Karate

Introduction: Intense exercise is known to cause temporary impairments in immune function. Few studies, however, have investigated the effects of intense competitive sports on immunoendocrine variables in athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effect of sport competition on responses of salivary immunoglobolin A (sIgA), cortisol and their relationships in adolescent karateka.

Materials & methods: Ten boys karateka with average ages of 13.1±.9 yr, weight: 58±9.7 kg, and body mass index: 20.3±2.4 kg/m2, that acceded to final competition of Ilam province were selected as subjects of this study. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected to measure sIgA and cortisol levels with ELISA method before, immediately and 2 hours after competition. In order to analyze the data, Shapiro-Wilk, analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements, Bonferroni and Pearson’s correlation tests at the significant level of p<0.05 were utilized.

Findings: The sIgA level of adolescent karateka significantly decreased immediately in comparison with before competition (p=0.002), and increased significantly 2 hours after in comparison with immediately after competition (p=0.04). Also, the cortisol level of adolscent karateka increased significantly immediately (p=0.004), and 2 hours after in comparison with before the competition (p=0.038). In addition, there were no significant relationships between changes in sIgA and cortisol immediately (r=-0.47, p=0.16) and 2 hours (r=-0.36, p=0.22) after competition.

Discusion & Conclusions: This results indicated that, official karate competition maybe with stimulating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, causes increase in cortisol level and decrease of sIgA. It is concluded that, participant in karate competition suppressed mucousal immune system and enhanced possible risk of upper respiratory tract infection. Therefore, it could be necessary to take protective actions to minimize contact with pathogens or even reduce the training load for athletes.

On the 5 of February 2016, the Martial Arts Studies Research Network held its first one-day seminar, on the theme of gender issues in theory and practice. Hosted by the University of Brighton, the day drew around 30 delegates, including academics from various fields of study and martial arts practitioners from a range of styles. The day featured discussion on a number of themes on the topic of gender; while a short summary of these can be found here, this report focuses on the key points raised by delegates during the first of two plenary sessions, addressing the ways in which clubs and gyms might best improve women’s and girls’ involvement in martial arts and combat sports (MACS).

In a good competition you bring out the best in each other. You want to beat your opponent when she is at her strongest; this is one aspect of sportsmanship. In popular games (e.g. football) we have been observing for more than a century that the ‘winning attitude’ (winning at all cost) has gained greater acceptance, to the detriment of the notion of sportsmanship. Players frequently fall down in the penalty area (simulation); they argue with the referee (disputing decisions), attempt to intimidate the referee (by squaring up to them), or they commit strategic fouls. All of this subverts the ‘good contest’.

[See video here: https://miroslavimbrisevic.wordpress.com/talks/]

The TV series ‘Cobra Kai’ brings up some interesting philosophical and practical questions about the teaching of martial arts (MA). I will reflect on these questions and try to come up with some answers. We are presented with two styles of teaching. One is hard and aggressive (Johnny Lawrence from Cobra Kai), the other soft and empathic (Daniel LaRusso from Miyagi Do).
The Karate competition invites the following questions: Is it ok to fight dirty, if this gives you victory? Can you use the rules strategically? Can you break the rules to gain an advantage? Isn’t it a hollow victory when you target a pre-existing injury of your opponent deliberately? In a good competition you bring out the best in each other. ‘You want to beat your opponent when s/he is at her/his strongest.’ This reflects the tension in MA teaching whenever there is a sports side (competition). Winning at all cost will be in conflict with MA values: winning honourably, exhibiting indomitable spirit, etc.

A correction to the trees given in Part one of the summaries of  the 1995 Basic Instructors Course.
The Course was in Hebrew. Certain Hebrew vowels can be confused (o/u, i/e/a) so there were a few names misspelled.
In addition, there was an error for one of the karate men (Gusukuma)  ans a few names were added, birth and death dates were also added.

This chart is Appendix D "The Evolution of Karate" of my thesis "What is so Japanese about Shotokan Karate-Do? : Protection of Cultural Identity and Economic Rights in the Global Sphere", see link below.

In this paper it is shown the kinematics and dynamics analysis of karate techniques by a digital movie camera. This method is very easy to use with student of High School and it allows them to improve their physical insight and problem solving skills, helps them to understand the difference between the theoretical model and the real system.

In this paper it is shown a simple didactic experiment for position measurement of human body barycentre. This method is very easy to use with student of High School. The experimental activities of measurement of human body barycentre position has been performed in the Physics of Karate Project at “Fermi ” High School of Ragusa, thanks to the collaborations of the Physics and Astronomy Department of Catania and Dojo Karate-do Shotokan.

تأثير تدريبات الهيل ( Hill ) وحلقة السرعة على تطوير بعض
المتغيرات المرتبطة بالمهارات التكتيكية الخاص
بلاعبات القتال الفعلى فى الكاراتيه

* أ. م . د/ صفاء صالح حسين

    يهدف هذا البحث إلى تصميم مجموعة تدريبات خاصة بإستخدام تدريبات الهيل وحلقة السرعة للاعبات الكومتيه فى رياضة الكاراتيه لمحاولة التعرف على تأثير التدريبات المقترحة على بعض القدرات الحس حركية والوظيفية والبدنية الخاصة لدى لاعبات الكومتيه فى الكاراتيه وقد أستخدمت الباحثة المنهج التجريبى بتصميم المجموعة الواحدة ، وبلغ حجم العينة الأساسية 14 لاعبة من لاعبات الكومتيه بفريق الجامعة وكانت أهم النتائج فاعلية كلا من تدريبات حلقة السرعة وتدريبات الهيل فى جميع أختبارات السرعة ( سرعة رد الفعل –سرعة الأداء – سرعة تنفيذ الهجمة ) وأيضاً تحسن فى مستوى القوة المميزة بالسرعة وفعالية النشاط الخططى لدى لاعبات الكومتيه فى رياضة الكاراتيه  .

This volume presents a wide-reaching overview of contemporary research and scholarship on women's engagement in a range of combat sports across the world. Including chapters on boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts, and various other fighting disciplines, the collection provides readers with a comprehensive analysis of the current significance of women's involvement in these sports, as well as charting many of the problems and opportunities they face in establishing and developing careers within them.

With contributions drawing from anthropology, phenomenology, philosophy, sociology, and sport psychology, this book will appeal to readers interested in the development of women's sport; the relationship between sport and gender; and the wider, contemporary social significance of combat sports around the world.

To view the table of contents and read a sample chapter online, please click here: http://www.palgrave.com/resources/sample-chapters/9781137439352_sample.pdf

This volume presents a wide-reaching overview of contemporary research and scholarship on women&#39;s engagement in a range of combat sports across the world. Including chapters on boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts, and various other fighting disciplines, the collection provides readers with a comprehensive analysis of the current significance of women&#39;s involvement in these sports, as well as charting many of the problems and opportunities they face in establishing and developing careers within them. With contributions drawing from anthropology, phenomenology, philosophy, sociology, and sport psychology, this book will appeal to readers interested in the development of women&#39;s sport; the relationship between sport and gender; and the wider, contemporary social significance of combat sports around the world.

The aim of this study was to survey the relationship between Q-angle and non-contact injuries of lower extremity in male karate players. Out of 288 male karate players (Kumite) with black belt or higher in 6 professional karate clubs in Kerman, 45 karate players who had lower extremity injuries participated in this research. Injury data were collected via data collecting forms and Q angle was measured with a goniometer in supine position. To analyze data, t – student test, Spearman correlation coefficient and Chi – square test were used (P<0.05). The results showed that injuries were most commonly located in knee (62.2%), occured in training (82.3%) and the severity of injuries in most cases was reported as minor (57.8%). Likewise, the results showed that the Q angle in the right leg in 46.7% of subjects was higher and in 24.4% was lower while in the left leg in 31.1% of subjects was higher and in 24.4% was lower. Data analysis with t – test showed a significant difference in non-contact injuries of lower extremity between the two groups with normal and abnormal Q angle, and Spearman correlation coefficient demonstrated no significant relationship in Q angle between right and left legs. Moreover, Chi – square test showed that despite high percent of abnormality of Q angle, there was no significant difference between Q angle and severity of injury (P<0.05). Results of this study showed that abnormal quadriceps angle (Q angle) may affect non-contact injuries of the lower extremity in male karate players.

Los deportes de combate son actividades regidas mayormente por un pensamiento empírico, producto de su tradicionalidad que data de miles de años de historia. En la actualidad, los elevados estándares del Alto Rendimiento demandan nuevos abordajes que integren los conocimientos provistos por la ciencia, en busca de obtener mayores resultados con los entrenamientos sobre las habilidades de los atletas. En el presente artículo se llevó a cabo una revisión narrativa con el objetivo de aclarar cuáles son los temas que inciden sobre la potencia de golpeo en deportes de combate y el abordaje más apropiado para su mejora.

חוברת זו כוללת נושאים שונים שנלמדו בקורס  מדריכי קראטה בשיתוף עם מכון וינגייט שנערך לחניכי  עמותת שוטוקאן ריו ישראל, בחודשים מאי - אוגוסט, 1995.
הנושאים המופיעים  בחוברת  נרשמו מהלך ההרצאות והאימונים  של סנסיי איזידור פלד.
הערות:
1)  החומר מובא כפי שנרשם, יתכנו בו טעויות 
2)בתוכן ובכן בנספחים יתכנו טעויות בהפניה לעמודים. הטעויות יתוקנו בהמשך

The effect of using PowerPoint presentations in learning karate information on cognitive achievement and some psychological variables
Safaa Saleh Hussen
Faculty of physical education for girls – Zagazig University -Egypt
Background
Multimedia presentations (PowerPoint) are widely used in e-learning environments. Learning material is often presented with text, audio, video, and static pictures, whereby same information is sometimes repeatedly presented by different media.
This study aim to investigate the effects of PowerPoint presentations on the efficiency of learning karate information (Cognitive Achievement) (i.e. information on history of karate, Benefits in Learning Karate, the definition of karate, and Instructions of Performance of basic skills) and some psychological variables (attention focus - the ability to imagine), learning efficiency.
Materials and Methods
the researcher using the experimental method by the same group with pre and post measurement, Sample was selected in the manner deliberate search of karate student in the third year in the Faculty of physical Education – Zagazig university and a sample had amounted to (25) student, their ages arranged from 19 to 21years, I used “stopwatch to measure time, some axes of psychological skills Test, Cognitive achievement test, learning efficiency, PowerPoint slides” in this study. The implementation of the proposed PowerPoint has been applied one time weekly (60 Minutes), for five weeks.
Results
Table 1, there were significant differences in psychological variables and cognitive achievement between pre and post measuring
Variables Pre-training Post-training T test
M ( SD ) M ( SD )
The ability to imagine 11.48 4.44 17.32 3.78 5.02*
The ability to focus attention 7.76 3.21 13.4 3.71 5.57*
cognitive achievement 4.6 2.5 8.76 13.00 10.06*
Is clear from Table (1) the existence of statistically significant differences in psychological variables and cognitive achievement for the post measuring
Discussion & Conclusion
The present results showed that using PowerPoint presentations should enable learners to process information easily and quickly and this is Indicate significant differences between pre and post measurements in Cognitive Achievement, learning efficiency and improved in the psychological variables.

La mayoría de las acciones realizadas en Deportes de Combate requieren que los atletas lleven a cabo gestos que demandarían niveles de movilidad por encima de la media.
A lo largo del presente artículo se presentará una mirada integradora, en donde se buscará ofrecer al lector de una serie de herramientas para una implementación segura y eficaz de los entrenamientos asociados a la mejora de la flexibilidad en Deportes de Combate.

Kickboks spor dalı hem tatemi üzerinde hem de ring üzerinde icra edilen oyun kuralları ve enerji metabolizması açısından zorluklar içeren bir spor branşıdır. Bu bağlamda sporcuların rakiplerine üstünlük sağlama- sı açısından yüksek performans sergilemeleri gerekmektedir. Core bölge- si özellikle alt ve üst ekstremite’nin eşit ve dengeli olarak kullanılması gereken aktivitelerde sporcuların performansları üzerinde önemli etkileri olduğu bilinmektedir.

Background & Study Aim: In recent years, physiological testing in karate has been focused on the specific characteristics of this sport. Some of the tests in karate have their intensity close to competitive bouts, but do not simulate competitive conditions, while other tests simulate a competitive workload, but their intensity is not pre-determined. The aim of this study was to create a model of programmed kumite, which includes the techniques most often used in competitions, and which has a pre-determined intensity close to that employed under competitive conditions.

Material & Methods: This study included 14 men (18-29 years old), who were members of the Bulgarian national team in Shotokan karate, competing in the kumite discipline. The study was conducted in two stages: 1) in competitive conditions during the National Championships, when capillary blood lactate concentration was determined after each bout; 2) in training conditions when the programmed kumite was performed. Heart rate was registered and blood lactate concentration was determined before and after the programmed kumite.

Results: The lactate concentration increased progressively in each bout under competitive conditions. After performing the programmed kumite, the lactate concentration did not differ significantly from the one after the first bout in competition, and heart rate remained nearly constant throughout the workload with a mean heart rate of 168.7 bpm.

Conclusions: The programmed kumite model has an intensity which is close to bouts under competitive conditions, and can be used as a specific pre-competition test in the conditioning preparation of karate practitioners.

The aim of this critical review was to discuss performance analysis characteristics
and particular physiological demands related to karate kata and kumite.
News. — The intermittent nature of karate has been revealed via kumite’s time-motion analysis,
with a 1:1.5 effort-pause ratio during official competition. Karate combat is mainly dependent
on the aerobic metabolism. However, decisive actions’ energy is provided by the anaerobic
system. Concerning kata, it seems that the fraction of the energy supply is mainly a function
of kata’s duration. The high-energy phosphate seems to be the major contributors while the
aerobic energy system’ participation rises with the increased kata’s duration.Prospects and projects. — Future investigations in an ecologically valid environment are neededto support the findings presented in the current review.Conclusion. — Irrespective of karate’s discipline, the aerobic system represents the main energysystem, especially in longer kata. Kumite appears to demand much higher metabolic powerthan kata, regardless of gender, while kata appears to require more ATP-PCr energy systemcontribution than kumite.

This paper explains why genuine Okinawa karate provides effective combat techniques, superior to Japanese karate derivations, where mainly fencing moves with 'tagging contact' were created for sports-karate purposes.

In Okinawan karate techniques were not altered for centuries; and once battle-and street-fight proven, kata remained essentially unchanged.

Kata changes, as implemented over the last few decades, may eliminate a 'hidden concept', a secret fatal technique, which was not broadly communicated by Okinawan masters to new groups of students; neither to school kids, nor to Japanese, American or other Western students.

Examples from the author's training experience show that, if the 'principle of never changing kata' is not closely safeguarded, karate loses its initial purpose and turns into competition showmanship, into something spectacular to look at, but without any merit in combat.

This text supports the perspective of Te, the predecessor of Karate-Jutsu, being an indigenous Okinawan martial art, as genuine as it can be, created, developed, and honed to perfection on the Ryukyu Islands independently from mainland Japan’s martial arts tradition.
The argument is explained by the metaphor of the 100-years-old US-space program being an American and not a German project, although it was masterminded by German experts after WWII. It is American, because it embodies an American idea, philosophy, and intellectual framework, into which the expertise and skills of German rocket scientists’ were integrated.
Applying this historic reasoning accordingly, Chinese martial arts were integrated as improvements into the existing system, idea, and intellectual framework of Okinawan Te, without sacrificing its essence, i.e. its true purpose and intention of self-protection and the protection of one’s life.

Die Ursprünge des Karate als waffenloser Selbstverteidigungs-kunst liegen mutmaßlich im Norden des chinesischen Festlandes. Wenn es einen Ort namhaft zu machen gilt, der als die Quelle des Karate gelten darf, wird man wohl ein-hellig auf einen Tempel verwiesen, den Shaolin-Tempel. Der ist zugleich der vermutlich berühmteste buddhistische Tempel der Welt. Diesen Status erwarb er dank der Hongkonger und Hollywood-Filmindustrie und Namen wie Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee oder David Carradine. Die waren es auch, die in den 1960er Jahren die Kampfkunst des "Kung Fu" im Westen bekannt machten und synchron einen ungeahnten Boom des Karate auslösten, das zu dieser Zeit gerade in den USA und Europa Fuss zu fassen suchte. Fragt man ältere Karate-Adepten (wie mich), werden die meisten einräumen, dass die Kung Fu-Filme ein Faktor waren, der sie auf den Karate-Weg gebracht oder entsprech-ende Begeisterung ausgelöst hatte. Damit hing dem Karate ein esoterisches Flair an, das durch das-spätestens dank der Hippies Ende der 1960er Jahre-erwachte Interesse an fernöstlichen Meditationsmethoden nur noch verstärkt worden war. Die Gründung des Shaolin-Klosters wird einem Zen-Mönch, dem Bodhidharma, zugeschrieben. Ihn betreffende Legenden und hagiographische Erzählungen werden hier re-evaluiert. Die Frage, ob Bodhidharma mit Kampfkünsten (notabene dem Karate) in eine historische Verbindung gebracht werden kann, wird vorsichtig positiv beantwortet.

Am 8. Dezember 2019 verstarb Kanazawa Hirokazu, "peacefully", wie es in der offiziellen Verlautbarung hieß. Ich hatte die Ehre und Freude seine Autobiographie ins Deutsche übertragen zu dürfen. Für diese Ausgabe habe ich auch ein Interview mit ihm geführt. Dabei sprach ich mit ihm über den Tod. In diesem Kontext sagte er: "Wenn man ein ganz gewöhnliches Training macht, einen ganz normalen Lebensstil pflegt, dann bleibt auch die Entfaltungsmöglichkeit eine ganz gewöhnliche. Wenn man allerdings ein Training in der Weise des Übersteigens, des Transzendierens der natürlichen Kräfte macht, heißt das nach meiner Ansicht in allen, auch den kleinsten Dingen, mit vollem Ernst dabei zu sein, ein wenig übertrieben gesagt, alles so zu machen, als ginge es um Leben oder Tod. Mit vollem Ernst bei der Sache zu sein, also doch so zu handeln, als ginge es um Leben oder Tod, ist ja, so meine ich, der wahre und endgültige Sinn des Bushidô (Kriegerethos). Wenn man alles unter Einsatz seines Lebens macht, dann gibt es nichts, auf das man mit Bedauern zurückblicken müsste und wenn die Zeit des Sterbens kommt, kann man in Seelenruhe sterben. Ich glaube, die Art und Weise des Sterbens ist ein Barometer dafür, wie man gelebt hat. Auch darin besteht der Weg des Kriegers (Bushidô)." Kanazawa-sôke hat zweifelsfrei wie ein Krieger gelebt und ist wie einer von dannen gegangen.

Japanese martial arts have gained immense popularity and have spread all over the world. They are a favored recreation, as well as a profession to millions of practitioners. However, the martial arts considered in the article – Judo, Karate and Aikido, bear within them the tradition and culture of their place of origin. The key question is this: are they liberated from their mystical, in fact religious past and ancient practice, in the form of philosophy and methods of training. The article gives a critical analysis of the ideas of the founders of the stated martial arts: Jigoro Kano,  Gichin  Funakoshi  and  Morihei  Ueshiba  and  checks  to  what  extent  their very ideas and ultimate goals of martial arts are determined by Eastern mysticism, mainly in the form of Zen Buddhism and Shintoism. Besides that, the literature of distinguished domestic authors has also been analyzed in order to see whether the practice of the founders have been neglected or faithfully preserved. Judo has proved itself to be completely secular while the situation with Karate and Aikido is more complex. Funakoshi has preached modern methods of training, the road which is followed by the majority of Karate masters, while some have gone back to older practices: a mystical, irrational approach to martial art and to everyday training. On the other hand, in its essence, Aikido represents a religion and Morihei Ueshiba is its Prophet. In fact, the martial art is yields to the purpose of its final, completely religious goal. Still, by analyzing some Serbian authors, it is evident that this practice has been given up and that the practical part of Aikido as a martial art is dominant. Still, it is possible to also find Serbian authors who devotedly follow the path of Ueshiba and accept his philosophy in its entirety. This article aims to point out the significance of this problem, which does not only affect the philosophies of these martial arts, primarily in the form of defining the “ultimate goal” of the martial art itself, but also spreads its influence on the training methods. It is important to know for every practitioner whether his trainer or “sensei” views the martial art as a form of recreation, aiming to promote it as such, with modern training methods, or if there is a mystical approach to training with religious elements prevailing.

This review study mainly focused on identifying biomechanism of Karate Roundhouse Kicking for enhance performance of karate athletes with minimum chance of injury. The purpose of this review study is to provide essential guidelines to coaches and athletes to identify the performance criteria of kicking techniques in the field of kinematics. All original data in this article were collected under the topic of biomechanics, kinematics of kicking, from previously published articles in English in authorized journals. Thirty-five articles were assessed, thirty were included in this systematic review. Eight articles were recognized in the field karate kicking mechanism of karate, twelve articles were recognized in the field of Kinematics and Kinetics, five articles were identified in field of force & velocity and Five articles were identified in the field of performance enhancement in karate athletes were included in this systematic review. Important kinematical factors in each phase of roundhouse kick were analysed from the recognized articles and books. Many researches were conducted in the field of Biomechanics of karate kicking, those results included in this review to find out the factors to identify important performance criteria of kicking. As expected, various biomechanism theories influence the kicking performances. Effective roundhouse kicking (mawashi-geri) performance was characterized by kicking leg joints, metarsal angle, hip flexion and knee extension velocities, combined with rapid movements of the ROM towards the target. Important variables outlined with appropriate evidence. In Particular, special awareness thought to have in four phases of roundhouse kicking Preparation, Chamber, Extension, and Recoil Phase.

The martial arts were used in the Japanese educational and military systems  to inculcate the samurai’s notions of honor and loyalty (bushido) in the general public. This article therefore posits that the martial arts played a role in the rise of Japanese nationalism and influenced the events that took place leading up to and during World War II.

Rivestire un ruolo istituzionale, ed adempiere alle sue precise funzioni, e' un compito facile solo apparentemente. Infatti, in ogni circostanza, il proprio ruolo deve armonizzarsi in complesse relazioni con quello degli altri. In questa capacita'  si esprime appieno la padronanza della funzione svolta che, fondendosi con le altrui, produce l' equilibrio stabile fra le relazioni ed il successo collettivo di ogni iniziativa dell' ambito umano organizzato. La ricerca indaga sugli specifici ruoli, le sinergie, i limiti, le tangenze e le eventuali contraddizioni intercorrenti fra loro, tra Ufficiali di Gara, Insegnanti Tecnici ed Atleti, sia in sede di gara sia al di fuori dell' ambito agonistico, ma pur sempre in un contesto federale.

Nowadays many dojos have kids classes or beginners courses for children. Hardly do I see "classes for the elderly" or "beginners course for seniors" advertised on a dojo-homepage. This is remarkable, because the overall population in industrial countries is over-aging and the age of Karate practitioners is also rising. Karate has been increasingly introduced into the United States and Europe in the 1960s and boomed with the Bruce Lee craze in the 1970s. We have active Karateka, who began at this time and some of them are even still competing in Master classes or teach in a dojo. They are well in their 60's, 70's or even 80's. With 60 I consider me part of this generation although still on the younger side. What about our training? As a caveat: I will generalize many of my observations (some laudable exceptions might exist) and mostly speak about Shotokan, since this is the style I practice and am most familiar with. The setting to keep in mind are seniors (beginners and veterans alike) training together in a group. I fact, I teach an open lecture at my university called "Karate for Health and Fitness" for more than eight years. The median age of the participants is around their mid to end-sixties. This course is my laboratory to reassess traditional concepts and develop Karate and Quigong (Taijiquan) exercises appropriate for persons of an advanced age.