Comparative Study On The Manifestation Of Balance Ability In Taekwondo And Karate

Abstract

This research is part of the evaluative research typology. This type refers more to a research goal than to a specific method. It usually focuses on the evaluation or impact of a program or social intervention. The relationship between balance ability and the risk of sports injuries has been proven in many cases, but the relationship between balance ability and sports performance is less elucidated. The objective assessment of taekwondo and karate balance ability was achieved through the Y-Balance Platform, a dynamic foot or hand test that requires strength, flexibility, central control and proprioception. The purpose of this test is to maintain balance on a foot or hand, as far as possible with the other foot or hand in three different directions. The research was carried out on 16 students from the representative taekwondo and karate teams of the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMF), aged 19-26. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the ability to manifest dynamic balance in the two sports, as well as to compare this ability in the lower and upper limbs. The goal is to establish the balance performance level in taekwondo and karate athletes. Thus, in the right lower leg, the right upper and lower ante-medial limb, taekwondo athletes have achieved a better average compared to those who practice karate, with a confidence interval that does not contain 0.00, the difference being statistically significant at a two-tailed significance level of 5%.

Keywords: Taekwondokaratebalancesportssports performance

Introduction

The term “equilibrium” comes from the Greek words aegus , which means equal, and libra , which means balance and refers, theoretically and mechanically, to the resting state of a body stressed by forces that tend to disrupt, disturb it, by producing movement (Gagea, 2010). In turn, Şerbănoiu (2002) suggests that this is the ability to keep the body in a balanced position and restore its balance after high amplitude displacements and stresses.

Epuran and Horghidan (1994), addressing the issue of psychomotricity, place together body schema, laterality, rapidity of movements, ideomotricity, dynamic coordination and static coordination – balancing. Postural stability and dynamic balance may represent gradual indicators of neurological dysfunction or exceptional skills for performance rifle shooting, circus art or special professions, provided that they are objectively measured (Păunescu, Păunescu, & Mircică, 2017).

Balance ability is closely related to speed, strength and mobility, being of great importance in the acquisition and improvement of the technique and tactics, as well as in competition tests in the two sports, Kyorugi (fight) and Kata (form). All taekwondo (TKD) techniques involve the whole body working in a balanced and coordinated way, resulting in a natural position and economic movements at all levels (Păunescu, 2013). In the karate fight, it is impossible to self-defend and attack in a precise order; the movements are free, yet consist in a certain purity that exists only in kata (Macoveanu, 1996). The most significant techniques for assessing these abilities are kinaesthetic sensitivity (measured with the kinesimeter) and the sense of balance. The latter can be measured for: static balance (which refers to the ability of holding a stationary position); dynamic balance (which refers to the ability of achieving and holding a proper position during movement) (Tudor, 2005).

Problem Statement

According to Hrysomallis (2011), the relationship between balance ability and sports injury risk has been demonstrated in many cases, but the relationship between balance ability and sports performance is less clear. This quantitative analysis compares the balance ability of athletes practicing different sports, determines whether there are differences in the balance ability of athletes at various competition levels within the same sport, identifies the relationship of balance ability with performance measures and examines the influence of balance training on sports performance or motor skills.

Thus, several studies have found that poor balance ability is significantly related to an increased risk of ankle injuries in different sports activities, and this relation seems to be more common in males than females. After using games with different equilibrium exercises, over 12 weeks (Cosma, Rusu, Ilinca, & Nanu, 2016), for children aged 6-7 years, changes in the balance of tested subjects demonstrate their influence on the experimental intervention module effectiveness in developing psychomotor skills, the average progress being 32.17% balance on the right foot and 33.16% on the left foot.

Prospective studies suggested that adding a balance training component to the activities of recreationally active subjects or physical education students resulted in improvements in vertical jump, agility, shuttle run and downhill slalom skiing (Păunescu et al., 2017). In the literature, there is little evidence of the influence of balance training on the motor skills of elite athletes, the balance ability being correlated with the level of competition, more experienced athletes having better balance ability.

Zago et al. (2015) suggest that elite karateka have shown a refined dynamic balance control obtained through the increase of the support base and different manoeuvres of lower limbs. In their turn, Cromwell, Meyers, Meyers, & Newton (2007) underline that improving balance and walking ability through Tae Kwon Do exercise may serve to restore function that has declined with age and preserve mobility for older adults.

Research Questions

Given the complexity of the field, including the various influences of socio-demographic variables, the present study asks whether there are significant associations or differences between the balance ability of kyorugi taekwondo athletes and karate athletes participating only in kata competitions. Thus, the hypothesis to be tested is H1: There are significant differences in the manifestation of the dynamic balance ability between taekwondo athletes and those practicing karate.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the research is to evaluate the ability to manifest dynamic balance in the two sports, as well as to compare this ability in the lower and upper limbs.

Research Methods

Materials

In this research, the objective assessment of balance ability in karate and taekwondo was achieved through the Y-Balance platform (Figure 01 ) (Cosma, Rusu, Ilinca, & Nanu, 2016). This is a dynamic test in a leg position that requires strength, flexibility, central control and proprioception, and a position of facial/ forward lying support on one hand. It was used to evaluate physical performance and demonstrate functional symmetry. The purpose of this test is to maintain balance on one leg and a facial/forward restraint on one hand, as far as possible with the other lower or upper limb in three different directions. The three directions of movement are: anterior, postero-median, post-lateral for the leg, and lateral, postero-medial, antero-medial for the hand, executed per individual limb.

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Findings

Descriptive statistics

In the preliminary data analysis, we made a descriptive statistic of the results for the two separate samples Tables 01 - 04 ).

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It is noted that, in taekwondo athletes, the median of the data (the centre line in the box) is not at the centre of the box, having a positive asymmetry in the lower value (Figure 02 ).

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The above representation (Figure 03 ) suggests a large distribution and an asymmetry towards higher scores for athletes practicing karate.

Conclusion

In our research, according to the sport practiced, statistics show that the closest average of the results has been achieved for the left lower limb, the left upper limb in the postero-medial direction, the right upper limb in the lateral and postero-medial directions, while for the right lower limb, the right and left upper limbs in the antero-medial direction, the athletes participating in kyorugi have achieved a better average compared to those participating in kata events.

Thus, we can argue that, in the case of subjects tested by us, there are differences between taekwondo and karate athletes in balance ability for the right lower limb, the right and left upper limbs in the antero-medial direction.

References

1. Cosma, G., Rusu, L., Ilinca, I., & Nanu, C. (2016). Improving the pupils’ balance through rhythmic and movement games. The European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences, XI, 320-325. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.06.44
2. Cromwell, R., Meyers, M. P., Meyers, E. P., & Newton, R. (2007). Tae Kwon Do: An effective exercise for improving balance and walking ability in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology, 62(6), 641-646.
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