A Study on the Anticipation of Attacks in Karate

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to examine what phases were used to anticipate correctly one's opponent's attacks and what reasons were given for anticipation of attacks for both the experienced and non-experienced in karate.Subjects of this study included 12 members of university karate clubs, who had over one year's experience in karate (G group) and 30 students who had no previous experience in karate (P group).The reverse punchs, jabs and front kicks of karate performed by a beginner and an advanced player were filmed with a 16mm cine camera from the front to serve as the models for anticipations. Each film was re-formed into 4 types of film: 1) cut into 9 frames (b10), 2) cut into 7 frames (b8), 3) cut into 5 frames (b6), and 4) cut into 3 frames (b4) from the frame of the punching arm or kicking leg to that of the most extended condition.The presentation order of the film was from b10 to b4 for both groups. After the subjects viewed the film, they were asked to judge the kind of attacks and describe the reasons for their judgements in a questionnaire.The results were summerized as follows:1. The G group, (experienced), could correctly anticipate the kind of attacks in the phase of preparatory movements of the body, especially in the model of the beginner.2. The P group, (non-experienced), had difficulty in anticipating correctly the kind of attacks, until the phase of attack movement on parts of the body had begun. This was noted when they viewed both the models.3. The G group totally judged the kind of attacks by the movements of the attack parts as well as other parts of the body, after the phase of preparatory movements, but the P group only judged the attacks by the movements of the attack parts.From the above results, it was determined that the P group could not understand correctly the preparatory movements of the body for attacking.