RESUMO
This study investigated the effect of a 10-week karate training program on the motor skill development of 5-7-year-old children new to karate with two different test batteries. A total of 28 participants were included in the study: 18 in the Karate group and 10 in the control group. The karate group was subjected to a fundamental karate training (kihon) program consisting of 90-minute sessions four days a week for ten weeks in addition to physical education classes at their schools. In contrast, the control group did not participate in any sportive activities except physical education classes in their schools. Data were collected using the Eurofit test battery and the TGMD-2 test. In the pre-post test comparison of the anthropometric measurements of the karate group, no significant difference was found in the control group. In contrast, a significant difference was obtained in height, body mass index, and body fat percentage. In the post-test analysis of the two independent groups, there were statistically significant differences in favor of the karate group regarding height and body fat percentage (p < 0.005). In the pre-post analysis of the Eurofit test and the TGMD-2 for the karate group, all parameters showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001), while the control group showed no statistical difference. After comparing the karate and control groups, the Eurofit Test and TGMD-2 post-test results showed significantly higher scores (statistically significant differences) in all parameters for the karate group. In conclusion, the study shows that the 10-week karate training program positively affected the motor development of the participating children.
RESUMO
Today, the participation of visually impaired individuals in sports activities is essential. Because the ability to move independently starts to develop with a delay in visually impaired individuals, physical activity is necessary to compensate for developmental delay, eliminate the problem of independent movement in social life by reducing obstacle perception problems, develop self-confidence, and provide regular muscle activation and motivation to move. The study investigated the effect of 6 weeks of karate (kihon) and basic movement training on balance performance in individuals with congenital visual impairment. Fifteen visually impaired individuals aged between 10 and 14 participated in the study, and three groups were formed: experiment 1, experiment 2, and the control group. After the pre-tests were taken, the experimental groups received karate and basic movement training in addition to physical education classes for 6 weeks, while the control group received only physical education classes. When the study results were examined, there were highly significant differences between the pre- and post-test values of the groups receiving karate and basic movement training. At the same time, no progress was observed in the control group. In the post-test comparison of the karate and control groups, positive significance was found in the values of the karate group. In the same way, in the post-test comparison of the basic movement training group and the control group, positive progress was made in the basic movement training group. The post-test comparison of the basic movement training and karate groups was the same. As a result, it was concluded that basic movement training and karate exercises applied for 6 weeks positively affected the balance development in visually impaired individuals aged 10-14 years. No difference was found between the exercise protocols regarding effectiveness, and no improvement was observed in individuals who did not participate in any exercise.