Ballistic movements have been shown to be controlled differently by the central nervous system than slow, ramp actions. It has been suggested that the cerebellum is involved primarily with ballistic actions, while the basal ganglia primarily control slower movements. These command and control differences have been shown to manifest in unique ways at the neuromuscular level. Ballistic actions evidence high firing rates, brief contraction times, and high rates of force development. A characteristic triphasic agonistantagonist-agonist burst pattern presents itself during ballistic movement, wherein the amount and intensity of antagonist co-activation is variable. In conditions of low-grade tonic muscular activity, a premovement depression (P:MD; or silent period, PMS) can occur in both agonist and antagonist muscles prior to ballistic contraction. The agonist P:MD period may serve to potentiate the force and velocity of the following contraction A selective activation of fast twitch motor units may occur in ballistic contractions under certain movement conditions. Finally, high velocity, ballistic training induces specific neuromuscular adaptations that are representative of the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms that sub serve ballistic movement. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

In this project, I advocate for what I call “embodied imagination” and an entangled multiplicity in lieu of binary oppositions through embodiment. This is not merely about the body; embodiment includes the mind, spirit, and other factors such as intersubjectivity, spatiotemporality, difference, and repetition—all in co-dependent and co-emergent relation. The history of Cartesian dualism and Western metaphysics looms large, and my argument stems from an alternative reading of what is possible for human life through acknowledgment of the multifaceted role of embodiment. To make sense of claims that can seem rather abstract, I ground my arguments and sources in examples and connections within the martial art of karate. More specifically, I most often reference kata, which are series of techniques taught in sequences from teacher to student and performed against imaginary opponents. The practice and performance of embodiment manifest through movement practices like martial arts; practitioners imagine virtual possibilities and execute actual decisions in creative modes. In creating and performing a kata that aligns with the themes of each chapter, I highlight this process of experimentation and exploration as a way to interrogate binary sets such as the mind/body and the real/virtual. In so doing, this project raises prescient questions about human being—what it means to be human, and, through embodied imagination, what we have the potential to become.

The present investigation attempted to determine whether imagery combined with relaxation (VMBR) facmlitated karate performance more effectively than either imagery or relaxation alone. Each subject (N=30) was randomly assigned to either a VMBR, relaxation, imagery or placebo control condition. Trait anxiety tests were administered at the beginning and the end of the six week test period. Performance tests were administered at the final class period along with precompetitive state anxiety. Trait anxiety results indicated a reduction in trait anxiety for all groups. State anxiety results indicated that the VIYBR and relaxation groups exhibited less state anxiety than the imagery and control groups. Performance results produced a main effect only for sparring with the VMBR group exhibiting better performance than all other groups.

Title: Management Comparison of JKA Sports Karate Association in the Czech Republic and Abroad Goals: This thesis deals with the problematic of management in sports karate organizations in selected European countries. The aim is to give suggestions for management improvement in selected organizations. The suggestions will be based on an analysis of managerial functions and subsequent comparison of Czech and foreign organizations. Methods: For this thesis I used the methods of structured non-standardized interview, descriptive analysis, SWOT analysis and comparison. Results: The results of the thesis are proposals for implementation in problematic parts of each organization. The changes are proposed in managerial functions of planning, organizing and staffing and improvement of sponsorship and promotional activities. Keywords: Management, Managerial functions, Sports organization, Marketing, Sponsorship, Comparison, Karate

Pastaruoju metu susidomėjimas kovos menais pasaulyje yra išaugęs tiek Lietuvoje, tiek visame pasaulyje. Karate yra vienas iš kovos menų stilių – tai būdas taip ištreniruoti savo kūną, kad priešininką galima būtų nugalėti tik kūno technika, nenaudojant ginklo Šiandienos karate galima išskirti tris kryptis: karate kaip fizinis menas, kaip sportas ir kaip savigynos būdas. Šiame darbe karate nagrinėjamas kaip sportas, kuriuo užsiima ir Lietuvos sportininkai. Karate kovos vyksta sudėtingomis dinaminėmis sąlygomis, sportininkas kovodamas gali pasirinkti labai įvairią techniką (smūgiuoti rankomis ar kojomis, daryti pakirtimus), todėl yra labai svarbus tiek geras fizinis sportininko parengtumas, tiek specialusis parengtumas bei fizinio pasirengimo rodiklių kaita metiniu rengimo ciklu. Literatūroje pasigendama tokių tyrimų, ypač karate sportininkų testavimo rezultatų, kuriuos būtų galima sulyginti su šių dienų sportininkų rodikliais. Tyrimo tikslas – išanalizuoti tradicinio karate - do sportininkų sportinio rengimo programą ir nustatyti bendrojo ir specialaus fizinio parengtumo rodiklių kaitą metiniu rengimo ciklu, kad įvertintume sportininkų bendrąjį ir specialųjį pasirengimą atskiruose etapuose, treniruočių įtaką sportininko organizmui, nustatytume, ar treniruotėse tinkamai dozuojami krūviai ir į ką būtų galima atsižvelgti sudarant kitų metų treniruočių programą. Tikslui įgyvendinti buvo tirtas 5-ių pajėgiausių Lietuvos karate – do sportininkų fizinis rengimas metiniu rengimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Over the past several decades, the martial arts have become an increasingly popular. Martial arts are body, mind, and spiritual practices that originated in China. Karate - do is an empty - handed art - the ability to train your body to the point whereby you can overcome an opponent with one technique without the need for weapons. Three branches of present day karate - as a physical art, as a sport, and as self - defence - are developed. In our work we are used karate as sport, which is practiced in Lithuania too. Karate system consists of techniques of blocking or thwarting an attack and counterattacking the opponent by punching, striking, or kicking, therefore general and special physical qualification of athletes and the changes of indices of general and special physical qualification in different periods of yearly cycle training are very important. There are lack of such kind of studies which results could be compared to our athletes. The purpose of the work is to investigate the structure and content of the training process of karate athletes during the one year cycle of initial training and to analyze the changes of indices of general and special physical qualification of karate fighters in the yearlong cycle. The 5 karate athletes from Lithuania were studied. The indices of physical development, physical fitness and functional capacity were established three times during the year. It was found that in the period of our study the karate athletes indices of physical... [to full text]

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a aptidão física relacionada à saúde e a qualidade de vida de praticantes de lutas, artes marciais e modalidades de combate da cidade de São Paulo. Foram avaliados 965 indivíduos adultos do sexo masculino, praticantes das cinco modalidades mais populares no Brasil, por meio de bateria de avaliação da aptidão física (índice de massa corporal (IMC), relação cintura quadril (RCQ), percentual de gordura (%G), consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2máx), força muscular, resistência muscular e flexibilidade) e pelo questionário abreviado de qualidade de vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL- bref). Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva, da Análise de Correspondência, Análise de Variância e Correlação de Pearson, sendo que, para todas as análises foi utilizado o nível de significância de 5%. Segundo os critérios de aptidão física relacionada à saúde, propostos pelo Colégio Americano de Medicina do Esporte (2006), os praticantes avaliados apresentaram IMC classificado como sobrepeso (caratê, jiu-jitsu e judô) e normal (kung-fu e taekwondo); RCQ de risco moderado para todos os grupos; %G médio para todos os grupos; VO2máx acima da média (caratê e kung-fu) e bem acima da média (jiu-jitsu, judô e taekwondo); força muscular abaixo da média em todas as modalidades, exceto no caso do kung-fu, com classificação precária; resistência muscular acima da média em todos os grupos; flexibilidade média em todos os grupos. Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes quanto ao IMC, com o grupo kung-fu apresentando valores inferiores ao caratê e ao judô e o grupo jiu-jitsu apresentando valores maiores que o caratê, kung-fu e taekwondo. Em relação ao VO2máx estimado, o grupo kungfu apresentou valor menor que os grupos jiu-jitsu e judô. Quanto à resistência muscular, o grupo jiu-jitsu apresentou valor superior aos grupos taekwondo e judô, sendo que este último apresentou valor inferior ao grupo kung-fu. Para a flexibilidade, o grupo jiu-jitsu apresentou valor inferior aos grupos caratê, taekwondo e kung-fu, sendo que este último apresentou superioridade em relação ao grupo judô. A qualidade de vida foi igual entre os grupos e todos apresentaram resultados superiores aos valores normativos nos quatro domínios para homens adultos brasileiros. As correlações entre aptidão física e os domínios de qualidade de vida foram significantes, porém muito baixas. Com base nos achados do presente estudo é possível concluir que a prática das diferentes atividades investigadas provavelmente está associada com boa qualidade de vida e aptidão física relacionada à saúde acima da média, exceto no que se refere à força muscular / This study was designed to evaluate health-related physical fitness and quality of life in practitioners of martial arts and combat sports in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 965 adult male practitioners of the five most popular modalities in Brazil were evaluated using the following variables and fitness assessment tests: body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), fat percentage (%G), estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), muscle strength, muscle endurance and flexibility. The subjects also answered an abbreviated version of the The World Health Organization quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-bref). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correspondence analysis, analysis of variance and Pearson\'s correlation with 5% of significance level in all analysis. According to health-related physical fitness criteria proposed by the American College of Sports Medicine (2006), the subjects evaluated presented BMI ranges between overweight (in karate, jiu-jitsu and judo groups) and normal (in kung-fu and taekwondo groups), WHR indicating moderate risks and percentage of fat (%G) in average range in all groups; above average VO2max range (in karate and kung-fu groups) and well above average VO2max range (in jiu-jitsu, judo and taekwondo groups), below average muscle strength in all modalities, except in the kung fu group, which was rated well below average; and above average strenght endurance and average flexibility in all groups. Statistically significant differences were found in BMI, with the kung-fu group presenting lower results compared to the karate and judo groups, and with the jiu-jitsu group presenting better results than karate, kung fu and taekwondo. Regarding VO2max, the kung fu group presented lower scores than the jiu-jitsu and judo groups. As for strenght endurance, jiu-jitsu group showed higher scores when compared to taekwondo and judo group, with this last one presenting lower scores than the kung fu group. Regarding flexibility, jiu-jitsu group showed lower scores when compared to karate, taekwondo and kung fu groups, with this last one showing superior results when compared to the judo group. The quality of life was similar between the groups, and all presented higher values in the four domains than the normative data for Brazilians male adults. Correlations between physical fitness and the quality of life domains were very low, yet significant. Based on the findings of this study we conclude that the practice of the various investigated activities is probably associated with good quality of life and health-related fitness above average, except with regard to muscle strength

Orientador: Carlos José Martins / Resumo: As antigas artes marciais, sobretudo aquelas de origem japonesa, não possuem um acervo escrito que permita asseverar seguramente sua gênese. Seu conteúdo histórico ainda é transmitido de forma oral, por meio da “relação mestre-discipulo”, tal como no passado. Com o Karatê não é diferente, ainda que sua origem tenha se dado no arquipélago de Ryūkyū. Nesse contexto, essa narrativa que se inicia em Okinawa, passa pelas influências oriundas da China e Japão, segue pela escolarização, pela esportivização, pela chegada ao Brasil e pelas contribuições das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) no alto rendimento foi amplamente apresentada. A metodologia utilizada foi a qualitativa, do tipo “Não Probabilística” e por “Tipicidade”, utilizando a escala do tipo “Likert” e o aplicativo de acesso remoto do tipo “SaaS”, o “Google Drive”. Com relação às tecnologias, os resultados revelaram que os professores/técnicos e atletas possuem pouco conhecimento das ferramentas - aplicativos e softwares – que podem contribuir em seus treinamentos, ainda que façam uso, em larga escala, das formas básicas da tecnologia. Existe, contudo, um desejo e uma expectativa considerável por novos conhecimentos que possam auxiliar no desempenho / Abstract: The ancient martial arts, especially those of Japanese origin, do not have a written collection that can safely assert its genesis. The historical content is still transmitted orally "master-disciple relationship" as in the past and with Karate is no different, although its origin happened in the archipelago gave Ryūkyū. In this context, a narrative that begins in Okinawa, passes through influences from China and Japan, followed by schoolarization, sportivization, arrival in Brazil and contributions of TIC in high performance were widely presented. The methodology used was qualitative, of the type "No Probabilistic" and "Typicity", using the "Likert" type scale, and the "SaaS" remote access application, Google Drive. Regarding technologies, the results revealed that teachers/coachs and athletes have a low knowledge of the tools - applications and software - that can contribute to their training, even if they use, in large scale, basic forms, however, there is a desire and a considerable expectation for new knowledge that may aid in performance / Doutor

Title: Selected gymnastic exercises for flexibility development of hip joints in karate training Objective: The aim of this thesis is to verify, whether typical gymnastic exercises have an effect on the development of hip joints in a group of karatist with different length of training practice. Methods: This thesis is of quasi-experimental character. 18 probands were intentionally selected from two groups - a group of moderately advanced (10) and a group of advanced (8) aged 6-11 years. Probands have completed a movement program aimed at developing flexibility in the hip joints (static, dynamic and theraband exercises). Meantime all probands underwent initial, first control, second control and output measurements using the SFTR method in the hip joints every four weeks of the movement program. Methods used: Mann-Whitney test, Effect size, SFTR method. Results: In both groups, the joint range in the hip joint was improved, especially in the first control measurement (after static exercises). Overall, there is a slight increase in both groups from input to output for all movements. The effect of the exercise on the mobility of the hip joint was not proved, as well as the effect of different types of exercises in both groups with different length of training practice. Keywords: gymnastics, karate,...

<p>Syftet med rapporten var att beskriva varför idrottsföreningar inte internutbildar sina ledare. Vidare syftade rapporten till att analysera vilka faktorer i det befintliga samarbetet mellan idrottsföreningarna och SISU idrottsutbildarna som gjorde att samarbetet fortsatte samt att analysera vilka avgörande faktorer som gjorde att idrottsföreningarna avstod från ett samarbete med dem. I resultatet visade det sig att några av föreningarna inte hade tillräcklig kunskap om vad SISU idrottsutbildarnas arbete gick ut på, andra faktorer såsom avstånd till utbildningar, ovilja från ledarnas sida, glömska och ett bristande engagemang från SISU idrottsutbildarnas sida, var avgörande då föreningarna avstod från ett samarbete med dem. De som har eller har haft ett samarbete med organisationen tycker att den personliga kontakten är viktig för att samarbetet skall fortsätta. Fördelarna med samarbetet har varit de resurspengar som klubben tillgår via lärcirklarna. Vidare är den vetenskapliga kunskap som ledare och adepter kan tillgå i form av kurser, föreläsningar, lärcirklar, böcker och andra arrangemang inom SISU idrottsutbildarna oerhört uppskattad.</p> / Lade upp denna uppsatsen en ganska lång tid efter opponeringen så jag kommer inte ihåg vilket datum och kunde inte hitta det nu heller.

<p><strong>Sammanfattning</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Denna studie undersöker på vilket sätt kampidrott beskrivs som viktigt och värdefullt av de som inom kampidrotterna kan anses har formell makt eller tolkningsföreträde.</p><p><strong><p>Syfte och frågeställningar</p></strong></p><p>Syftet är att analysera meningsskapande praktiker inom kampidrott.</p><p>• Vilka former av värdeskapande genom utövande av kampidrott framhävs avföreträdare för kampidrotterna?</p><p>• Vilka skillnader och likheter finns mellan värdeskapande inom kampidrotter och Riksidrottsförbundets officiella styrdokument?</p><p><strong><p>Metod</p></strong></p><p>Metoden kan beskrivas som deduktiv tematisk analys och forskningsansatsen är främst deskriptiv och analytisk till sin karaktär. Hemsidor publicerade av kampidrotternas specialidrottsförbund samt tidningen Fighter magazine under åren 2007-2008 analyseras utifrån ett teoretiskt ramverk. Överensstämmelser mellan källmaterialets innehåll och teorin registreras som data och analyseras.</p><p><strong><p>Resultat</p></strong></p><p>Utövande av kampidrott som en form av fysisk träning med målet av förändra sin kropp och förbättra sin hälsa framhävs ofta i materialet. Även färdighetsträning är en ofta förekommande meningskapande praktik inom kampidrott. Tävling och rangordning framstår som mycket viktigt inom vissa kampidrotter men som totalt eller tämligen ointressant inom andra. Självförsvar är en central del i vissa arter men förekommer inte alls inom andra. Det tycks finnas en inneboende konflikt mellan praktikerna tävling och självförsvar. Fysisk träning och socialt värde är praktiker som ofta betonas av både Riksidrottsförbundet och i källorna.</p><p><strong><p>Slutsats</p></strong></p><p>Färdighetsträning, fysisk träning och personlig utveckling framhävs mycket. Kampidrotterna förefaller kunna ge speciella förutsättningar för sociala kontakter mellan utövare. Det tycks finnas en konflikt mellan tävling i kampidrott och självförsvarsträning. Kampidrotternas värdeskapande praktiker överensstämmer på vissa punkter med de som framhävs av idrottsrörelsen generellt.</p><p> </p>