Association between body composition and aerobic capacity in karate athletes

José Francisco Da Silva,Willemax Dos Santos Gomes,Carlos Alberto Morena Moya,Valéria Mayaly Alves De Oliveira,Daniel Da Rocha Queiroz,Murilo Gominho Antunes Correia Junior,Marcos André Moura Dos Santos,Javiera Alarcón Aguilar

doi:10.1590/1980-0037.2020v22e71989

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the association between body composition and performance in the karate specific aerobic test (KSAT). This is a study carried out with thirteen athletes (6 females) with a mean age of 20.7 ± 4.2 years, affiliated to the Pernambuco Federation of Karate Associations, were developing this training routine during the 2018 season. Body mass and height were measured. To measure body composition, the body densitometry method was used by the x-ray double-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technique. Karate Specific Aerobic Test was used to verify aerobic performance. Association analyzes were performed between body composition variables and KSAT performance using Pearson's correlation test and linear regression. All analyzes adopted a significance of p <0.05. KSAT performance was negatively correlated with total fat mass (r = -0.797; p = 0.001) and fat percentage (r = -0.757; p = 0.003). The linear regression model with the highest explanatory power included total fat and KSAT (adjusted R² = 0.732; p <0.001) exhibited a negative association with total fat (? = -0.21; p <0.001), and the model that included % body fat and KSAT (adjusted R² = 0.708; p = 0.003) were negatively associated with% body fat (? = -22.937; p = 0.001), both adjusted for gender and age. There is a negative association between total fat mass, body fat percentage and karate specific aerobic test performance.

Highlights

In most combat sports, there is no single dominant feature in performance, the set of actions formed by technique, strength, aerobic capacity, muscle power and speed is the most required during competitions
To determine the level of aerobic fitness, an indirect method that most closely approximates the physiological specificity of this sport was used, the Karate Specific Aerobic Test (KSAT), which is composed of a repeated sequential set of punches and kicks (Kizame-Guiaku tsuki and Mawashi geri), performed at a maximum power of 3 seconds, respectively, in a specific bag, properly fixed at a minimum distance of 1 meter, demarcated on the ground, which the athlete was positioned behind waiting for the start of the test and returning to its starting position after the sequence, to perform active pauses with steps
To measure body composition, the body densitometry method was used by the x-ray double-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technique, with the equipment of model HOLOGIC QDR WI

Summary

Introduction

There is no single dominant feature in performance, the set of actions formed by technique, strength, aerobic capacity, muscle power and speed is the most required during competitions. Kumite competitions are three-minute long and use vigorous action through external loads, agile and powerful moves, with one execution intermittent steps for effective acts of attack and defense. In this sport of combat, practitioners are required to have a high technical ability, with the control of movement in static and dynamic conditions, and the execution of techniques (punches and kicks) in ballistic actions[6,7,8,9,10]

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion