Repeatability and symmetry of some technical actions in italian karatekas : a comparison between kata and kumite athletes

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS. Studies were carried to integrate the evaluation of some specific karate elements (arms, legs, hip actions and coxofemoral joint flexibility) with physical fitness. Another important ability is to lead effective technical actions with either dominant or non-dominant limbs. The aim of this study was: a) to verify the repeatability of some specific evaluation tests in Italian mid-high level athletes of karate; b) to evaluate the differences between the dominant and non-dominant limbs; c) to analyze the differences between kata and kumite competitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve mid-high level karate athletes (1st Dan to 3rd Dan, six kata and six kumite specialists) volunteered for the study (Mean±SD, age 22.0±2.0 years, weight 71.0±7.1 kg, height 175.0±0.05 cm, BMI 22.9±1.3). Sterkowicz’s protocol (1) was applied to collect data regarding both dominant and non-dominant limbs, such as: i) Hip Turning Speed (HTS); ii) Speed Punches (SP); iii) Hip Flexibility Index in the kicks (HFI); iv) Rapid Kicks (RK). Each test was executed five times (test) and repeated one week later (re-test). In HTS the time needed to complete 30 hip turnings starting from the guard position was recorded. In SP, the time needed to complete 30 Kizami-Gyaku Zuki combinations (in order to alternate punches directed to the face and the body) was recorded. For the HFI, athletes performed five Mawashi-geri kicks. The the kick’s height reached by the back leg against a suspended training bag was measured, then the index was calculate as hT / hA, where hT is the average height of the five kicks and hA is the athlete’s stature. In the RK test, subjects were asked to execute 30 consecutive Mawashi-geri kicks with the front leg against a hand kicking target placed at a face level. The elapsed time from the beginning of the action (guard position) to the foot’s contact on the ground after the last kick was recorded. RESULTS No differences were found between test and re-test (ICC >.90). No differences were found between dominant and non-dominant limbs (p>0.05). No differences were found between kata and kumite athletes (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS All tests executed appear to be repeatable, then suitable to evaluate the training effects in mid-high level karate’s athletes. The practice of karate leads to a well balanced development and control of both the dominant and the non dominant limbs, then athletes are able to perform similar effective actions regardless to the guard position. Even if kata is characterized by more symmetrical actions than kumite (where scores are mainly attained by the employment of the dominant limbs) the tests proposed showed there are no differences between the two specialities.