Karate Injuries: A Global Bibliometric Analysis

Nowadays, karate is practiced for sports competition, health, and self-defense, and trauma from direct confrontations between opponents is noted. But this phenomenon is particularly evident in kumite competition: semi contact, knockdown, full contact, mix fighting, which may be of research interest. By conducting a bibliometric analysis, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on karate and injuries. It identifies prominent researchers, influential institutions, global trends, and emerging issues. This study was conducted in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, using a descriptive-analytical approach in R. After selection, 176 papers were analyzed from 1980 to 2 Oct 2024. The findings of the thematic mapping analysis revealed that research on karate injuries falls into four main categories: motor themes (e.g., muscle strength), niche themes (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament), emerging or declining themes (e.g., protective equipment), and basic themes (e.g., martial arts, karate, and injuries). It was concluded that disseminating knowledge about injuries in karate is an ongoing area of research in the field of combat sports, which may contribute to greater awareness of injuries within the karate community. These findings emphasize the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration and the strengthening of scientific infrastructure to improve injury prevention and promote the health of athletes.