Biomechanical Analysis of Karate Punch

Acknowledgements

I would like to take this opportunity to that the people who encouraged and supported me to complete my dissertation and sports science degree. Without the help, guidance and support of many people this dissertation would not have been possible. Firstly, thank you to Tom Korff for all his guidance and assistance throughout this study, it was greatly appreciated.

Secondly, I would also like to show thanks to my parents and my little sister for supporting me throughout my academic and personal career to date, for providing me with life skills, support, opportunities and much needed motivation to keep me striving towards my goals.

I would also like to thank my Sensei's, Gary Oosthuizen and Nathaniel Peat, without you this dissertation would not exist. For sharing your knowledge of martial arts with me and keeping me motivated to always keep striving for the best, to always reach for the stars.

Finally I would like to thank the amazing friends I have met throughout my time at university, for making it an incredible experience and for making it what it is, a great experience worth living!

Abstract

The research paper aims to examine the biomechanics of karate punch. The research utilizes the secondary research method by finding and reviewing the relevant literature in the form of articles and books. This research method was selected because the nature of the topic is descriptive. The significance of this topic is to the research in the field pf martial arts and to have an understanding of how the principles of physic and biology work together in the practice of martial arts. The martial arts are often considered a set of unexplainable skills that are only known to a select few. Martial arts are nothing more than physically applied scientific knowledge. The main bodies of science that explain all of the feats of the martial arts are physics and biology. Analysis of a forward karate punch is made as an example of collision mechanics. The energy lost to deformation of an opponent is evaluated, and the deformation is shown to be maximized if contact is made when the fist has the greatest speed. In karate, fighting the maximum deformation is obtained by focusing a punch to terminate several centimetres inside an opponent's body. The average impact force is calculated and compared with that needed to break a human bone by stressing it beyond its ultimate bending stress value.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction6

Background6

Study Purpose7

Chapter 2: Literature Review9

Theoretical Perspective10

The biomechanical analysis and energy12

Force = Mass x Acceleration12

Speed = Distance over Time12

Biomechanical Principles13

Physical Analysis13

Human Anatomy16

Biomechanics of the Shoulder16

Biomechanics of the Glenohumeral Joint17

Biomechanical Adaptation to Training18

Critical Position of Hand and Foot20

Striking an Opponent21

Deformation Energy21

Chapter 3: Methodology26

Research Design26

Data Collection Procedure27

Validity27

Ethical Concerns27

Chapter 4: Results29

Concept of Force, Moment and Strain Energy29

The Striking Surface31

Focus31

Use of Body Weight32

Chapter 5: Discussion37

Impact force37

Chapter 6: Conclusions and Suggestions for Further Work42

References44

Chapter 1: Introduction

Since the establishment of martial arts, biomechanical study researchers were interested to quantify the speed and force of the strikes carried out among the ...