RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSIOLOGICAL AND NEUROMUSCULAR TESTS WITH KUMITE PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL KARATE PLAYERS IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

Karate kumite performance mainly depends on the physical and physiological characteristics. Preventing the fatigue and reaching the top level physical performance lead to victory. The aim of this study was to verify the weakness and relationship in physiological and neuromuscular parameters with kumite performance of Sri Lanka national karate kumite athletes. Experimental research design was used and sample was selected by using stratified random sampling method. Sample size comprised 10 males national kumite athletes. This study sample was divided into two groups from performance test (official karate kumite match) as winners and defeated with regard to weight category. Neuromuscular tests were taken as speed, power, strength and body fat concentration and blood lactate concentration at rest and immediately after kumite match were taken as physiological tests. Kinovea video analysis software was used to analyze speed test and Paired t test and two sample pooled t-test were used to analyze data. The results reviewed that there were strong differences in power and blood lactate concentration (BLC) (p < 0.05). Winners were reported to have higher level of muscle power than the defeated (p < 0.05). After single kumite match both the athletes BLC level increased highly (p < 0.05). It has a direct negative effect on muscle performance and highly reduced the athletes kumite performance due to high amount of lactate in blood. When comparing winners and defeated there was no difference from BLC level (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between winners and defeated for speed, 1RM strength for both upper body and lower body, body fat concentration (p > 0.05). The study concluded that there were significant differences between winners and defeated for power and mainly blood lactate level affect to reduce the athletes’ performance. Speed, strength and body fat percentage did not affect the kumite performance between winners and defeated. When comparing world kumite athletes, Sri Lankan athletes showed poorer performance from strength, body fat, and lactate form in blood