Biomechanics of Kumite Style Gyaku tsuki in Karate

Abstract

In karate sparring (Kumite), punches are used more than kicks to score points. Among these punches, the gyaku tsuki is the most commonly used punch. The objective of the punch is to hit the target at a medium range in a very short time producing maximum force. In this study we propose to design a new standalone system to measure the speed and force generated by the punch. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been performed to determine why the specific sensor arrangement works efficiently, distributing the force on all sensors. Since punches are executed within a few hundred milliseconds, identifying the punch which is faster by even a few milliseconds would give an edge in competitions. Two types of gyaku tsuki in Kumite stance were compared for speed and force generated-a normal gyaku tsuki and a gyaku tsuki without rotating the fist.