THE EFFECT OF LONG-TERM KARATE TRAININGS IN 8-10 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ON SOME PHYSICAL COMPATIBILITY AND ANTROPOMETRIC ASPECTS

Abstract

The aim of this study to analyze the effect of long-term karate trainings in 8-10 year-old children on some physical compatibility and antropometric aspects.A total of 20 boys in aged between 8-10 years-oldparticapate in this study. The particants divided into two groups. Control group (height;132,7±4,84 cm, weight:32,33±8,06 kg)  and the Experimental group (height:125,2±6,70 cm, weight;23,8±4,94 kg).  Participants in the control group did not participate in a regular exercise program for 6 months. However, the experimental group participated in a training programme 90 minutes a day 4 times a week for six months, which contains basic karate techniques. All the participants were measured two times before and after the study in terms of height, weight, some physical aspects (the strength of hand grip, flexibility, vertical jump, back and leg force, the Flamingo balance test, the Illionis agility test, and bench press) and some antropometric aspects (elbow, hands, ankle diameter, front and upper arm, lower and upper leg, waist). The SPSS package programme has been used to analyze the study data. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.As a result of the analysis, after the six month ssignificant differences have been observed in the control group in measurements of height, weight, the strength of hand grip, vertical jump, leg force, the diameter of elbow and ankle (p<0,05). In the experimental group, it was observed that significant differences occurred statistically in all parametres apart from the diameter of elbow. As a result, it was determined great improvements were recorded in some physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics with the karate technical training applied for a six-month-period in boys in the 8-10 age group.According to our study, it can be said that karate training will be beneficial for children aged 8-10 forphysicalandan thropometric development.