SAFETY ASPECTS OF KARATE AS PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

The present study reviewed karate injuries sustained during regular training, as well as competition, to examine the safety aspects of karate as physical education and an extracurricular activity. Karate injuries during regular exercise are usually minor, most commonly contusions, bruises, superficial scratches, sprains, and/or strains. The head/neck, and/or extremities were the most commonly injured regions. If karate is included as one of the activities in the school physical education curriculum, three hours or less per week training to practice basic techniques, prearranged-sparring, and kata, without free-sparring, is recommended. If free-sparring is allowed as practice in physical education classes and/or as an extracurricular activity, teachers or instructors should stress the importance of controlling the techniques and using noncontact forms of karate. Article visualizations: