HEART RATE RESPONSE DURING A KARATE TRAINING SESSION

Karate practice can promote beneficial adaptations on the health-related components of physical fitness. Among the components, the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) is an important indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness, as it is also a strong and independent predictor of the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and all other causes. Previous studies have evaluated the heart rate (HR) responses in the karate modality during protocols elaborated by researchers who simulated training. However, the results should be carefully interpreted, since elaborated protocols can compromise the ecological validity of the HR behavior. Thus, the aim of the study was to monitor the HR to investigate the distribution of intensity during a karate training session (TS) with ecological validity preserved. Nine athletes (M (SD) = 22 (5.2) years; 60.3 (12.9) weight; 170.0 (0.10) height; 170.0 (0.10) cm; 11.6 (5.7) % fat) performed a maximal incremental test (IT) and one TS with continuous HR monitoring, subsequently distributed by Edward's method. The mean TS duration was 91.3 (11.9) min (IC95% = 82.0 - 100.5). The values of average and maximum HR of the TS were equivalent to 72 % (IC95% = 66 - 78 %) and 94 % (IC95% = 89 - 99 %) respectively, of maximum HR reached in the incremental test (HRmax). During 79.9 % (IC95% = 65.7 - 94.1 %) of the total time of TS the athletes remained at intensity above 60% of HRmax. Thus, it was concluded that the TS lies within the ACSM recommendations concerning intensity, duration and weekly frequency, presenting itself as an interesting alternative of exercise to promote cardiorespiratory fitness.