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.

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.