Strength and Conditioning Considerations for Kyokushin Karate Athletes

Strength and conditioning (S&C) are a key part of athletic preparation; however, kyokushin karate is an under researched area, and there is a lack of specific training recommendations for its athletes. The aims of this article were to (a) review the demands of kyokushin karate through conducting a needs analysis, (b) recommend a battery of fitness tests, and (c) provide training recommendations for kyokushin karatekas. This article synthesizes research on kyokushin karatekas and associated combat sports to produce practical applications that can be put to immediate use within the field of S&C.