Physical and Physiological Profile of Elite Karate Athletes

Abstract

This review focuses on the most important physical and physiological characteristics of karate athletes from the available scientific research. It has been established that karate's top-level performers require a high fitness level. Top-level male karate athletes are typified by low body fat and mesomorphic-ectomorphic somatotype characteristics. Studies dealing with body composition and somatotype of females are scarce. Aerobic capacity has been reported to play a major role in karate performance. It prevents fatigue during training and ensures the recovery processes during rest periods between two subsequent bouts of fighting activity within a fight and between two consecutive matches. It has been established that there is no significant difference between male and female kata (forms) and kumite (sparring/combat) athletes with regard to aerobic performance. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to support these findings. Concerning anaerobic performance, there is a difference in maximal power explored by the force-velocity test between national and international level karatekas (karate practitioners) but, for the maximum accumulated oxygen deficit test there is no difference between them. Muscle explosive power plays a vital role in a karateka's capacity for high-level performance. However, it has been revealed that vertical jump performance, maximal power and maximal velocity differed between national- and international-level karatekas. Moreover, it has been reported that karate performance relies more on muscle power at lower loads rather than higher ones. Thus, karate's decisive actions are essentially dependent on muscle explosive power in both the upper and lower limbs. With regard to dynamic strength, limited research has been conducted. The maximal absolute bench press, half-squat one-repetition maximum and performance of isokinetic tasks differed significantly between highly competitive and novice male karatekas. Studies on female karate athletes do not exist. Concerning flexibility, which is important for the execution of high kicks and adequate range of action at high speeds, it has been demonstrated that karate athletes' ranges of bilateral hip and knee flexion are greater compared with non-karate athletes. Finally, reaction time is a crucial element in karate because high-level performance is based essentially on explosive techniques. A significant difference in the choice reaction time between high-level and novice karatekas exists. Further research is needed concerning the physiological characteristics of female karatekas, the differences between kata and kumite athletes and variations based on weight categories.

The effects of different doses of caffeine on performance, rating of perceived exertion and pain perception in teenagers female karate athletes

“…Karate requires a high level of physical, physiological, complex technical skills, and tactical excellence for success (Tabben et al, 2013). The physiological characteristics of athletes are generally measured by testing their fitness and skill components (Chaabène et al, 2012). The fitness components usually include aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and speed (Chaabène et al, 2012;Tabben et al, 2013).…”

“…The physiological characteristics of athletes are generally measured by testing their fitness and skill components (Chaabène et al, 2012). The fitness components usually include aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and speed (Chaabène et al, 2012;Tabben et al, 2013). Modern karate consists of numerous repetitions of high intensity actions per fight lasting 1-3s each, separated by low-intensity hopping-stepping movements (18±6 s,) and short referees breaks (9±6 s) (Tabben et al, 2013).…”

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

“…Estos resultados concuerdan con los de otros autores que comprobaron que los karatekas de nivel internacional tienen mayores valores de salto vertical CMJ y velocidad de patada que los de menor nivel competitivo (Chaabène et al, 2012;Pozo et al, 2011). Es más, los niveles de salto vertical alcanzados por los participantes de nuestro estudio (46.4 cm de promedio) son incluso superiores a los de atletas de alto nivel de una especialidad tan explosiva como el 400 metros vallas (Balsalobre-Fernández et al, 2013).…”

“…Las características de la competición de kata en karate exigen a los deportistas unos niveles de condición física elevados, en especial en lo relativo a la producción de potencia anaeróbica (Chaabène, Hachana, Franchini, Mkaouer, & Chamari, 2012). 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). Por una parte, la evaluación del salto vertical constituye uno de los métodos de valoración de la fuerza explosiva de miembros inferiores más usados en multitud de especialidades deportivas dada su capacidad de detectar estados de fatiga y efectos del entrenamiento (Balsalobre-Fernández, Tejero-González, Campo-Vecino, & Alonso-Curiel, 2013;Gorostiaga et al, 2004;Jiménez-Reyes & González-Badillo, 2011;Sanchez-Medina & González-Badillo, 2011).…”