PURPOSE: Para-karate has been gaining popularity rapidly; however, scientific research on the subject remains limited. This study aims to examine the kata preferences at top-level para-karate events and explore the relationship between sport class (type of impairment) and kata selection. METHODS: Data was collected from nine events-four World Para-Karate Championships (2016, 2018, 2021, 2023) and five European Para-Karate Championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023). A total of 906 katas were performed: 567 by males and 339 by females. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: Top-level para-karate athletes utilized 62 katas (61%) from the official WKF list (102 katas). The most popular katas were Gojushiho Sho (19.9%), Unsu (11.5%), Kanku Sho (9.5%), Suparinpei (6.7%), and Jion (6.2%). A significant relationship was found between sport class and kata selection (p ≤ 0.05). The most popular kata for K30 was Unsu (15%), while K10 and K21 + K22 classes predominantly chose Gojushiho Sho (16.6% and 30.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Kata selection for para-karate athletes is influenced by the type of impairment. Intellectually impaired athletes and their coaches often select a single, challenging kata with a balanced fast-to-slow movement ratio, such as Gojushiho Sho, to optimize performance.

Comenius University in Bratislava Bratislava Slovakia

Hungarian University of Sports Science Budapest Hungary

KU Leuven Leuven Belgium

Masaryk University in Brno Brno Czech Republic

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