title: Training effect of a stationary preprogrammed target dummy on visual response time and contest performance of karate athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Response time (RT) is crucial in karate athletes and can be trained. The aim of this study was to compare standing eye-hand RT and contest performance in nonelite karate athletes who underwent 6 weeks of training using either a stationary preprogrammed target dummy (experimental group) or traditional karate instruction (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male nonelite karate athletes (20 in each group) were recruited. Standing RT and contest performance was assessed before and after training. Attack RT (eye-hand or eye-leg) and success rate were measured in the experimental group only during training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, years of karate practice, Body Mass Index, and standing RT before training did not significantly differ between groups. In the control group, standing RT was significantly improved in the dominant hand after training (25.62±24.18 ms, P=0.0003), but there was no significant improvement in standing RT of the nondominant hand and karate contest score. In the experimental group, standing RT was significantly faster after training (improvement in dominant hand: 69.84±50.85 ms, P<0.0001; improvement in nondominant hand: 68.94±59.43 ms, P<0.0001), and the karate contest score was significantly improved (P=0.0234). During the training period, mean attack RT improved from 1047.4 ms in week1 to 944.9 ms in week6 (P<0.001). However, the success rate gradually decreased from 89.3% (week 1) to 62.4% (week 6) (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 6-week training using a stationary preprogrammed target dummy improved contest performance and standing RT in both the dominant and nondominant hands of nonelite karate athletes. Improvements of RT in the dominant hand were also seen in the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.|Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Hsiu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Office of Physical Education, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Tsung
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Recreational Sports Management, Yu Da University of Science and Technology, Zaoqiao, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ai-Yin
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan - lichu@mail.cgu.edu.tw.|Biostatistics Core Laboratory, Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.|Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lai-Chu
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: See
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult