eBooks

Karate Kumite: How to optimize

Performance
Chapter: Physiological Characteristics of Karate Athletes and Karate-Specific
Tasks

Edited by: Helmi Chaabane

Published Date: December, 2015

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 eBooks

Physiological Characteristics of Karate Athletes

and Karate-Specific Tasks
Emerson Franchini 1*, Ibrahim Ouergui2, Helmi Chaabne 3,4
1
Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and
Sport, University of So Paulo, Brazil
2
Research Unit Sportive Performance and Physical RehabilitationHigher Institute of
Sport and Physican Education of Kef,University of Jendouba, Tunisia
3
Tunisian Research Laboratory Sport Performance Optimization Tunis, Tunisia
4
National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia

*
Corresponding author: Emerson Franchini,Martial Arts and Combat Sports
Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of So Paulo,
Brazil,Av. Prof. Mello Morais, 65, So Paulo (SP), Brazil. ZIP: 05508-030Email:
efranchini@usp.br

Abstract
Establishing the main physiological attributes of karate kumite is of high practial
relevance for coaches, strength and conditioning specialists as well as sport scientists to
better structure karate kumite training. The available scientific literature is unanimous
regarding the importance of both aerobic and ATP-PCr energy systems for optimizing
karate kumite high-level performance. The aerobic energy system guarantees the good
recovery process during periods of low-intensity movements and/or rest, whereas ATP-PCr
system is responsible for providing the required energy during periods of very short high-
intensity actions (i.e., explosive movement during attacks). In addition, official as simulated
karate kumite combats result in high cardiovascular stress with a reduced blood lactate
responses during simulated matches in comparison to official ones. Future researches that
extensively detail the physiological responses of karate practitioners during an ecological
valid environment (i.e., official kumite) are needed to boost the present findings.

Keyswords:Combat Sport; Exercise; Physiology

Introduction
Karate kumite is considered as a highly demanding physiological task [1,2]. To be
successful in this task and from a biological point of view, karatekas need to develop
several physical and physiological characteristics[3,4]. However, although these
components are relevant for competitive performance, other characteristics especially
technical-tactical-related aspects are also very important for this sport, especially
because the performance is determined by the metabolic power divided by the economy
[5]. The metabolic power is determined by the activation of the different energy systems
(ATP-PCr, glycolysis and oxidative pathways), which are activated according to the intensity

1
and duration of a given effort, as well as by the metabolic adaptations generated by the
athletes genetic characteristics and by the training stimulus exposure [5]. The economy is
determined by the efficiency with which the movement is executed, i.e., athletes with better
technical execution are able to perform the same movement with less energy expenditure
[6].
To assess the metabolic power during karate kumite, some authors [1,2] estimated the
energy system contributions during match simulations. Moreover, recent reviews [3,7]
presented the main physical and physiological characteristics of karate athletes and the
physiological responses to karate-specific tasks, including different types of training session,
official and simulated matches conducted by athletes from different competitive levels.
Concerning the physiological characteristics of karate athletes, the present chapter
will focus on those that were observed to be discriminant between winners and defeated
athletes or between elite and non-elite athletes, as a recent review can be used to assess
other information [3]. In addition, this chapter will focus, on the metabolic and hormonal
demands during simulated matches and on physiological responses (e.g., blood lactate and
heart rate) during official contests.

Physiological Profile Aerobic and Anaerobic Profile

Aerobic power and capacity are important variables to allow athletes to maintain
the intensity during the match, as well as to contribute to a faster recovery between
successive combats [3,4]. The range of VO2max values of national and international male
karate practitioners vary from 47.84.4 to 61.4 2.6 mL/kg/min, and from 32.75 4.1
to 42.91.6mL/kg/min for females [3]. However, studies comparing higher and lower
level karate athletes did not identify any significant difference between groups concerning
aerobic power [8,9]. It is important to consider that the evaluation process used in these
studies applied treadmill or cycle-ergometer tests, which are not karate-specifc exercise
modes. Thus, futures studies comparing karate athletes using specific tests, such as the
karate specific aerobic test (KSAT) [10,11] (or the Karate Specific Test (KST) [12], should
be conducted to confirm the similarity in aerobic fitness in karate athletes from different
competitive levels. For instance, Chaabne et al. [11] reported that KSAT can effectively
distinguish between karate practitioners from different competitive levels (national level vs
regional level), but this finding need to be further considered. Additionally, little is known
concerning the effects of aerobic power and capacity improvement and performance during
official karate matches.
The anaerobic power is important in the technique execution within high-intensity
attack and/or defensive actions responsible in the scores during the match, while anaerobic
capacity is considered less relevant for karate athletes as the high-intensity action duration
is very short and interspersed by long rest intervals [1,7]. As there is no karate-specific
anaerobic tests, most investigations used the Wingate test or the force-velocity test to
compare karate athletes [3]. One of these studies [13] evidenced that French national-level
karate athletes presented lower maximal power (10.9 1.5 W/kg) in the force-velocity test
compared to international-level karate athletes (12.5 1.3 W/kg). Conversely, when the same
investigators [9] compared national- and international-level karate athletes concerning their
anaerobic capacity, assessed via the maximal accumulated deficit (MAOD), no difference
was observed between them (national = 64.5 6.4 mL/kg; international = 67.8 8.0 mL/
kg). Overall, karates performance seems to be dependent on anaerobic-based power more
so than anaerobic capacity itself.

Physiological Responses During Karate-Specific Tasks

Energy Cost And Energy Systems Contributions During Karate Kumite
Only two studies [1,2] reported the total energy cost of karate kumite using methods

2
estimating the phosphagens (ATP-PCr), glycolytic and oxidative contributions. Figure 1
presents the total energy expenditure in four successive simulated kumite matches.

450
400
350
300
250
Energy cost (kJ)

200
150
100
50
0
1 2 3 4
Match
Figure 1: Energy cost of simulated karate kumite (Adapted from Beneke et al.[1]; values are mean and
standard deviation).

In these 3-min simulated kumite matches, the energy cost can be considered high as it
varied from 25.5 kcal/min to 27.7 kcal/min [1]. Additionally, Doria et al., [2] reported that
males presented higher energy cost during kumite (18.2 kcal/min) compared to females
(14.7 kcal/min).
Beneke et al., [1] detected a predominance of the oxidative system, followed by the ATP-
PCr, with a very small participation of the glycolytic system (Figure 2). Additionally, they
identified that the glycolytic system decreased its absolute contribution in the fourth match
when compared to the second one.

500 ATP-PCr Glycolytic Oxidative

450
400
350
Energy cost (kJ)

300
250
200
150
100
50 **
0
1 2 3 4
Match
** different from match two for the glycolytic system
Figure 2: Energy system contributions during four successive simulated kumite matches (Adapted from Beneke et al., [1] ;
values are mean and standard deviation).

3
 Doria et al., [2] compared male and female high-level athletes during 4-min and 3-min
simulated matches, respectively, and found only a higher oxidative total energy expenditure
for males compared to females due to the longer duration of the match for the first group
(Figure 3).
300 Males Females *
250

200
Energy cost (kJ)

150

100

50

0
ATP-PCr Glycolytic Oxidative

System
* different from females
Figure 3: Energy systems absolute contribution to simulated kumite (Adapted from Doria et al.[2] ; values are mean and
standard deviation).

Thus, the aforementioned studies, indicated a predominance of the oxidative

metabolism, although the high-intensity actions are probably sustained by the ATP-PCr
pathway, while the glycolytic contribution to the total energy expenditure during kumite
is low. Moreover, no significant differences were found between males and females for the
ATP-PCr and glycolytic pathways, but the longer duration of malesmatch resulted in higher
total oxidative participation.

Cardiovascular Responses To Karate Kumite

The oxygen uptake is considered an important marker of cardiovascular and respiratory
integration, although its measurement was conducted only in two studies [1,2] using simulated
combats. These authors observed values ranged between 34.9 3.0 ml.kg1.min1 (72% of VO2max)
[2] to 41.3 13.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 [1] confirming the high aerobic participation in this combat sport.
As oxygen uptake measurement involves sophisticated and expensive equipments, this
variable is not usually measured during karate training programs or evaluation processes.
Thus, to infer the caradiovascular responses to karate, some authors measured heart rate
responses to typical karate kumite protocols[2,1418].
Chaabne et al. [14] revealed that during official karate kumite, mean cardiovascular
responses achieved 91% 5% of heart rate peak (HRpeak) (177 14 bpm) and that elite level
karatekas spent 65% of the time exercising at HR >90% of the individual HRpeak. Moreover,
Tabben et al., [16] established that during international karate kumite, peak heart rate response
was around 1829 bpm [913% of maximal heart rate (HRmax)] with no significant difference
recorded during the three successive matches. In another research [17], the same authors
revealed that womens heart rate displayed higher values compared to their male counterpart
(74.7 1.7% HRmax vs 73.1 4.3% HRmax, respectively).
Iide et al., [18] reported that during 2-min match simulations, heart rate achieved 160
13 bpm (85 7% HRmax), which was lower than observed in 3-min match simulations (170
9 bpm; 93 4% HRmax). Thus, increasing match duration results in higher cardiovascular
stress. Confirming this assumption, Doria et al., [2] reported slightly higher values (175 5
bpm) in 4-min match simulations.

4
 Certainly, one important aspect to be considered is how much combat simulations result
in similar cardiovascular responses compared to official matches. To answer this, Chaabne
et al., [15] compared the heart rate responses to both simulated and official competition
in 10 national-level karate athletes. They reported no significant difference between the
two combats modalities for mean and peak heart rate (Figure 4), with values around 92%
HRmax.

210 Simulated Official

Heart Rate (bpm)

190

170

150

130
HR peak HR mean
Variable
Figure 4: Peak and mean heart rate response to simulated and official matches (Adapted from Chaabne et al., [15], values
are mean and standard deviation).

Thus, simulated matches are appropriate to generate similar heart heart responses
as those verified during official matches. Altogether, karate kumite event imposed high
cardiovascular stress on karate practitioners regardless of gender and type of match (official
vs simulated).

Blood Lactate Responses

Recently, Chaabne et al., [7] presented an extensive review concerning blood lactate
responses to karate kumite. The studies included in their review are presented in the Table 1.
Sample Match duration (s) Lactate (mmol/L) Authors
Simulated matches
Beneke et al. [1]
Male athletes, elite level (n = 10) 267 61a 7.7 1.9

Italian male, elite level (n = 3) 7.5 2.4 Doria et al. [2]

240
Italian female, elite level (n = 3) 10.6 4.8
120 3.1 1.0 Iide et al. [18]
Japanese male, black belt (n = 13)
180 3.4 1.0
Pre = 2.3 0.4
Brazilian male, elite level (n = 14)
Post = 5.1 1.2
Winners 180 Roschel et al. [19]
Pre = 1.8 0.6
Defeated
Post = 5.2 2.2
Official matches
Elite level during World Championship (n Arriaza [20]
Not reported 11.1 (range 7.7 to 12.7)
= 20)
Pre = 1.73 0.54
Tunisian male, elite level (n = 14) 180 Chaabne et al. [14]
Post = 11.18 2.21
Pre = before the match; post = after the match; a = taking into account the referees break. All other studies considered the
registered time

Table 1: Blood lactate responses to karate kumite (Adapted from Chaabne et al., 2015; values are mean and standard
deviation or mean and range).

As can be noted from the data presented on Table 1, a high variability is found in blood
lactate in response to kumite showing therefore a different anaerobic glycolysis contribution

5
through these studies, with mean values around 7 mmol/L in simulated combat and
around 11 mmol/L in official matches. In fact, the only study [15] that compared official and
simulated matches identified a significantly higher blood lactate after official compared to
simulated ones (Figure 5), indicating that the glycolytic participation is more elevated during
the official matches. Thus, the training process should consider this important aspect and
other studies are recommended to confirm this result.
14 Ocial Simulated *
12

10
Lactate (mmol/L)

0
Before After
Moment
* significant difference between official and simulated matches.
Figure 5: Blood lactate responses before and after simulated and official matches (Adapted from Chaabne et al., [15];
values are mean and standard deviation).

Another important aspect is to compare male and female athletes as many times
they train together and some adjustments should be made when relevant differences are
detected in physiological responses. Tabben et al., [16]compared male and female athletes
concerning blood lactate responses during international level karate competition (Figure 6).
The authors did not detect any difference between genders during these matches, suggesting
that a similar glycolytic demand is imposed on the athletes independently of their gender.
13 Female Male
12
11
10
9
Lactate (mmol/L)

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3
Match
Figure 6: Blood lactate responses to official international karate matches in male and female athletes (Adapted from Tabben
et al. [16]; values are mean and standard deviation).

6
Hormonal Responses
A recent published investigation by Chaabne et al.,[4] (Figure 7) was conducted during
successive simulated karate contests and aimed to detail the physiological stress in term
of hormonal responses [i.e., Salivary Cortisol (sC), Salivary Testosterone (sT), and salivary
testosterone/cortisol ratio (sR)]. Results from this study showed that sC post-combat 2 was
more than two fold the values recorded at pre-combat 1. Compared to sT, the percentage
of sC modification post-combat 1 and 2 was clearly higher. This observation was confirmed
by the clear decrease in the sR post-combat 1 and especially post-combat 2. Altogheter,
these results show the clear domination of the catabolic hormonal aspect during simulated
karate kumite. Another relevant point have to be stressed, which is the significant positive
correlation between blood lacate responses and sC and negative one with both sT and
sR. This constatation highlights the validity of blood lactate measure as an indicator of
karate kumites physiological stress. The results of Chaabene et al., [4] were reinforced by a
previous study of Parmigiani et al., [21] who reported a significant increase in cortisol level
between pre and post karate match (108.369.41 ng/ml vs 162.8011.09 ng/ml; p<0.001,
respectively). Further investigations during official karate kumite are highly recommended.

p<0.05: for comparison between pre and post combat 2 salivary ratio T/C
Figure 7: Salivary ratio T/C during karate competition simulation and recovery phase. (Adapted from the study of Chaabene
et al., [4],
values are mean and standard deviation)

Conclusions and Future Directions

In summary, the intermittent nature of the karate kumite effort makes the oxydative system
and the ATP-PCr systems the two main energy systems that dominate the energy release
to sustain the activities performed during the match. Karate kumite creates a high level of
cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal stress to the karate practitioners.Thus, considering
these findings, coaches, fitness trainers, and sport scientists should strictly consider the
developement of these two energy systems during their training program intervention.Howerver,
in view of the elevated contribution of the anaerobic glycosysis during official contests compared
to simulated ones [15], this energy system deserve a particular interest. In term of fitness level,
the use of specific exercices that associate both physiological stresses and technical aspects
(e.g., repeated techniques, sparring partner sessions etc...) is of great importance for karate
kumite athletes in order to ensure not only a well developed metabolic power but also a better
economy .Finally, despite the importance of data from simulated contests, and as official karate
kumite conditions remain the reference for both coaches and athletes , further researches are
needed to reinforce the available findings.

7
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