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Browsing Research Outputs by Publisher "Archives of Budo"

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    Kinanthropometric attributes of elite South African male kata and kumite karateka
    2020
     | Archives of Budo
    Background and Study Aim: Karate performance is based on many factors, such as strength, speed and endurance. Another important factor which can affect performance is kinanthropometric attributes. The cognitive aim of this study was to increase the knowledge about kinanthropometric attributes of South African male athletes participating in karate kata and kumite between the ages of 18-65 years. Material and Methods: Kinanthropometric data was collected from 101 male karate athletes from the South African Japanese Karate Association (JKA) population. Purposeful random sampling was used to select participants. Participants’ stature, body mass, body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass, lean body mass (LBM), body mass index (BMI), skinfolds, elbow and knee breadths, bicep and calf circumferences, waist circumference, hip circumference, somatotype, cormic index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-stature ratio (WSR), sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), body surface area (BSA), conicity index, adiposity body shape index (ABSI) and body adiposity index (BAI) were assessed. Quantitative statistical methods were used as well as an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: No significant (p> 0.05) differences were found for the kata group in relation to any of the measured kinathropometric variables and across all age groups. Conversely, significant differences in the kumite group existed for all measured kinathropometric variables across all age groups (p≤ 0.000). The results indicated that there was a significant difference for calf circumference when comparing the 26-45 year-old’s in the combined group to the 46-65-year-old group (p= 0.032). Lastly, a significant difference was found in WHR when comparing the 26-45-year-old’s in the combined group to the 46-65-year-old group (p= 0.042). Conclusions: The kinanthropometric attributes of South African male national and international karate athletes between the ages of 18-65 participating in kata and kumite, are influenced by the high levels of training which they are exposed to, kinanthropometry does influence their karate performance, do have a healthy level of anthropometry and are positively affected by karate training as no kinanthropometric health risks are evident.
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    Lower-body strength, power and flexibility in karateka: implications for musculoskeletal health
    2020
     | Archives of Budo
    Background and study aim: Karate training has a long history of improving general health and wellbeing, however, little or no research has been undertaken to determine the effect of karate training on muscular fitness, lower-body strength, power and flexibility. The aim of this study was to enhance the knowledge about lower-body strength, power and flexibility of karate athletes of different levels of training and not trainees. Material and Methods: The study assessed lower-body isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strength and power, and hip and knee flexibility in a group of elite karate athletes (group 1; n= 18), active karate athletes (group 2; n= 18) and active controls not participating in karate (group 3; n= 18). Results: Physically active individuals not participating in karate have significantly (p≤ 0.05) increased hip flexion, hip extensor and hip rotation, but not hip abduction flexibility when compared to elite karateka. The elite karateka were found to have superior strength in their quadriceps at 60 and 180. sec-1 and hamstrings at 60. sec-1. The elite karateka were also found to have significantly higher quadriceps peak torque values at 60. sec-1 than the active non-karateka. For power, elite karate athletes were found to have a lower time to peak torque at 60. sec-1 for their quadriceps when compared to active karate athletes. Conclusions: The karateka display greater lower-body strength and power that their active counterparts and that the strength benefit is increasingly dependent on the level of karate experience. However, the non-karate athletes displayed improved lower-body flexibility when compared to the karateka, irrespective of level of training. This implies a possible need to supplement karate training with a flexibility-specific training program to more comprehensively improve muscular fitness.
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    Short duration high-intensity interval taekwondo training substantially improves body composition and physical fitness in previously-trained individuals: a proof-of-concept study
    2020
     | Archives of Budo
    Background and Study Aim: Professional taekwondo (TKD) athletes possess below average body fat percentages and the overall winners at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games had a lower body mass index (BMI). Further, physical fitness remains one of the main factors for success in TKD. This indicates the importance of managing body composition and physical fitness for TKD performance. This study’s aim was to generate knowledge about the effect of a fourweek high-intensity intermittent TKD and strength training conditioning program on body composition and physical fitness of South African TKD athletes. Material and Methods: Twenty male participants were randomly assigned to a low-intensity (LI)(n= 10) or high-intensity (HI)(n= 10) group. The study consisted of a four-week, five times weekly TKD training and three times weekly resistance training program. The TKD training program for the HI group consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, a 60-minute workout at 85-95% HRmax for weeks 1-2 and at 90-100% HRmax for weeks 3-4 and a 10-minute cool down. The TKD training program for the LI group consisted of a 10-minute warm-up, a 60-minute workout at 60-70% HRmax for weeks 1-2 and 70-85% HRmax for weeks 3-4. Both groups also participated in a 60-minute resistance training program for three sets of 8-10 repetitions. Results: Significant (p≤ 0.05) improvements were found in body mass (p= 0002), BMI (p= 0.004), sum of skinfolds (p= 0.006) and body fat percentage (p= 0.009) of the HI group. The LI intervention significantly decreased body fat percentage (p= 0.001), but not body mass (p= 0.056), BMI (p= 0.077), and sum of skinfolds (p= 0.820). Post-hoc analysis revealed significant differences in BMI (p= 0.022) and sum of skinfolds (p= 0.042). Significant improvements were found in sit-and-reach (p= 0.034), sit-ups (p= 0.025), push-ups (p= 0.001), horizontal jumps (p= 0.007), VO2max (p= 0.026) and agility (p= 0.037) in the HI group. No significant improvements were observed in any of the physical fitness parameters assessed in the LI group. Post-hoc analysis demonstrated significant differences in sit-and-reach (p= 0.044), sit-ups (p= 0.001), push-ups (p= 0.006), horizontal jumps (p= 0.037), VO2max (p= 0.004) and agility (p= 0.018). Conclusions: High-intensity TKD training along with resistance training can be implemented in the training regimes of TKD athletes when preparing for national and international competitions to enhance combat performance.
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