Motor determinants of fighting efficacy in Croatian youth karateka.

The aim of this paper was to identify basic and motor structures which determine the achievement of top results in karate among younger cadets. For this purpose, a set of 10 basic motor tests and a set of 5 situational motor karate tests were applied on a sample of 60 male and 51 female Croatian karateka aged 13 to 15. Different motor and specific motor structures according to gender were isolated by factor analysis. In male karateka, in the space of basic motor tests: Factor of explosive strength and/or force regulator, and Factor integrating muscle endurance, agility and speed of movement, and in female karateka: Factor integrating movement speed, leg explosiveness and agility and/or speed regulator, and Regulator of basic core strength and sprinting. In male karateka in the space of specific motor tests: Specific agility and Specific speed of kicks performance; and in female karateka: Factor integrating agility-mobility and speed of technique performance. Latent structure of fighting efficacy in karate differs according to gender. Thus, in male karateka, determination of efficacy is significantly contributed by two motor factors: specific speed of kicks performance as a specific factor and force regulator as a basic factor; and in female karateka: the first factor which integrates regulators of speed, force and agility, accompanied by the muscle tone regulator, as a basic factor, and the second factor which is responsible for specific agility and speed of technique performance as a specific factor.

Anthropological analysis of taekwondo--new methodological approach.

The aim of this research is to determine the order and importance of impacts of particular anthropological characteristics and technical and tactical competence on success in taekwondo according to opinions of top taekwondo instructors (experts). Partial objectives include analysis of metric characteristics of the measuring instrument, and determining differences between two disciplines (sparring and technical discipline of patterns) and two competition systems (WTF and ITF). In accordance with the aims, the research was conducted on a sample of respondents which consisted of 730 taekwondo instructors from 6 continents and from 69 countries (from which we selected 242 instructors), who are at different success levels in both taekwondo competition systems (styles) and two taekwondo disciplines. The respondents were divided into 3 qualitative subsamples (OST-USP-VRH) using the dependant variable of accomplished results of the instructor. In 6 languages, they electronically evaluated the impact in percentage value (%) of motor and functional skills (MOTFS), morphological characteristics (MORF), psychological profile of an athlete (PSIH), athletic intelligence (INTE) and technical and tactical competence - (TE-TA) on success in taekwondo. The analysis of metric characteristics of the constructed instrument showed a satisfactory degree of agreement (IHr) which is proportional to the level of respondent quality, i.e. it grows along with the increase in instructor quality in all analysed disciplines of both systems. Top instructors assigned the highest portion of impact on success to the motor and functional skills (MOTFS) variable: WTF-SPB=29.1, ITF-SPB=29.2, WTF-THN=35.0, ITF-THN=32.0). Statistically significant differences in opinions of instructors of different styles and disciplines were not recorded in any of the analysed variables. The only exception is the psychological profile of an athlete variable, which WTF instructors of sparring (AM=23.7%), on a significance level of p<0.01, evaluate as having a statistically significantly higher impact on success in tackwondo than WTF instructors of the technical discipline of patterns (15.4%).

Impact of biomotor dimensions on efficiency of young judoka.

The aim of this research was to identify factors of morphological and basic motor status in young judoka in prediction of fighting efficiency. The subject sample included 57 judoka aged 13 to 15, who have been involved in training process for averagely three years. The sample of predictor variables included a set of 18 variables for assessing anthropometric characteristics and a set of 12 variables for assessing basic motor abilities. Factor analysis was used to analyze the structure of morphological characteristics and basic motor abilities, and within the analysis, varimax rotation of principal components of the intercorrelation matrix was conducted. Morphological status of judoka was defined by four factors: longitudinal dimensionality of the skeleton, subcutaneous fat tissue, transverse dimensionality of the skeleton and body mass and volume. Motor status was defined by the following factors: power and coordination (force regulator) factor, movement frequency (speed regulator) factor, flexibility and balance factor and precision factor. Significant impact of morphological-motor factors on situational efficiency in judoka, i.e. success in competitions (multiple correlation was 0.86), was obtained by regression analysis. The best predictor of competition efficiency in young judoka was the factor which integrates explosive power, coordination and muscle endurance, and which is underlain with a force regulation mechanism. The second most important predictor determining fighting efficiency is the factor of movement frequency which is controlled by a speed regulator mechanism.

Morphological, motor and technical determinants of fighting efficiency of Croatian female cadet age karate athletes.

The aim of this research was to determine the significance of morphological factors, factors of basic motor and specific motor abilities, and the factors of technical efficiency, on the karate fight success in Croatian female cadet karate athletes. With this purpose, the group of 18 anthropometric measures, 10 basic motor tests, 5 situational karate motor tests, the group of 8 evaluations of 6 basic karate techniques, and 2 karate kata performances was applied on the sample of 101 Croatian karateka aged 14 to 16. Inside the morphological area, the factor analysis isolated: Body mass and volume factor, Subcutaneous fat tissue factor, Longitudinal skeleton dimensionality factor, and Transversal fist dimensionality factor; in the basic motor area: General motor efficiency factor; in the situational motor area: General specific motor efficiency factor; in the area of karate technique performance evaluation: General technical efficiency factor. After that, the application of canonical discriminative analysis determined the differences between high and lower quality karate athletes in the overall area of the isolated factors. The discriminative function showed that high quality female karate athletes compared to those of lower quality differ the most in higher technical efficiency, higher basic and specific motor efficiency, while having somewhat less fat tissue and somewhat wider wrist and fist diameter.

Predictors of fitness status on success in Taekwondo.

The aim of this research was to determine the order and importance of particular fitness status variables impact on success in taekwondo according to opinions of top taekwondo instructors (experts). Partial objectives included analysis of metric characteristics of the measuring instrument, and determining differences between two disciplines (sparring and technical discipline of patterns) and two competition systems (WTF and ITF). In accordance with the aims, the research was conducted on a subject sample which consisted of 730 taekwondo instructors from 6 continents and from 69 countries (from which we selected 242 instructors), who are at different success levels in both taekwondo competition systems (styles) and two taekwondo disciplines. The respondents were divided into 3 qualitative subsamples using a dependent variable of the instructor's accomplished results. In 6 languages, they electronically evaluated, in percentage value (%), the impact of 8 motor and functional abilities: specific strength (STR), flexibility (FLX), specific endurance (END), speed (SPE), balance (BAL), coordination (COO), agility (AGI) and accuracy (ACC). The analysis of metric characteristics of the constructed instrument showed a satisfactory degree of agreement (IIr) which is proportional to the level of respondent quality, i.e. it grows along with the increase in instructor quality in all analyzed disciplines of both systems. According to the obtained results, speed and specific endurance were ranked as the abilities which are most important for success in the sparring discipline in both competition systems (WTF and ITF), whose instructors also expressed a higher level of agreement in relation of speed and success in the technical disciplines.

Biomotor status and kinesiological education of students aged 13 to 15 years - example: karate.

The aim of this paper was to obtain information relevant for efficient selection in karate, based on comparison of biomotor status of male/female 7th and 8th grade students in primary school "Bijaci" from Kastel Novi and karate practitioners and non-practitioners (cadets) in Croatia. For this purpose, a sample was drawn of 352 primary school students (150 males and 152 females) and 50 karate practitioners (25 males and 25 females), all aged 13 to 15 years, and 2 morphological measures (body height and body mass) and a battery of 6 motor tests was used. A biomotor system which determines the situation efficacy in male and female karate practitioners was defined based on the comparison of test results of students from Kastela, Croatian karateka and Croatian standards, factor analysis of applied variables and discriminant analysis of those variables between karate athletes and students from Kastela. In male karate athletes, general motor efficacy in karate is based on explosive strength of jumping type, repetitive strength of the trunk and coordination, followed by flexibility, static strength of the arms, and movement frequency speed. In female karate athletes, integration of force, coordination, muscle tone regulation and speed is dominant for achieving success in karate. Female karate athletes use speed and fine muscle tone regulation in motor functioning more than male karate athletes, who use basic strength more.

Impact of morphological and motor dimensions on success of young male and female karateka.

The aim of this paper is to identify morphological and motor structures which determine the achievement of top results in karate in the age group of younger cadets. With this purpose, a set of 18 morphological measures and a set of 12 motor tests were used on a sample of 60 male and 51 female Croatian karateka aged 13 to 15. Different morphological structures were isolated by factor analysis according to gender. Two morphological factors in male karateka, named: ecto-mesomorphy and fat tissue. Three factors in female karateka, named: endo-mesomorphic somatotype, ecto-mesomorphic somatotype and transverse dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of the hand and wrist. Also, different motor structures were isolated by factor analysis according to gender. In male karateka: the first factor responsible for cortical regulation of movement, the second one responsible for power-force regulation and the third one named precision. In female karateka: the first factor integrating regulators of speed, force, movement structures and muscle tone with synergetic regulation, the second one responsible for energy regulation integrating core strength and sprint, and the third one named precision. Latent structure of fighting efficiency in karate differs according to gender. Two morphological factors, namely force regulator and factor of cortical regulation of movement, and one morphological factor defined as ecto-mesomorphy factor have a significant impact on determining success in male karateka. In determining fighting efficiency of young female karateka, two motor factors have significant impact, namely: the first factor integrating regulators of speed, force and agility/coordination, accompanied by regulator of muscle tone and synergetic regulation, and the second factor of basic core strength which ensures the initial energy component in technique performance, particularly of kicks. Out of all morphological factors, transverse dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of hand, significantly determines the fighting efficiency of young female karateka.

The impact of basic motor abilities on the specific motoricity performance in elite karateka.

The aim of the study was to identify motor structures that determine high performance in karate. The study included a group of 85 karateka aged 18-29 years, competing as senior category athletes within the Croatian Karate Society. A battery of 22 motor tests (9 basic motoricity tests and 13 specific motoricity tests) were used. Factor analysis of the basic motor variables pointed to the existence of three significant factors: coordination, explosive strength and movement frequency; whereas factor analysis of the specific motoricity area indicated two significant factors, i.e., factor of technical efficiency and factor of specific agility. Canonical correlation analysis showed the isolated set of basic motor factors to significantly determine both technical efficiency and specific agility-mobility of the karateka, with a predominance of the explosive strength (force) factor, followed by the speed and coordination factors.

The impact of specific motoricity on karate performance in young karateka.

The aim of the study was to assess interdependence of specific motor abilities (situation karate tests) and motor skills (karate techniques), and karate performance (fighting efficiency) in under-sixteen male karateka aged 11-12 and 13-14 years. A battery of 5 situation motor tests were applied and 6 basic elements of karate technique evaluated in a sample of 20 male karateka aged 11-12 and 20 male karateka aged 13-14 years. Three criterion variables were formed: 1) one factor as a factor of general technical efficiency in karate was isolated by factor analysis of 6 karate techniques; 2) cumulative evaluation of 2 kate as kate performance; and 3) total score assessment based on success achieved at national karate championships as contest efficiency (fighting efficiency). Regression analysis revealed the frequency of gedan barai blockade performance to be the superior predictor of technical efficiency, kate performance and contest success in karateka aged 11-12, whereas the speed of the gedan barai-jaku zuki (block-kick) combination performance and specific agility (sidewise mobility) were superior predictors of performance in karateka aged 13-14. Of the karate techniques (kicks) used, the quality of jaku zuki kick performance was the superior predictor of contest efficiency in karateka aged 11-12, and the quality of the jaku zuki-mawashi geri and kizame zuki-jaku zuki combination performance in karateka aged 13-14.

The effect of motor abilities on karate performance.

The aim of the study was to identify the motor structures that determine achievement of top results in karate. The study included a sample of 85 karateka aged 18-29 years, competing as senior category athletes of the Croatian Karate Society. Fourteen motor tests (9 basic motor tests and 5 specific motor tests) were used to assess technical efficiency; fighting efficiency was estimated on the basis of results achieved at a number of contests. Factorial analysis of the basic set of motor variables indicated the presence of three major factors of coordination, explosive strength, and movement frequency. Factorial analysis of pooled basic and specific motor variables also pointed to three major factors of speed (basic and specific), controlled power (explosive strength and specific agility), and basic coordination. Regression analysis showed the isolated basic factors to significantly determine both technical and fighting efficiency of the karateka, with the major role of the factor of explosive strength (power). Regression analysis of pooled basic and specific factors revealed the factors of controlled speed and controlled power to predominantly determine the karateka fighting and technical efficiency. In the set of tests used to assess specific motor abilities in karate, the speed of blockade, the speed of moving in multiple directions, and frequency of foot kicking were found to be the best predictors of technical efficiency, whereas the speed of moving in multiple directions, the speed of blockade, and frequency of foot kicking were the best predictors of fighting efficiency.

Motor abilities in dance structure performance in female students.

The aim of the study was to analyze the relation between motor abilities and performance in folk dances originating from the island of Hvar and modern social dances. Two groups of variables were used in a sample of 78 female students of the Teacher Training College from Split: 7 motor variables as a battery of predictors, and performance evaluation of 4 dances (2 folk dances, i.e. ciciliona and pasavijen, and 2 social dances, i.e. cha-cha-cha and rock-'n'-roll) as criterion variables. Canonical correlation analysis between the groups of variables yielded two canonical correlations of 0.94 and 0.73, with a level of significance of p<0.001. The first canonical correlation was based on marked determination of coordination and ciciliona dance, and the second one on explosive strength of the running type with below-average coordination and the cha-cha-cha, rock-'n'-roll and pasavijen dances. Regression analysis indicated the battery of motor variables used to be a good predictor of performance in all study dances, with multiple correlation of 0.93 in ciciliona, 0.84 in pasavijen, 0.75 in rock-'n'-roll and 0.73 in cha-cha-cha. In ciciliona and pasavijen, the latent dance structure is predominantly explained by coordination, in rock-'n'-roll by explosive strength, and in cha-cha-cha by explosive strength and speed. Discriminative analysis revealed the general dance performance to mostly depend on coordination, then on explosive strength, and to a lesser extent on speed (movement frequency). Dance is an irreplaceable educational tool in kinesiologic education of female students, among others for its considerable contribution to the development and maintenance of basic motor abilities.

Biomotor systems in elite junior judoists.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of motor abilities and morphological characteristics on junior judoka performance. A set of 14 morphological parameters and a set of 14 motor tests as predictor variables, and 3 variables evaluating judo performance as criteria were applied in a sample of 40 judoists aged 17 years +/-6 months. Three factors were isolated by factor analysis in morphological area: factor of muscle mass and bone volume (muscle and bone mass mesoectomorphy), factor of longitudinal skeleton dimensionality, and factor of subcutaneous adipose tissue (endomorphy). Four factors were isolated by factor analysis in motor area: factor of coordination and strength (regulated force), factor of movement frequency (speed), factor of muscular and cardiovascular endurance (endurance), and factor of tonus regulation and synergy regulation (flexibility/balance). Canonical correlation analysis between latent morphological and motor variables, and variables for assessment of competitive performance of junior judoists yielded two linear combinations, i.e. two pairs of canonical factors. Correlation in the first pair of canonical factors was underlain by the favorable impact of coordination/strength, speed, flexibility and balance, along with above-average muscle mass and bone volume, and above-average skeleton longitudinality on performance in judo. Correlation in the second pair of canonical factors was based on positive determination of above-average endurance along with moderate coordination/strength and speed, and below-average muscle mass and bone volume and skeleton longitudinality upon judo performance as expressed by the fight winning score.

Morphological structures of elite Karateka and their impact on technical and fighting efficiency.

The aim of the study was to identify the morphological structures that determine achievement of top results in karate. The study included a sample of 85 karateka competing as senior category athletes within the Croatian Karate Society, aged 18-29 years. Sixteen morphological parameters were used; technical efficiency was assessed using 8 variables, i.e. evaluation of particular karate techniques, whereas fighting efficiency was estimated on the basis of results achieved at a number of contests. Factorial analysis of morphological space revealed the presence of four major factors: factor of muscle mass, followed by skeleton transverse dimensionality, factor of skeleton longitudinal dimensionality, factor of subcutaneous adipose tissue, and factor of shoulder width determining optimal trunk proportions (athlete type) in karateka. Regression analysis showed the isolated group of morphological factors to significantly determine both technical and fighting efficiency of karate athletes. Generally, skeleton longitudinality and muscle mass, followed by skeleton transverse dimensionality were found to exert favorable effects, and adipose tissue unfavorable effects according to both criteria. Also, each individual morphological factor influenced the performance of every karate technique applied. Adipose tissue had greatest unfavorable impact, whereas shoulder width and muscle mass had favorable impact on the performance of arm techniques (kicking). Considering performance of leg techniques, skeleton longitudinality had highest favorable impact, and adipose tissue greatest unfavorable impact. Of the techniques applied, combined karate kicks, i.e. jaku zuki-mawashi geri and kizame zuki-jaku zuki were found to be the best predictors of fighting efficiency.

Integration of coordination into the morphological-motor system in male children aged 7-11 years.

The study objective was to analyze the integration of psychomotor coordination into other dimensions evaluated. Four morphologic variables (stature, body mass, forearm circumference and triceps skinfold) and 7 motor variables (hand tapping, standing jump, sit-ups, forward bow, bent arm hang, 3-min run and polygon backward) were assessed in a sample of 2205 male children (subdivided into 4 groups) aged 7-11 years, elementary school first- to fourth-graders from the Primorje - Gorski Kotar County, Republic of Croatia. Relations between the set of morphologic-motor variables and the coordination variable (of backward polygon) as a criterion were analyzed Data were processed by use of regression analysis. Study results clearly indicated the values of the criterion variable (coordination) to rise and the criterion prediction using the set of variables to improve with age. Explosive strength, movement frequency and static strength were the best positive criterion predictors, whereas body weight at age 7-10, and skeletal longitudinality and subcutaneous adipose tissue at age 10-11 were the best negative criterion predictors. Also, developmental characteristics of coordination were found to be a major determinant on programming the work in kinesiologic education of elementary school children.

Identification of biomotor structures as a precondition for programming kinesiologic education in children aged seven to nine years.

A sample consisting of 487 children (249 male and 236 female) aged 7-9 years (+/- 2 months) underwent programmed kinesiologic transformation procedures for 18 months. The morphological and motor development was followed up by use of 14 morphological and 12 motor variables at 9-month intervals. Three taxonomic analyses for each measurement time point were calculated for either sex in order to determine the initial and transitive position for each individual study subject, and to identify most homogeneous groups within the sample as a whole. Three taxonomic variables were isolated on each measurement for either sex. Study results revealed female children to undergo faster development with earlier formation of the three morphological-motor structures ranked according to their predominance: mass, i.e. ectomesomorphy, motor, and endomorphy. Entity projections upon taxonomic variables at particular measurement points clearly identified the morphological-motor variables to be addressed by general and differentiated programs of kinesiologic education in order to achieve optimal effects during the development of the child's body as a whole.