The factor structure of general motor fitness and karate specific biomechanical tests: Application of confirmatory factor analysis

Ian Heazlewood, H KESHISHIAN

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Paper published in Proceedingspeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Multivariate approaches to predicting and understanding performance in sport are frequently recommended, however rarely implemented, to identify more comprehensively, those factor that are associated with high performance athletes and how such factors interact. The aim of this research was to understand the relationship of motor fitness and karate specific biomechanical tests utilised in karate as a model for talent identification based on confirmatory factor analysis. Twenty four karate athletes volunteered, 12 were classified as high performance athletes with black belt or higher and 12 were classified as non-high performance athletes, below green belt and these ability levels served as a classification variable. General motor fitness tests as Margaria power test, standing long jump, isometric grip strength, sit-reach flexibility, arm crank, peak aerobic power and anaerobic Wingate power test for peak power, time to peak power, mean power and power/weight were measured to reflect tests of power, force, ROM and speed. Karate specific motor fitness tests, as designed by a panel of experts (Delphi method), were tests of karate agility, power punch, speed punch, speed reaction time, balance and lower limb bilateral-abductor flexibility (angular displacement). The confirmatory factor analysis derived a four factor solution, which explained 72.1% of common variance. Tests loaded with factor 1 were predominantly tests of upper and lower body power production and were Margaria power test, arm crank, Wingate power test for peak power, time to peak power, mean power, power punch and speed punch (absolute loadings .536-.863). Tests that loaded with factor 2 (absolute loadings .570-.892) were sit-reach flexibility, bilateral-abductor flexibility, arm crank and karate specific balance. Factor 3 (absolute loadings .519-.924) loaded with standing long jump, peak aerobic power, Wingate peak power and Wingate power/weight. Factor 4 (absolute loadings .509-.882) was associated with Margaria power test, isometric grip strength with high loadings for karate agility and speed reaction time a punching ability and factor complexity was displayed.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationIFMBE Proceedings
    Place of PublicationBerlin, Germany
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages216-219
    Number of pages4
    Volume31
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010
    EventWCB 2010. 6th World Congress of Biomechanics, WCB 2010 - In Conjunction with 14th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, ICBME and 5th Asia Pacific Conference on Biomechanics, APBiomech - Singapore
    Duration: 1 Aug 20106 Aug 2010

    Conference

    ConferenceWCB 2010. 6th World Congress of Biomechanics, WCB 2010 - In Conjunction with 14th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, ICBME and 5th Asia Pacific Conference on Biomechanics, APBiomech
    Period1/08/106/08/10

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