Energy Contributions In Simulated Karate Kumite Match

Objective: Karate will be about to enter the Olympic stage for the first time at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,but our understandings of the energetics in karate were behind its booming status quo.This study intended to determine the energetics of karate kumite simulated match through the simulated matches.Methods: Nine males(17.9±1.9 yrs,176.0±7.7 cm,61.1±8.9 kg,2.8±1.6 yrs training experience)and Nine females(19.4±1.6 yrs,165.9± 4.5cm,57.2±4.2 kg,2.4±1.7 yrs training experience)from the Chinese national youth karate team volunteered to participate in this research.A portable spirometric system(MetaMax 3B,Cortex,Germany)was utilized to measure the inspired oxygen uptakes during the karate kumite simulated match(males3 min,females 2 min).Athletes were encouraged to perform the simulated matches as real as possible,but without touching the spirometric instrument.Capillary blood lactate was taken from the earlobe prior to and post the karate kumite simulated matches,and analyzed with blood lactate analyzer(Biosen C-line,EKF,Germany).The RPE post the simulated competitions were recorded immediately.The energy contributions were obtained by using the method based on the accumulated oxygen uptakes and blood lactate during simulated competitions,and the fast component of oxygen debt during the recovery.Results: The energy contributions from aerobic,anaerobic lactic,and anaerobic alactic pathways were 132.7±21.0 kJ(75.2±5.0%),13.0±5.6 kJ(7.1±2.5%),and 31.1±10.2 kJ(17.7±5.0%)for males,and 62.0±10.0 kJ(64.6±8.7%)?7.5±4.2 kJ(7.3±3.1%)and 27.8±11.1 kJ(28.1±7.6%)for females.The proportion of aerobic energy,glycolysis energy and aerobic energy supply during males were significantly higher than females.The proportion of phosphates energy during females was significantly higher than males.There was a significant difference between male and female athletes of the peak blood lactate values after simulated matches(5.1±1.6 mmol/l and 3.3±1.1mmol/l,P<0.05)and the average oxygen uptakes(40.5±4.7 ml/min/kg and30.6±4.4 ml/min/kg,P<0.05).Conclusion: The karate kumite simulated match is dominated by aerobic energy,and males have higher requirements for aerobic energy pathways.It is recommended that coaches need to consider the differences in energy contributions characteristics between males and females in the training of different genders.Males need more training in aerobic energy systems.