coded, and the major themes were summarized as follows after performing content analysis of the data: (a) technical and tactical training took the major part of the preparation; (b) the high level of the coaches helped the team to reach the technical quality of the kata; (c) better psychological support during the preparation could improve the athletes’ performance during the training and competition; and (d) the lack of financial support compromised the commitment of the athletes during the training routine.ConclusionWe concluded, based on the athletes’ perception, that the most positive factor during preparation for a major competition was the high amount of time focused on technical-tactical training. Even with limitations to performing the physical training, the athletes recognized the importance of the physical component, to increase performance. Financial and psychological support could have helped the team to reach a better result (gold medal) attenuating the training distress.