Top-level para-karate: kata competition performance analysis

Abstract

Purpose:Para-karate has been gaining popularity at a rapid pace; however, it appears that there is currently limited scientific research on the subject. This study aims to examine the preference of katas performed at para-karate top-level events and investigate a connection between the sport class (type of impairment) and the kata selection. Methods:Data includes information on katas from 9 events- 4 World Para-karate Championships (2016, 2018, 2021, 2023) and 5 European Para-Karate Championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023). Altogether 906 katas were performed - 567 by males, 339 by females. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results:During the competition, top para-karate athletes used 61% of the official WKF kata list (62 katas out of 102). The most popular katas were Gojushiho Sho (selected in 19.9% of all performances), Unsu (11.5%), Kanku Sho (9.5%), Suparinpei (6.7%), Jion (6.2%) and others. There was a significant relationship between sport class and the selected katas (p≤0.05). For K30 the most popular kata was Unsu (15%), and for K10 and K21+K22 Gojushiho Sho (16.6% and 30.3% respectively). Conclusions: The choice of kata for para-karate athletes depends on their impairment, severity of the impairment, and years of experience. Most intellectually impaired athletes individually used only one and the most challenging type of kata for them with a proven lower fast-slow ratio of movement to succeed.