Observational Analysis of the Technical-Tactical Performance of Elite Karate Contestants

This observational methodology study had two objectives. The first was to show how a purposedesigned observation instrument can be used to analyze technical and tactical aspects of a karate match by identifying behavioral patterns in a systematically compiled dataset containing coded records of, by order of inclusion, bouts, sequences, guards, and technical actions/moves, with linking of the technique executed to the supporting guard and arm or leg used. The second objective was to add to the existing knowledge of the techniques and tactics used by karate practitioners in elite competitions by comparing the probability of occurrence of different actions in SPSS and searching for hidden time patterns (T-patterns) using the Theme software package. Our results show that elite karate contestants are more likely to use a) punches rather than kicks (Odd = 2.026, 95% CI = 1.619-2.538), b) upper-level punches rather than middle-level punches (Odd = 1.7284, 95% CI = 11.316-2.270), c) roundhouse kicks rather than off-balancing kicks (Odd = 2.160, 95% CI = 1.350-3.455), and d) left punches or kicks from a right guard rather than right punches or kicks from a right guard (Odd = 1.744, 95% CI = 1.303-2.286). Finally, we observed that upper-level punches were more likely to be effective (in terms of scoring) than middle-level punches (Odd = 3.167, 95% CI = 1.303-7.698). The results derived from our ad hoc observation instrument and analyses identified successful karate moves that can be used as a reference for designing technical-tactical models for elite karate practitioners. Key words: Karate, kumite, performance, observational methodology, T-Patterns === Resumen En el seno de la metodologia observacional el trabajo satisface dos objetivos; primero demostrar las posibilidades de un instrumento de observacion disenado para el analisis tecnico-tactico del combate de Karate, mediante la identificacion de estructuras regulares de conducta en un registro sistematizado que engloba progresivamente: combate, secuencias, guardias y acciones tecnicas; segundo delimitar el desempeno tecnico-tactico del competidor Karate de elite. Se han realizado dos tipos de analisis: uno que determina la probabilidad de ocurrencia entre categorias -mediante SPSS-; y otro en busca de T-patterns -mediante el software Theme-. Los resultados indican que, en el competidor de karate de elite, predomina: a) la utilizacion de acciones tecnicas ofensivas de puno sobre las de pierna (Odd = 2.026; IC95% = 1.619-2.538); b) dentro de las acciones ofensivas de puno, las tecnicas directas a la zona alta sobre las dirigidas a la zona media (Odd = 1.7284; IC95% = 11.316-2.270); c) en lo relativo a las acciones ofensivas de pierna la realizacion de la tecnica circular sobre la de desequilibrio (Odd = 2.160; IC95% = 1.350-3.455); d) en lo relativo a la extremidad con que se ejecuta la accion tecnica ofensiva en funcion de la guardia, la utilizacion de guardia izquierda/segmento derecho sobre guardia derecha/segmento derecho (Odd = 1.744; IC95% = 1.330-2.286). En lo relativo a las acciones ofensivas eficaces, la tecnica directa de puno a zona alta es mas eficaz que la directa a zona media (Odd = 3.167; IC95% = 1.303-7.698). Palabras clave: Karate, kumite, comportamiento, metodologia observacional, T-patterns.