2021, Volume 17, Issue 1
Fitness profile of Oyama karate and kickboxing athletes – initial concept
Łukasz Rydzik1
1University of Physical Education in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
Author for correspondence: Łukasz Rydzik; University of Physical Education in Krakow, Kraków, Poland; email: lukasz.gne@op.pl
Full text
Abstract
Background & Study Aim: Adequate physical fitness is fundamental to the training of any athlete. Combat sports and martial arts are characterized by a variety of physical demands, which depend on the practiced style fight. Research often focuses on determining the impact of various forms of training. Therefore, the aim of this study is to knowledge about the profile of combat sports athletes classified into a homogeneous group in terms of the form of direct confrontation (i.e. hits) – Oyama karate and kickboxing.
Material & Methods: Thirty Oyama karate fighters and thirty kickboxers had their fitness tested and their body composition was determined. The indicators included strength, endurance, agility and flexibility and body composition based on weight, height, BMI index.
Results: The difference of mean BMIs in both groups of athletes was statistically significant (p = 0.045). Static strength results were between 56.60 & 58.07 kg (karatekas) and 56.47 & 56.99 kg (kickboxers). Respectively: standing long jump mean was 277.67 and 276.60 cm; the mean of number of intervals in Beep Test was 95.27 and 94.67 (VO2max: 50.86 and 50.53 ml/kg/min); agility mean was 18.88 and 18.74 s; flexibility was on average 59.80 and 62.47 cm. No statistically significant differences between karatekas and kickboxers.
Conclusions: Oyama karate and kickboxing competitors have high level of static and dynamic strength, VO2max and flexibility. Agility is the skill developed in the similar level as in other athletes. There are no significant differences in fitness profile between Oyama karate competitors and kickboxers. This means that, regardless of combat sport qualified as a form of direct confrontation in a vertical stance, allowing strikes with arms and legs, the same motor and conditioning abilities are stimulated.
Key words: martial arts, fighter, combat sports, motor skills, technique, training load
