Effects of Basic Karate Exercises on Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Sedentary Collegiate Women

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the chronic effects of practicing 30 min of basic karate exercises (BKEs) for 10 weeks on maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) in sedentary collegiate women who had no previous karate experience. The secondary purpose of this study was to investigate physiological responses and intensities of BKEs to examine the intensity of exercise. Nine women practiced 30 min of BKEs, 4 days·week −1 , for 10 weeks.The six other women acted as controls. The 30 min of BKEs consisted of 9 min of stationary basics in a parallel stance (S-Basics I), 12 min of stationary basics in a front stance (S-Basics II), and 9 min of movement basics in the front stance (M-Basics). For S-Basics I, the mean percent of maximumVO 2 reserve (%VO 2 R) was much lower than the accepted threshold, while the mean percent of maximum heart rate reserve (%HRR) was slightly lower than the accepted threshold for increasingVO 2 max, i.e., 40% oḟ VO 2 R or HRR. For S-Basics II, the mean %VO 2 R was marginal, while the mean %HRR was above the accepted threshold for increasingVO 2 max.

Health-related physical fitness in martial arts and combat sports practitioners

“…In the ''martial fitness'' study project, Tsang et al [18][19][20] investigated the effects of 6-month kung-fu training compared to a placebo condition (tai-chi-chuan practice) in overweight/obese adolescents and found that kung-fu training improved submaximal cardiovascular fitness, lower-body muscle endurance, and muscle velocity compared to the placebo/tai-chi-chuan practice condition [20], although attenuation of expected gains due to growth and maturation in whole body and abdominal adiposity was observed in both groups over the training period [18] and no superior effect of kung-fu practice was found over the placebo/taichi-chuan group concerning metabolic outcomes (e.g., fasting insulin, insulin resistance, lipids, glucose, HbA1c and C-reactive protein) [19]. In addition, Yoshimura and Imamura [17] reported that 10 weeks of a basic 30-min karate program conducted four times per week increased maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 max) in females compared to a control group. However, no studies were found analyzing the effects of martial arts training on healthrelated fitness in adult male practitioners.…”

“…Physical fitness is an important aspect for general health and physical activity is recommended for adults to improve body composition, strength, strength endurance, cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility [6]. In the last decades martial arts and combat sports have attracted people also interested in health-related physical fitness, but only a few studies investigated the impact of martial arts practice on changes in health-related fitness [17][18][19][20]. In the ''martial fitness'' study project, Tsang et al [18][19][20] investigated the effects of 6-month kung-fu training compared to a placebo condition (tai-chi-chuan practice) in overweight/obese adolescents and found that kung-fu training improved submaximal cardiovascular fitness, lower-body muscle endurance, and muscle velocity compared to the placebo/tai-chi-chuan practice condition [20], although attenuation of expected gains due to growth and maturation in whole body and abdominal adiposity was observed in both groups over the training period [18] and no superior effect of kung-fu practice was found over the placebo/taichi-chuan group concerning metabolic outcomes (e.g., fasting insulin, insulin resistance, lipids, glucose, HbA1c and C-reactive protein) [19].…”

The effects of five weeks of kickboxing training on physical fitness

“…Therefore, some studies 6,22,23 demonstrated that combat sports' training did not show any aerobic improvement, while Toskovic et al 24 showed that dynamic taekwondo workout can be a suitable exercise for enhancing aerobic fitness and therefore can be appropriately prescribed for cardiovascular conditioning. Similarly, Yoshimura and Imamura 13 showed that 30-min of basic karate training during 10-weeks can be an appropriate method for enhancing cardiovascular fitness. Recently, Haddad et al 25 have shown that performing repeated taekwondo specific skills increased HR to the same level, and were perceived as producing the same training intensity as did short-duration interval running in adolescent TKD athletes to enhance aerobic fitness.…”

“…Tsang et al 12 reported that three 1-hour kung-fu session per week during half an year did not result in significant different impact over healthrelated anthropometric variables and body fat (estimated via Dexa) compared to tai-chi-chuan "placebo" group. Conversely, Yoshimura and Imamura 13 reported absolute and relative VO2MAX increases in women taking part in a 30-min basic karate session conducted four times per week during 10 weeks. However, no change was observed in the control group.…”

“…Most of these studies reported that martial arts and combat sports training involved a significant improvement in physical and motor abilities. However, only a few longitudinal studies confirmed its benefits to health-related physical fitness variables 12,13 . Tsang et al 12 reported that three 1-hour kung-fu session per week during half an year did not result in significant different impact over healthrelated anthropometric variables and body fat (estimated via Dexa) compared to tai-chi-chuan "placebo" group.…”