martial arts

Purpose: Cell homeostasis is an essential factor in maintaining cellular health and intracellular mechanisms, which can also be associated with inflammatory factors and increased stress for muscle cell health. Calcium is also a necessary factor in cell health and is to establish homeostasis in the body . This study aimed to investigate the effect of high-intensity training on serum calcium levels in combat women. Method: For this purpose, 18 women karateka in the age range of 17 to 23 years were randomly divided into 2 groups: control (n=7) and exercise ((n=11). The exercise group performed proper exercises to improve karate and aerobic techniques for 6 weeks in the intensities of more than 80% of the maximum heart rate reserve.  Physiological indices and blood samples were measured 24 hours before and 48 hours after the training protocol.  To measure calcium cell biomarker, the Pars Azmoon calcium kit was used.  Research data were analysed by covariance test at the significant level (P≤0.05) using SPSS software version 25 . Results: After six weeks of high-intensity training, there was a significant difference in serum calcium levels in the exercise group compared to the control group (P = 0.002).  Also, the results within the group showed a significant increase in serum calcium (P = 0.016) in the exercise group compared to baseline conditions. Conclusions: High intensity training seems to increase serum calcium in female athletes, and this can lead to precursors to cellular disorders, muscle damage and increase inflammatory factors and ultimately decrease the performance of female athletes. However, more research is essential in this regard .

Background: Karate consists of two somewhat different disciplines, kata, and kumite; each one may have a different effect on foot structure and dynamics in the longterm.   Aim : As pedobarography is indicative of foot function, the present study aimed to compare pedobarographic profile during gait between young females participating in international kata and kumite competitions and non-karate-ka females. Materials and Methods: Displacement and velocity of the center of pressure, and peak pressure in ten regions of the foot of 10 kata-ka, 12 kumite-ka, and 16 non-karate-ka were measured with a pressure platform during barefoot walking. Results: Peak pressure in the lateral-heel and lateral-toes of kata-ka and kumite-ka was significantly lower than non-karate-ka ( P <0.05). Furthermore, peak pressure in the kata-ka midfoot was lower than non-karate-ka ( P =0.01 in medial-foot, P =0.01 in lateral-midfoot). In the anteroposterior direction, center of pressure velocity and displacement were significantly different among the three groups ( P <0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the practice of repeated intensive karate exercises has a demonstrable effect on foot progression, dynamic loading velocity, and plantar load distribution during gait. Moreover, practicing kata probably has a greater impact on the measured parameters.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of PMS on aerobic, anaerobic, and cognitive performance in female combat athletes. Method: In this semi-experimental study with a repeated measures design, 20 female combat athletes (mean age: 24.5±2.1 years) were assessed during two phases of their menstrual cycle: the PMS phase (7-10 days before menstruation) and the non-PMS phase (days 7-14 of the cycle). Aerobic performance was measured using the Bruce treadmill test, anaerobic performance was assessed by the Wingate test, and cognitive performance was evaluated through simple and choice reaction time tests. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests and Pearson correlation (p<0.05). Results: The findings showed a significant reduction in VO₂ max (6.2%), time to exhaustion, and a significant increase in maximal heart rate and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) during the PMS phase compared to the non-PMS phase (p<0.05). Anaerobic performance also declined, with a reduction in peak power (6.2%) and mean power (7.5%), an increase in fatigue index (16.2%), and lower blood lactate levels (p<0.01). Cognitive performance deteriorated during PMS, demonstrated by increased simple (16.7%) and choice (16.6%) reaction times, more errors, and decreased accuracy (p<0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between PMS symptom severity and VO₂ max reduction (r=0.72), as well as between blood lactate levels and reaction time (r=0.65) (p<0.01). Conclusion: PMS negatively affects aerobic, anaerobic, and cognitive performance in female combat athletes. These findings highlight the importance of considering the menstrual cycle phases in designing training and competition schedules for female athletes to optimize performance and prevent potential declines associated with PMS.