Validity and reliability of new karate-specific aerobic test for karatekas

This study determined the validity and reliability of a new specific field test that was based on the scientific data from the latest research.

Seventeen international-level karatekas participated in the study: 14 men (age 24.1 ± 4.6 y, body mass 65.7 ± 10.8 kg) and 3 women (age 19 ± 3.6 y, body mass 54.1 ± 0.9 kg). All performed the new karate-specific test (KST) 2 times (test and retest sessions were carried out on separated occasions 1 wk apart). Thirteen men also performed a laboratory test to assess maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).

Test-retest results showed the KST to be reliable. Peak oxygen uptake (VO(peak)), peak heart rate (HR(peak)), blood lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion, and time to exhaustion (TE) did not display a difference between the test and the retest. The SEM and ICC for relative and absolute VO(2peak) and TE were <5% and >.90, respectively. Significant correlations were found between VO(2peak) (mL · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹) and TE measured from the KST (r = .71, 95% CI 0.35-0.88, P < .0001). There was also no significant difference between VO(2peak) measured from the KST and VO(2max) recorded from the cycle-ergometer laboratory test (55.1 ± 4.8 vs 53.2 ± 6.6 mL · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹, respectively; t = -1.85, df = 12, P = .08, dz = 0.51 [small]). The Bland and Altman analyses reported a mean difference (bias) ± the 95% limits of agreement of 1.9 ± 7.35 mL · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹.

This study showed that the new KST test, with effort patterns replicating real karate combat sessions, can be considered a valid and reliable karate-specific field test for assessing karatekas' endurance fitness.