2023, Volume 19
Quo Vadis, karate?
Paweł Piepiora1, Kazimierz Witkowski1
1Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Author for correspondence: Paweł Piepiora; Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wrocław, Poland; email: pawel.piepiora@awf.wroc.pl
Full text
Abstract
Background and Study Aim: Sport competition in karate is constantly changing and trying to adapt to the modern age, where an escalation of neo gladiatorism has recently been noted. Therefore, the objective of this article is the most general conclusion (knowledge) resulting from synthetic reflection on the effects of transformation of competition formula in karate in the 21st century.
Material and Methods: The desk research method was used. Resources concerning contemporary competition formula in karate were queried, and the analysed resources were related to the existing division of kumite systems. Because the text presents the results of theoretical research, it was published in the form of an original work.
Results: The World Karate Federation (WKF) semi contact competition is the most popular. There has been no change (in relation to the 20th century) in knockdown competition, which still occurs only within kyokushin karate. In contrast, the karate combat (KC) organisation dominates the full contact formula. Furthermore, it is noticed that the mix fighting formula has been abandoned in karate to favour performances by karatekas in neo gladiatorial organisations.
Conclusions: Trends of karate are evident nowadays. The semi contact formula is accepted as an Olympic sport, so it meets the criteria of development in line with the humanistic assumptions of the creator of this martial arts. The knockdown formula, on the other hand, is stabilised in kyokushin karate. And the full contact formula dominates through KC. The mix fighting formula in karate, by contrast, has been abandoned in favour of neo gladiator organisations.
Key words: combat sports, full contact, knockdown, mix fighting, semi contact