Physiological responses the organism of karate athletes specialists of kata and kumite during simulated competition

Background & Study Aim: Kata and kumite have distinguished competition requirements, and cardio-metabolic and thermoregulatory responses to different competitive concurrence in karate remain unknown. The main aim of this study was to answer the question: whether are differences between several selected physiological indicators used to compare of karate athletes (specialists of kata and kumite) during simulated competition? Materials & Methods: Twenty-four elite male senior karate athletes (kata n = 9; kumite n = 15) participated in this study. The participants were 21.56 +/- 3.57 years old, with mean body mass of 71.02 +/- 6.23 kg and mean height 177 +/- 7.24 cm. All participants underwent simulated competition consisting of three repeated maximal duration rounds with 10 minutes break between them in order to assess their HR responses during rounds and in first minute of recovery period, blood lactates, thermal responses and rates of perceived exertion to simulated competition. Results: No major differences were found between groups for baseline values. No differences were found between kata and kumite for HR responses, blood lactate, T-core and rates of perceived exertion to simulated competition observed separately and within cumulative effects (time vs. group), respectively. Conclusion: Kata and kumite differ in competitive demands, yet these two karate specializations seem to have no fundamental reflections on individual functional variables.