Karate as a means of improving the level of physical fitness of middle-school students.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32540/2071-1476-2025-3-053Keywords:
karate, physical fitness, variable module, physical education, middle school age, lessons, moduleAbstract
Introduction. The article presents the rationale for implementing a variable module «Karate» aimed at improving the physical fitness of 7th-grade students. The variable module «Karate» was conducted within the system of 30 physical-education lessons during the third quarter, incorporating special exercises, karate elements, and movement games with components of martial arts. The effectiveness of applying karate means in the physical education of middle-school children was assessed by the increase in indicators of strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance, and speed. Purpose of the study – to determine the impact of karate means on improving the level of physical fitness among middle-school students. Research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization of data from scientific and methodological literature and online sources (studied in accordance with the research topic); pedagogical testing (to determine the level of development of physical qualities using standard physical-fitness tests); and methods of mathematical statistics (for calculating general and average values of indicators and their effectiveness). Results. During the experiment, a variable module «Karate» was introduced into the physical-education process for 7th-grade students, adapted to children of different levels of preparedness. The module was educationally oriented and included basic elements of karate techniques presented as health-oriented formal complexes (kata), theoretical knowledge, and exercises with karate elements aimed at developing physical qualities. The study determined the effect of karate means applied during physical-education lessons on the physical fitness level of students aged 12–13 years. Conclusions. It was established that the use of the «Karate» module in the physical education of middle-school children contributes to improving their physical-fitness indicators. Significant and statistically verified increases were ob-served among girls and boys of the experimental groups in strength (p ≤ 0,05), flexibility (p ≤ 0,01), endurance (p ≤ 0,01), and agility (p ≤ 0,05) compared to the control groups.
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