Abstract

This study pursued two objectives: (1) to describe the vertical jumping ability and speed and execution time of the maegeri front leg technique in international level karatekas, and (2) to analyse the degree of covariation between these variables. The participants were 13 male Spanish international level karatekas, shito-ryu style and specialising in kata. The study followed a descriptive correlational design. The variables analysed were CMJ vertical jump, measured by an Optojump infrared platform, and speed and execution time of a mae-geri kick, measured by a high speed camera (Casio EXFC-100). The average jump height was 48.7 ± 0.12 cm, the average speed of mae-geri was 19.8 ± 1.9 kph and 19.6 ± 1.4 kph, and the execution time of the kick was 264.85 ± 28.14 m/s and 274.69 ± 18.4 m/s, dominant and non-dominant leg respectively. The correlation intensities ranged from r = 0.72 to r = –0.80. The vertical jump had a high and statistically significant relationship with the speed and execution time of the mae-geri kick, a very important technique in competition kata in karate. This information may be helpful in order to plan training through simple and low cost tests and to detect talent.