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The purpose of this study was to evaluate physiological performance parameters of the elite karate-kumite athletes via the simulated karate performance test (SKPT). Sixteen elite male karate athletes from The Turkish National Team participated in the study-(age: 23.31±4.27 years, height: 173.4±4.91cm, weight: 68.8±8.17 kg, BMI: 22.85±1.96 kg/cm 2). The SKPT protocol included 5 sets of 3 minutes simulated karate competition bouts, which included randomly timed 4 karate techniques (2 hands and 2 foot) in 7 seconds. With higher level of performance, the duration of the attacks increased whereas the rest periods shortened, but the total duration of the level remained constant (3 minutes). The blood lactate concentrations, heart rate, ventilation and oxygen consumption of the athletes were evaluated pre, mid and post SKPT. Statistically significant differences were found in all recorded parameters (p<0.05). During the simulated test peak oxygen consumption values were 41,69 ± 4,82 ml/kg/min at the 9 th minute. Whereas heart rate, ventilation and oxygen consumption decreased to warm up values at the end of recovery, blood lactate values remained elevated during the whole recovery period. In conclusion, the simulation protocol implemented in this study has been found to produce physiological strain similar to real competition and can be used for performance evaluation of elite karate athletes.

Aim: his study aimed to examine the effect of the tiredness in karate athletes, which was created with the help of a special simulation that was organized particularly to the branch in karate athletes, on the balance performance of karate athletes. Material and Methods: 16 male karate athletes were included in the study; these athletes have been doing karate for the Turkish national team and their active sports careers continue (age: 23.31±4.27 years, height: 173.4±4.91 cm, weight: 68.8±8.17 kg, BMI: 22.85±1.96 kg/cm2). Balance test was conducted for the athletes before the exercise test protocol that was prepared particularly for the karate-do sport and in the first 10 minutes and 30 minutes after the protocol ended. Results: As a result of all the parameters recorded, no statistically significant change was observed in the static balance parameters of the karate players participated in the research on their kicking feet, balancing feet and double feet, and also in their dynamic balance parameters on their double feet (p>0.05). The evaluations for the stability limits dynamic balance tests reveal that there is a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test values (of the overall balance, forward-right and forward-left data) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Consequently, it was presented that additional time is needed for karate athletes to recover their balance after bout tiredness and the given relaxation time is not enough for some dynamic balance parameters.

This study aims to determine the possible differences anthropometric characteristics and body composition profiles of elite taekwondo players with or without medals in European championships. Twenty-one black-belt elite taekwondo athletes (17.4±1.2 years) from the Turkish national team were divided into two groups, namely, medalists (MEC; n =11) and non-medalists (NmEC; n=10) in European championships. Twenty-eight anthropometric measurements including height, body mass, length, circumferences, breadth, and skinfolds were taken following the standard techniques proposed by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Body composition variables were evaluated by using skinfold thickness measurements. Results demonstrated that anthropometric and body composition, variables did not differ significantly between medalist and non-medalist taekwondo players (p>0.01). Our athletes have a low percentage of body fat and high muscle mass profile. Medalist and non-medalist elite Turkish taekwondo players in the European championships do not differ in terms of anthropometric and body composition components. They have a similar body composition profile suitable for taekwondo players and within acceptable healthy ranges. The present study assists coaches in the formulation of appropriate training programs aiming the development for managing the body composition status of players, which will be associated with high-level performance in taekwondo. Future studies should include body composition and somatotype profile inspection throughout the weight categories.

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