A longitudinal study on karate parallel punch and front kick biomechanics: performance indicators and the effect of training

Titel A longitudinal study on karate parallel punch and front kick biomechanics: performance indicators and the effect of training

Autor*innen Christian Mele, Jonathan Feng-Shun Lin, Claire Wei, Jan C.L Lau, Katja Mombaur

Zitationsvorschlag

Mele, C., Lin, J. F.-S., Wei, C., Lau, J. C. L., & Mombaur, K. (2026). A longitudinal study on karate parallel punch and front kick biomechanics: performance indicators and the effect of training. Journal of Martial Arts Research, 9, Article 63. https://doi.org/10.25847/jomar.2026.63

Abstract

This study characterized biomechanical development during karate skill acquisition through longitudinal motion capture analysis. Four novices received weekly instruction from a black belt, nidan Goju-ryu instructor over four months. Motion data for parallel punch and front kick techniques were collected across 32 sessions and compared with expert performance. Expert motion demonstrated consistent signatures: two-phase velocity patterns (moderate approach followed by explosive impact), high repeatability (r > 0.85), and late-stage peak timing (85-90% of movement). Novices improved in trajectory consistency, peak velocity magnitude, and movement repeatability over four months. However, the two-phase velocity profile, sharp acceleration patterns, and precise timing developed slowly. Front kicks were easier to learn than punches, showing higher expert correlations. Positional accuracy was less critical than velocity/acceleration patterns for technique effectiveness. Findings reveal differential learning rates across biomechanical features, with force timing acquisition lagging behind force magnitude development.