Effect of Plyometric Exercises on Balance Ability for Ashihara Karate Practitioners

Abstract

This research adopts a predictive approach to forecast the evolution of events. Ashihara Karate is a contemporary, full-contact fighting style that emphasises Sabaki, utilising the opponent's footwork and attacking techniques to gain an advantage by positioning oneself in the opponent's "blind" spot. Maintaining balance is often essential for mastering situations that require quick and rational action, and it also holds great value in preventing accidents. Purpose: This study aims to highlight statistically significant differences in improving dynamic balance capacity for the lower limbs after implementing a programme that includes plyometric exercises. Methods: Twenty performance athletes from the Sen Craiova Sports Club aged between 20 and 35 participated in this study. The dynamic balance capacity was assessed using the Y-Balance platform (Functional Movement, 2016), a dynamic test performed in a single-leg stance requiring strength, flexibility, central control, and proprioception. Results: A comparison of the descriptive statistics obtained with the Y-Balance platform from the initial and final tests reveals significant positive differences in favour of the experimental group that underwent plyometric exercises during training.