Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training With Specific Techniques on Jumping Ability and Change of Direction Speed in Karate Athletes: An Inter-individual Analysis
Question
Does adding karate-specific HIIT improve jumping ability and change-of-direction speed in cadet karate athletes compared with usual training?
Summary
In 10 cadet karate athletes, adding 4 weeks of karate-specific HIIT to usual training did not produce statistically significant group-by-time improvements in squat jump, countermovement jump, or change-of-direction speed compared with usual training alone. Individual response analysis suggested some athletes improved, but the study was very small.
Methodology
- Cadet karate athletes competing at national or international level.
- 10 participants.
- All-out karate punch and kick combinations performed in front of a partner.
- Work intervals: 4 seconds.
- Recovery: 8 seconds low-intensity combat stance, with 3 minutes between rounds in weeks 1-2 and 2 minutes between rounds in weeks 3-4.
- Intensity: All-out technique execution during work intervals.
- About 20 minutes of HIIT within a 90-minute training session.
- 2 sessions per week in weeks 1-2 and 3 sessions per week in weeks 3-4.
- 4 weeks, 10 HIIT sessions.
- Randomized controlled training study with inter-individual response analysis
- Squat jump and countermovement jump, Change-of-direction speed by T-test, and Session RPE and individual response classification were tracked.
Outcomes
Main reported result
No significant group-by-time interaction was observed for squat jump, countermovement jump, or change-of-direction speed.
Main reported result
No significant group or time effects were observed for the primary performance outcomes.
Main reported result
The HIIT group showed a 15.2% squat-jump increase and 1.7% change-of-direction-speed improvement descriptively, but these did not establish a statistically significant group effect.
Main reported result
Responder analysis identified some individual responders, including 2 of 5 HIIT athletes for squat jump and change-of-direction speed.
Insights
- Very short all-out sport-specific intervals may not be enough to improve jump or change-of-direction performance over only 4 weeks.
- Individual response may vary substantially in small athlete samples.
- Progressing density by reducing recovery is feasible but did not prove efficacy here.
Limitations
- Very small sample.
- Short intervention.
- Menstrual cycle of female athletes was not controlled.
- Neuromuscular stress was not measured.
- Homogeneity of biological age was limited.
Safety
- No injury events were reported in the extracted full paper sections; eligibility required high attendance.