title: Criterion Related Validity of Karate Specific Aerobic Test (KSAT).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Karate is one the most popular combat sports in the world. Physical fitness assessment on a regular manner is important for monitoring the effectiveness of the training program and the readiness of karatekas to compete.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to examine the criterion related to validity of the karate specific aerobic test (KSAT) as an indicator of aerobic level of karate practitioners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiorespiratory responses, aerobic performance level through both treadmill laboratory test and YoYo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YoYoIRTL1) as well as time to exhaustion in the KSAT test (TE'KSAT) were determined in a total of fifteen healthy international karatekas (i.e. karate practitioners) (means ± SD: age: 22.2 ± 4.3 years; height: 176.4 ± 7.5 cm; body mass: 70.3 ± 9.7 kg and body fat: 13.2 ± 6%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak heart rate obtained from KSAT represented ~99% of maximal heart rate registered during the treadmill test showing that KSAT imposes high physiological demands. There was no significant correlation between KSAT's TE and relative (mL/min kg) treadmill maximal oxygen uptake (r = 0.14; P = 0.69; [small]). On the other hand, there was a significant relationship between KSAT's TE and the velocity associated with VO2max (vVO2max) (r = 0.67; P = 0.03; [large]) as well as the velocity at VO2 corresponding to the second ventilatory threshold (vVO2 VAT) (r = 0.64; P = 0.04; [large]). Moreover, significant relationship was found between TE's KSAT and both the total distance covered and parameters of intermittent endurance measured through YoYoIRTL1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The KSAT has not proved to have indirect criterion related validity as no significant correlations have been found between TE's KSAT and treadmill VO2max. Nevertheless, as correlated to other aerobic fitness variables, KSAT can be considered as an indicator of karate specific endurance. The establishment of the criterion related validity of the KSAT requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory (Sport Performance Optimization), National Center of Medicine and Science in Sport, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaabene
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Higher Institute of Sports and Physical Education, Ksar Said, Tunisia ; Higher Institute of Sports and Physical Education, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Younes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hachana
authors.affiliation: Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: CETAPS, Rouen University, Mont Saint Aignan, France.
authors.forename: Montassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabben
authors.affiliation: Higher Institute of Sports and Physical Education, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Bessem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mkaouer
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Higher Institute of Sports and Physical Education, Ksar Said, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Yassine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Negra
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Higher Institute of Sports and Physical Education, Ksar Said, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mehrez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.affiliation: Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
keywords: Assessment, Validity; Martial Arts; Testing