The effect of voluntary ventilation on acid-base responses to a Moo Duk Tkow form

Voluntary control of breathing is taught in Moo Duk Tkow in order to maximize force during striking, kicking, and blocking. Form, a formalized practice routine which incorporates these techniques, is a short predetermined sequence of arm and leg movements performed at high intensity which includes a number of pauses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acid-base and lactate responses to a beginning level form, Ki Cho I. Nine subjects, five black belts and four brown belts, were asked to perform Ki Cho I at competitive intensity. Arterialized finger capillary blood was drawn prior to and immediately after the form for the determination of pH, bicarbonate, base excess, and PCO2 by use of the Siggaard-Anderson Nomogram. Heart rate was obtained by ECG, and lactate was measured by enzymatic assay. Statistically significant differences (p less than .05) were found for all variables. Mean pre and post values (+/- standard deviations) were: pH 7.39 +/- .04 to 7.34 +/- .03; base excess -.3 +/- 1.2 to -2.8 +/- 1.7 mEq/L; bicarbonate 23.7 +/- 1.0 to 21.8 +/- 1.4 mEq/L; PCO2 39.9 +/- 3.9 to 45.1 +/- 5.4 mmHg; lactate 1.51 +/- .71 to 3.23 +/- 1.56 mM; and heart rate 74.9 +/- 12.6 to 132.1 +/- 17.0 bpm. The mean form time was 17.2 +/- 1.8 s. It was concluded that respiratory compensation does not occur and that respiratory acidosis may contribute to the metabolic acidosis.