Sport Sci Health. 2012 Dec;8(2-3):81-85. Epub 2012 Nov 17.Metabolic and hormonal responses to a single session of kumite (free non-contact fight) and kata (highly ritualized fight) in karate athletes.Benedini S, Longo S, Caumo A, Luzi L, Invernizzi PL.SourceDepartment of Sport, Nutrition and Health Sciences, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy ; Research Center of Metabolism IRCCS Policlinico San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy ; Research Center of Metabolism, Piazza Edmondo Malan, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.AbstractBACKGROUND:Several studies report martial arts as a good model for investigating neuroendocrine responses to competitive fighting. However, little is known on the metabolic responses elicited by elite athletes during fighting. In particular, the metabolic picture in elite athletes of martial arts is little known.AIM:In the present study, our aim was to investigate the acute effects of a session of karate practice on the glucose-insulin system.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Ten healthy individuals (6M/4F; BMI: 22.1 0.7 kg/m(2); 21.9 1.1 years, mean SE) who practice karate in national or international competitions were enrolled. All participants completed two experimental trials in a randomised-crossover fashion. A basal blood sample was collected from each athlete to assess plasma glucose, insulin, cortisol, testosterone and catecholamines, before karate training session. In two separate days, another blood sample was collected from each participants after 3 min of real fighting (kumite) and 3 min of ritualized simulation of combat (kata).RESULTS:In both trials, plasma glucose resulted to be higher at the end the of performance compared to the basal (p < 0.001 after kumite and p < 0.02 after kata). In contrast, insulin was similar in the basal and after physical activity in the two trials. Catecholamines were higher after kata and kumite sessions with respect to the basal values (p < 0.04) and, in particular, epinephrine post-kumite values were much greater than those measured after kata.CONCLUSIONS:Our results indicate that unlike performances of karate (kumite and kata) elicit different plasma glucose increases. In particular, we found that glucose and epinephrine concentrations increased more after kumite than after kata. J Sports Sci. 2013 Feb 20. [Epub ahead of print]Effect of target change during the simple attack in fencing.Gutierrez-Davila M, Rojas FJ, Caletti M, Antonio R, Navarro E.Sourcea University of Granada , Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Physical Education and Sports , Granada , Spain.AbstractAbstract The aim of this study was to test the effect that changing targets during a simple long lunge attack in fencing exerts on the temporal parameters of the reaction response, the execution speed, and the precision and the coordination of the movement pattern. Thirty fencers with more than 10 years of experience participated in this study. Two force platforms were used to record the horizontal components of the reaction forces and thereby to determine the beginning of the movement. A three-dimensional (3D) system recorded the spatial positions of the 9 markers situated on the fencer plus the epee, while a moving target was projected on a screen, enabling the control of the target change. The results indicated that when a target change is provoked the reaction time (RT), movement time (MT), and the time