Biomotor status and kinesiological education of students aged 13 to 15 years - example: karate

The aim of this paper was to obtain information relevant for efficient selection in karate, based on comparison of biomotor status of male/female 7th and 8th grade students in primary school "Bijaći" from Kastel Novi and karate practitioners and non-practitioners (cadets) in Croatia. For this purpose, a sample was drawn of 352 primary school students (150 males and 152 females) and 50 karate practitioners (25 males and 25 females), all aged 13 to 15 years, and 2 morphological measures (body height and body mass) and a battery of 6 motor tests was used. A biomotor system which determines the situation efficacy in male and female karate practitioners was defined based on the comparison of test results of students from Kastela, Croatian karateka and Croatian standards, factor analysis of applied variables and discriminant analysis of those variables between karate athletes and students from Kastela. In male karate athletes, general motor efficacy in karate is based on explosive strength of jumping type, repetitive strength of the trunk and coordination, followed by flexibility, static strength of the arms, and movement frequency speed. In female karate athletes, integration of force, coordination, muscle tone regulation and speed is dominant for achieving success in karate. Female karate athletes use speed and fine muscle tone regulation in motor functioning more than male karate athletes, who use basic strength more.