An Investigation into the Incidence and Characteristics of Karate Injuries

Karate is a martial art whose physical aspects are oriented toward developing defensive and counterattacking body movements. Despite offering many positive effects, it also carries the risk of accidents and injuries, especially when taking part in organized training for competition and winning. This study assessed the training experience, the severity of an injury, other exercises done at some regular frequency, protective gear worn, recurring injuries experienced, and situations of serious or permanent damage. All in all, the reported most common types of injuries were bruises/contusions with 91% and joint injuries with 49%. Other common places of injury included the left foot with 23% and the right hand with 19%. There was no statistically significant difference in the types of injuries between study groups except for joint injuries of the left foot (p=0.002) and back injuries (p=0.017). It has also been revealed that most athletes are willing to use the protection of central parts and striking surfaces. The current research highlights the inclusion of protective measures in karate training to reduce the possibility of injuries, establishing relevant awareness and equipment measures to help protect the participants from potential risks of injury during training.