Reliability and construct validity of the karate-specific aerobic test.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Martial Arts Research

Background:

• Assessing aerobic fitness is crucial for karate performance.
• Existing tests may not fully capture the specific demands of karate.
• The Karate-specific aerobic test (KSAT) was developed to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the test-retest reliability (absolute and relative) of the KSAT.
• To determine the external responsiveness of the KSAT in distinguishing between karate athletes of different competitive levels.
• To validate the KSAT as a practical tool for aerobic fitness assessment in karate.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 43 male karatekas, with 19 in the reliability phase and 40 in the responsiveness phase.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman analysis.
• External responsiveness was evaluated by comparing KSAT performance between national-level and regional-level karate athletes, analyzing time to exhaustion (TE), peak lactate concentration (Peak [La]), peak heart rate (HRpeak), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

Main Results:

• The KSAT exhibited excellent test-retest reliability for TE (ICC > 0.90, SEM < 5%).
• Significant differences in TE and Peak [La] were observed between national and regional level athletes, indicating good external responsiveness (AUC = 0.86).
• Reliability for Peak [La] varied between test sessions, while HRpeak and RPE showed high consistency.

Conclusions:

• The KSAT demonstrates excellent absolute and relative reliability for assessing aerobic fitness in karate practitioners.
• The KSAT is a valid and responsive tool capable of differentiating between karate athletes of varying competitive standards.
• This test is suitable for field-based aerobic fitness assessments in karate.