direct left), techniques rarely applied (kakato geri, direct punches in the ... Karate la competition. ... Frequencies of application of leg technique in K-1 sport. 0. 10.
TRENDS IN THE APPLICATION OF PUNCHES AND KICKS IN K-1 SPORT Safet Kapo, Branko Cikatic, Izet Radjo, Husnija Kajmovic Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
INTRODUCTION Various observations and analyses of fights (both live and on video recordings) by experts of different profiles (coaches, analysts, researchers, methodologists and other sport experts) have resulted in broadening and strengthening knowledge of different possibilities for applying and making technical components of K-1 sport more concrete (Kapo, 2006, Kapo, 2007). The research has been carried out on a sample of 96 top level super heavyweight (over 91 kg) male fighters participating in final K-1 tournaments in Japan from 1993 to 2004 (in 84 matches and 205 rounds).The age of the examinees varied from 21 to 39 years. The objective of the research was to analyse the application of technical elements during the fights of the most successful K-1 fighters in the world. METHODS This paper is based on an explorative approach to K-1 phenomena in situational conditions. The situational aspect has been provided through video recordings of all fights held in the last 12 years (1993-2004) at the final Grand-prix tournament in Japan. This resulted in a thorough sectional view of the most successful fighters, helping to determine an absolute criterion for defining what a quality fighter is, as the final tournament gathers only the 8 best fighters in the world. The abovementioned fighters have been, after a detailed, studious and meticulous review of the recordings, described by a group of technical element variables. The gathered data on technical elements have been processed with the descriptive statistic method and presented according to the total frequency of their application. By means of trend analysis we examined the development trends in the application of technical elements (delivered both with hands and legs) in the sense of their increase and decrease in the period of 12 years, as to obtain data on the average application of technical elements. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Analysis of representation of punches and kicks in K-1
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By analysing fights at the final GP K-1 tournament in Tokyo Dome we obtained information on which techniques are frequently applied in K-1 (low kick right, direct left), techniques rarely applied (kakato geri, direct punches in the stomach) and those applied very rarely or almost never. These findings are highly important as they not only point out the arsenal of the most efficient techniques and its hierarchy, but they can also indicate the only methodologically right manner of teaching K-1 fighting techniques
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Chart 1. Representation of punches in K-1
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Frequencies of application of leg technique in K-1 sport
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CONCLUSION These data help shorten the time period needed to create a top quality K-1 fighter (as we all know, in all martial arts and, consequently, K-1 a fighter is at its best usually around the time when his age is already becoming a problem, forcing him to stop fighting) by only informing the fighter about inefficient techniques, not teaching him these techniques at all. The most efficient techniques in K-1 are direct punches, hooks, uppercuts, low kicks, knee kicks, etc. Trend analysis indicates that the application of following variables tends to increase: left and right direct punch, right hook and right uppercut (among the blows delivered with the hand), and high and lower circular kicks as well as knee kicks (among the blows delivered with the leg). REFERENCES 1. Bonacin, D. (2004). Uvod u kvantitativne metode. Kaštela, Vlastito, izdanje. 2. Kapo, S. (2006). Structural Analysis and Model of K-1 Top Level Fighters. Disertation (In Bosnian). Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo. BiH. 3. Valera, D. (1973). Karate la competition. Paris: Ed Serdirey
