Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Energetics of karate kumite

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is speculated that anaerobic metabolism is the predominant source of energy in karate kumite. However, no experimental proof is currently available. The metabolic cost and fractions of aerobic and anaerobic energy of karate kumite fighting were investigated. Ten male nationally or internationally ranked karateka [means (SD) age 26.9 (3.8) years, height 1.80 (0.08) m, mass 77.2 (12.8) kg] performed two to four fights scheduled and judged like a championship. Oxygen uptake was measured continuously with a portable spirometric device. Blood lactate was determined immediately before, and minute by minute after, each fight. Aerobic, anaerobic alactic and anaerobic lactic energy were calculated from oxygen uptake during the fight (VO2), the fast component of the post-fight oxygen uptake (VO2PCr) above resting values and changes in blood lactate concentration (Net-BLC), respectively. Altogether, 36 fights lasting 267 (61) s were analysed. The referee’s decisions caused an activity-to-break ratio of approximately 2:1. VO2, VO2PCr, and Net-BLC per fight were 165.3 (52.4) ml.kg−1, 32.2 (7.2) ml.kg−1and 4.2 (1.9) mmol.l−1; the overall energy cost above rest was 334.3 (86.3) kJ per fight. Fractions of aerobic, anaerobic alactic, and lactic energy sources were 77.8 (5.8)%, 16.0 (4.6)%, and 6.2 (2.4)%, respectively. The results indicate a high metabolic rate in karate kumite. However, the acyclic activity profile implies that aerobic metabolism is the predominant source of energy and there is anaerobic supplementation, mainly by high-energy phosphates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asmussen J (1950) Pyruvate and lactate content of the blood during and after work. Acta Physiol Scand 10:125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Astrand PO, Rodahl K (1986) Textbook of work physiology. Physiological basis of exercise. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 295–353

  • Baker JS, Bell W (1990) Energy expenditure during simulated karate competition. J Hum Mov Stud 19:69–74

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belcastro AN, Bonen A (1975) Lactic acid removal rates during controlled and uncontrolled recovery exercise. J Appl Physiol 39:932–936

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beneke R, Beyer T, Jachner C, Erasmus J, Leithäuser RM, Hütler M (1999) Der Kumitewettkampf (Karate kumite fighting). In: Beneke R, Beyer T, Jachner C, Erasmus J, Leithäuser RM, Hütler M (eds) Das leistungsphysiologische Profil der Sportart Karate. Projektbeschreibung (Teil II) (Physiological profile of the event karate. Project report, Part II). Berliner Karate Verband, Berlin, pp 14–26

  • Beneke R, Pollmann C, Bleif I, Leithäuser RM, Hütler M (2002) How anaerobic is the Wingate anaerobic test for humans? Eur J Appl Physiol 87:388–392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ciba-Geigy (1985) Wissenschaftliche Tabellen Geigy. Teilband Körperflüssigkeiten. (Scientific tables Geigy, Volume body fluids). Ciba-Geigy, Basel, pp 225–228

  • Davies CTM, Knibbs AV, Musgrove J (1970) The rate of acid removal in relation to different baselines of recovery exercise. Int Z Angew Physiol 28:155–161

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodd S, Powers KS, Callender T, Brooks E (1984) Blood lactate disappearance at various intensities of recovery from exercise. J Appl Physiol 57:1462–1465

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Francescato MP, Talon T, di Prampero PE (1995) Energy cost and energy sources in karate. Eur J Appl Physiol 71:355–361

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freund H, Oyono-Enguelle S, Heitz A, Marbach J, Ott C, Zouloumain P, Lampert E (1986) Work rate-dependent lactate kinetics after exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 61:932–939

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heck H (1990) Laktat in der Leistungsdiagnostik (Lactate in performance testing). Wissenschaftliche Schriftenreihe des deutschen Sportbundes. Verlag Karl Hofmann, Schorndorf, pp 176

  • Imamura H, Yoshimura Y, Nishimura S, Nakazawa AT, Nishimura C, Shirota T (1999) Oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate responses during and following karate training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 31:342–347

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imamura H, Yoshimura Y, Nishimura S, Nakazawa AT, Teshima K, Nishimura C, Miyamoto N (2002) Physiological responses during and following karate training in women. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 42:431–437

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imamura H, Yoshitaka Y, Nishimura S, Nishimura C, Sakamoto K (2003) Oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate responses during 1,000 punches and 1,000 kicks in female collegiate practioners. J Physiol Anthropol 22:111–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Knuttgen HG (1970) Oxygen debt after submaximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 29:651–657

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann G (1996) Untersuchungen zu Komponenten des Ausdauertrainings in Kampfsportarten (Investigations about components of endurance training in fighting events). Leistungssport 26(4):6–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann G, Jedliczka G (1998) Untersuchungen zur Bestimmung und Entwicklung eines sportartspezifischen konditionellen Anforderungsprofils im Hochleistungstraining der Sportart Karate (Investigations about the event specific profile of karate). Leistungssport 28(3):56–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Margaria R, Edwards HT, Dill DB (1933) The possible mechanisms of contracting and paying the oxygen debt and the role of lactic acid in muscular contraction. Am J Physiol 106:689–715

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Margaria R, Edwards HT (1934) The removal of lactic acid from the body during recovery from muscular exercise. Am J Physiol 107:681–686

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLellan TM, Skinner JS (1982) Blood lactate removal during active recovery related to the anaerobic threshold. Int J Sports Med 3:224–229

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr G (1994) Periodisierung bezogen auf das Anforderungsprofil im Kumite Shiai anhand der WM Trainingsplanung 1994 (Periodization with respect to the performance profile of kumite shiai). In Seminarunterlagen zum 1. Master-Seminar, pp 14–35

  • Prampero PE di (1981) Energetics of muscular exercise. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 89:143–222

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts AD, Morton AR (1978) Total and alactic oxygen debts after supramaximal work. Eur J Appl Physiol 38:281–289

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt RJ, Perry JG (1976) Cardiac cost and heart rate response of karate kumite. Jpn J Phys Educ 21:117–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw DK, Deutsch DT (1982) Heart rate and oxygen uptake response to performance of karate kata. J Sports Med 22:461–468

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stamford BA, Weltman A, Moffatt R, Sady S (1981) Exercise recovery above and below anaerobic threshold following maximal work. J Appl Physiol 51:840–844

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stegemann J (1991) Leistungsphysiologie. Physiologische Grundlagen der Arbeit und des Sports (Physiological basics of exercise). Thieme, Stuttgart

  • Zehr EP, Sale DG (1993) Oxygen uptake, heart rate and blood lactate responses to the chito-ryu seisan kata in skilled karate practitioners. Int J Sports Med 14:269–274

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank R.M. Leithäuser for many stimulating discussions and her helpful comments on earlier drafts. This research was supported by the Deutscher Karate Verband e.V.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Sports and Exercise Science, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, CO4 3SQ, Colchester, England

    Ralph Beneke

  2. Institute of Sports Medicine, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Thorsten Beyer & Christoph Jachner

  3. State Department of Sports Medicine, Berlin, Germany

    Jürgen Erasmus

  4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Matthias Hütler

Authors
  1. Ralph Beneke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thorsten Beyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christoph Jachner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jürgen Erasmus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Matthias Hütler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ralph Beneke.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beneke, R., Beyer, T., Jachner, C. et al. Energetics of karate kumite. Eur J Appl Physiol 92, 518–523 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1073-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1073-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation