Establishing a Standardized Fitness Test Battery for Karate Athletes by Kalan Anglos, CSCS BA, Vancouver Island University, 2015 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education © Kalan Anglos, 2017 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Establishing a Standardized Fitness Test Battery for Karate Athletes by Kalan Anglos, CSCS BA, Vancouver Island University, 2015 Supervisory Committee Dr. Lynneth Stuart-Hill (School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education) Supervisor Dr. Catherine Gaul (School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education) Department Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Lynneth Stuart-Hill (School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education) Supervisor Dr. Catherine Gaul (School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education) Department Member The purpose of this study was twofold: to determine the physical demands of the sport of karate and to establish a standardized field-based physical fitness test battery to assess karate athletes. The Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) consisted of a heart rate analysis, a movement analysis of karate techniques by an expert panel, and a review of the current literature. Five experienced karate athletes were monitored using acticals and heart rate monitors during simulated competition to help determine the physiological demands of karate. The results of all parts of the PDA were combined to inform the development of the physical fitness test battery for karate athletes, as well as rationalize the use of the individual tests included in the battery. The PDA identified the physical requirements for karate athletes to be: kicking and punching performance, flexibility, balance, agility, short burst high intensity fitness, and stamina. Therefore, a fitness test battery was developed using field-based tests that measures lower (vertical jump) and upper body (seated medicine ball put) power, hip flexibility (lateral split test), single leg balance (modified bass test), anaerobic capacity (modified 300 metre shuttle test), agility (T-Test), as well as aerobic performance (Leger 20m shuttle run test). While this study provides some evidence on the physiological profiling and fitness testing standards for karate athletes, the proposed physical fitness test battery provides a preliminary iv tool for the appropriate steps to analyze karate training and performance, establish normative data for athletes at all stages of development and experience and to determine karate fitness standards. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Supervisory Committee ................................................................................................................................ ii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................ ix DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Research Design ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Operational Definitions ............................................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 2 – PHYSICAL DEMANDS ANALYSIS ............................................................................................. 10 1. Heart Rate Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 10 2a. Movement Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 14 2b. Video Examination ............................................................................................................................ 15 3. Summary of Reviewed Literature ....................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 3 – TEST BATTERY DEVELOPMENT .............................................................................................. 24 Specific Test Protocols ............................................................................................................................ 34 Warm Up ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Flexibility - Split Test ........................................................................................................................... 34 Balance - Modified Bass Test .............................................................................................................. 35 Anaerobic Capacity - Modified 300m Shuttle ..................................................................................... 37 Agility - T-Test ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Anaerobic Power - Lower Body (Vertical Jump Test) .......................................................................... 38 Anaerobic Power - Upper Body (Seated Medicine Ball Put) ............................................................... 39 Aerobic Power - Leger 20m Shuttle Run Test ..................................................................................... 40 Anthropometric Measurements ......................................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 4 – LIMITATIONS & FUTURE DIRECTIONS ................................................................................... 44 References .................................................................................................................................................. 47 vi APPENDIX A - LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 51 APPENDIX B - INFORMED CONSENT ........................................................................................................... 96 APPENDIX C - VIDEO EXAMINATION DATA COLLECTION SHEET ................................................................. 98 APPENDIX D - DATA COLLECTION SCORE SHEET FOR TEST BATTERY ......................................................... 99 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Descriptive characteristics for participants of heart rate and movement analysis during simulated performance. ............................................................................................................... 11 Table 2. Summary of heart rate data and training zone requirements for both kata and kumite during a single simulated performance for each participant. ...................................................... 13 Table 3. Summary of cumulative whole body intensity requirements for both kata and kumite during simulated performance. .................................................................................................... 17 Table 4. Summary of the video examination as well as karate-specific parameters that were noticed by an expert panel. .......................................................................................................... 18 Table 5. The current literature on physiological profiling and fitness testing of karate athletes 21 Table 6. Summary of test included in the physical fitness test battery for karate athletes. ....... 32 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Sample set of heart rate and training zone data for a simulated performance kumite (sport zones are equivalent to % age predicted HRmax)........................................... .................. 12 Figure 2. Sample set of cumulative full body movement analysis (Actical) data for a single athlete during one simulated performance of kumite. ................................................................ 15 Figure 3. Sample set of cumulative full body movement analysis (Actical) data for a simulated performance of kata. .................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 4. Demonstration of Split Test. .......................................................................................... 35 Figure 5. Layout for the Modified Bass Test. ................................................................................ 36 Figure 6. Layout for the Modified 300m Shuttle Test. ................................................................. 37 Figure 7. Layout for the T-Test. ..................................................................................................... 38 Figure 8. Demonstration of Vertical Jump Test. ........................................................................... 39 Figure 9. Demonstration of medicine ball put .............................................................................. 40 Figure 10. Layout for the Leger 20m Shuttle Run Test. ................................................................ 41 Figure 11. Illustration of Sitting Height measurement. ................................................................ 42 Figure 12. Leg length measurement landmarks. .......................................................................... 43 Figure 13. Illustration of Arm Span measurement. ...................................................................... 43 ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The following pages would have never come together if it were not for the help and guidance of my supervisors, Dr. Lynneth Stuart-Hill, and Dr. Kathy Gaul. For both your continued support, dedication to detail, willingness to help (even when on vacation) and allowing me the opportunity to pursue this project, I truly thank you and look forward to continuing to learn from both of you. This project would not have been possible if it were not for Richard Mosdell and Karate BC. Richard - I cannot thank you enough for pushing the right buttons, talking to the right people, and making things happen! Above all, thank you for believing in me and allowing me the chance to put this project together. Onwards and upwards! To everyone at Karate BC and Karate Canada who has helped me along the way, and allowed me to offer this project, thank you. Last but not least, thank you to my family and friends for the everlasting support and encouragement over the past two years to put this project together. Mom, Dad, Sean, Jade, Rhianna, the entire family, and all of my fellow students who have helped along the way, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. There were times when I thought maybe I have taken on too much and finishing this project might not be possible, but with all your love and support you kept me going! Love you all. x DEDICATION The following pages are dedicated to my parents - Patricia and Pierre Anglos - without them, none of this would have been possible.