engleski

Frequency of throws in elite karate fighters

Background: Recent changes in karate rules have led to new goals in the field of karate training. The introduction of new ipon, nihon and sanbon point system resulted in new styles of karate combat and particularly influenced the structural complexity of competitive discipline kumite. Structural characteristics of karate are classified in six basic groups. Throws (nage waza) in combination with punches (tsuki) carry the most points. Tactical variant of throwing and sweeping are most frequently used as a counterattack technique for interception and front foot sweep, a combination element in unrealized techniques of foot attacks (extended attack), a throwing technique in unrealized individual techniques or combinations in both attack or counterattack phases, for shortening the distance in cases the other techniques are not applicable and for entering the clinch. Since the previous studies have not provided a sufficient insight regarding the use of throwing techniques in elite karate fighters, there is a need to define such parameters in order to successfully implement training processes in karate. Materials and methods:Population and sample entity-The sample was comprised of the total of 274 competitors who took part in 137 matches. Each individual competitor was observed in maximum of three matches. All of the competitors were seniors - male, older than 18 years, participants of the 19th World Karate Championship, which took place in Tokyo in 2008. The competitors originated from 97 countries from five continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe). Sample variables-The sample variables in this study were descriptive technique and tactics variables Nage waza-tsuki (NWTS_nn, NWT_bn, NWT_nk, NWT_bk) divided into individual non-scoring attack techniques (“TEH”nn), individual scoring attack techniques (˝TEH˝bn), individual non-scoring counterattack techniques (˝TEH˝nk) and individual scoring counterattack techniques (˝TEH˝bk). Methods of data analysis: The data was extracted through the analysis of the digital records of 274 karate combats which took place during the 2008 World Karate Championship in Tokyo. All the matches were recorded using a Samsung digital DVD camera. The data was officially recorded by three trained and experienced evaluators from Combat Sports Department of University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology. The evaluators have observed each fight according to the interobserver agreement. The criteria for the registration of each technique (frequency) were: • Scoring technique (realized) represents every technique marked by the judge • Non-scoring technique (unrealized) represents every technique which was not marked by the judge, and which was performed in a full range of motion • Attacking technique represents every technique performed prior to the reaction of the opponent • Counterattacking technique represents every technique performed after, or as a reaction, to the opponent’s attack. The reliability of the evaluators was very high (kappa coefficient 0.94). The analysis included the frequencies of techniques in order to estimate the individual indicators of the technical and tactical activities. The registration of situational indicators was carried out with the help of specialized software package DARTFISH 4.5.2.0. The data were verified for consistency and entered into a program for statistical data analysis Statistics 7 (StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, USA). Results:The results indicate that the nage waza tsuki technique in the overall technique frequency appears as: non-scoring attack technique – NWTnn (176 recurrences – 3.79%), scoring attack technique – NWTbn (4 recurrences - 0.02%), non-scoring counterattack technique – NWTnk (85 recurrences – 1.83%) and scoring counterattack technique – NWTbk (7 recurrences – 0.15%). In total technique frequency in elite karate matches throwing techniques are represented with 5.79%. Conclusion:This rate of nage waza tsuki technique in the total karate technique frequency can be explained by its highest point value (sanbon). Considering this, together with the certain attractiveness of this combination, it is still underrepresented in the total terms of frequency in a karate match. The reason behind this can be found in the very high biomechanical complexity of this combination. In addition to the high complexity, there is a great risk of rapid counterattacks by the opponent. Consequently, the analysis of the most frequent techniques suggests that the competitors in the World Cup did not want to take unnecessary risks and perform these type of techniques. Such low frequency, together with high biomechanical and training complexity, brings into question the continued existence of nage waza tsuki and other foot techniques in a karate match. Conversely, there is a great potential for increasing the frequency and efficiency of naga waza tsuki technique, which would further increase the attractiveness of karate matches.

Karate ; Judo ; Throwing techniques

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