Differences in Some Kinematic Parameters between Two Qualitatively Different Groups of Pole Vaulters.

The basic aim of this research was to determine the differences of kinematic parameters in two qualitatively different groups of young pole vaulters. With this purpose, a research was conducted in which the video records from a competition were acquired. The sample of entities (N = 71) consisted of successful vaults of 30 pole vaulters, whose attempts were recorded at the European Junior Championship in Novi Sad, held on 23-26th July 2009. The examinees performed the vaults as a part of the elimination competition for the finals, and during the final part of the competition. The age of examinees was from 17 to 19 years, and the span of their best results was from 4.70 to 5.30 meters. The kinematic analysis was conducted according to the standards of APAS procedure (Ariel Performance Analysis System, USA), determining 25 kinematic variables necessary for further analysis. The entities (vaults) were divided into two categories (qualitative classes) based on the expert knowledge. Group 1 consisted of successful vaults up to 4.90 m (N = 46), while group 2 consisted of successful vaults whose height was more than 4.90 m (N = 25). The discrimination analysis determined the parameters differentiating the vaults of different quantitative classes. Also, it was confirmed that the result efficiency in pole vault was primarily determined by the variables defined by motor abilities, as well as the indicators determining the vault performance technique.

Motor determinants of fighting efficacy in Croatian youth karateka.

The aim of this paper was to identify basic and motor structures which determine the achievement of top results in karate among younger cadets. For this purpose, a set of 10 basic motor tests and a set of 5 situational motor karate tests were applied on a sample of 60 male and 51 female Croatian karateka aged 13 to 15. Different motor and specific motor structures according to gender were isolated by factor analysis. In male karateka, in the space of basic motor tests: Factor of explosive strength and/or force regulator, and Factor integrating muscle endurance, agility and speed of movement, and in female karateka: Factor integrating movement speed, leg explosiveness and agility and/or speed regulator, and Regulator of basic core strength and sprinting. In male karateka in the space of specific motor tests: Specific agility and Specific speed of kicks performance; and in female karateka: Factor integrating agility-mobility and speed of technique performance. Latent structure of fighting efficacy in karate differs according to gender. Thus, in male karateka, determination of efficacy is significantly contributed by two motor factors: specific speed of kicks performance as a specific factor and force regulator as a basic factor; and in female karateka: the first factor which integrates regulators of speed, force and agility, accompanied by the muscle tone regulator, as a basic factor, and the second factor which is responsible for specific agility and speed of technique performance as a specific factor.

Anthropological analysis of taekwondo--new methodological approach.

The aim of this research is to determine the order and importance of impacts of particular anthropological characteristics and technical and tactical competence on success in taekwondo according to opinions of top taekwondo instructors (experts). Partial objectives include analysis of metric characteristics of the measuring instrument, and determining differences between two disciplines (sparring and technical discipline of patterns) and two competition systems (WTF and ITF). In accordance with the aims, the research was conducted on a sample of respondents which consisted of 730 taekwondo instructors from 6 continents and from 69 countries (from which we selected 242 instructors), who are at different success levels in both taekwondo competition systems (styles) and two taekwondo disciplines. The respondents were divided into 3 qualitative subsamples (OST-USP-VRH) using the dependant variable of accomplished results of the instructor. In 6 languages, they electronically evaluated the impact in percentage value (%) of motor and functional skills (MOTFS), morphological characteristics (MORF), psychological profile of an athlete (PSIH), athletic intelligence (INTE) and technical and tactical competence - (TE-TA) on success in taekwondo. The analysis of metric characteristics of the constructed instrument showed a satisfactory degree of agreement (IHr) which is proportional to the level of respondent quality, i.e. it grows along with the increase in instructor quality in all analysed disciplines of both systems. Top instructors assigned the highest portion of impact on success to the motor and functional skills (MOTFS) variable: WTF-SPB=29.1, ITF-SPB=29.2, WTF-THN=35.0, ITF-THN=32.0). Statistically significant differences in opinions of instructors of different styles and disciplines were not recorded in any of the analysed variables. The only exception is the psychological profile of an athlete variable, which WTF instructors of sparring (AM=23.7%), on a significance level of p<0.01, evaluate as having a statistically significantly higher impact on success in tackwondo than WTF instructors of the technical discipline of patterns (15.4%).

Relations between basic and specific motor abilities and player quality of young basketball players.

Subjects from 5 first league clubs from Herzegovina were tested with the purpose of determining the relations of basic and specific motor abilities, as well as the effect of specific abilities on player efficiency in young basketball players (cadets). A battery of 12 tests assessing basic motor abilities and 5 specific tests assessing basketball efficiency were used on a sample of 83 basketball players. Two significant canonical correlations, i.e. linear combinations explained the relation between the set of twelve variables of basic motor space and five variables of situational motor abilities. Underlying the first canonical linear combination is the positive effect of the general motor factor, predominantly defined by jumping explosive power, movement speed of the arms, static strength of the arms and coordination, on specific basketball abilities: movement efficiency, the power of the overarm throw, shooting and passing precision, and the skill of handling the ball. The impact of basic motor abilities of precision and balance on specific abilities of passing and shooting precision and ball handling is underlying the second linear combination. The results of regression correlation analysis between the variable set of specific motor abilities and game efficiency have shown that the ability of ball handling has the largest impact on player quality in basketball cadets, followed by shooting precision and passing precision, and the power of the overarm throw.

Identification af explosive power factors as predictors of player quality in young female volleyball players.

With the purpose of determining the factor structure of explosive power, as well as the influence of each factor on situational efficiency, 56 young female volleyball players were tested using 14 tests for assessing nonspecific and specific explosive power. By factor analysis, 4 significant factors were isolated which explained the total of over 80% of the common variability in young female volleyball players. The first factor was defined as volleyball-specific jumping, the second factor as nonspecific jumping and sprinting, the third factor as throwing explosive power, while the fourth factor was interpreted as volleyball-specific throwing and spiking speed from the ground. Results obtained by regression analysis in the latent space of explosive power indicate that the identified factors are good predictors of player quality in young female volleyball players. The fourth factor defined as throwing and spiking speed from the ground had the largest influence on player quality, followed by volleyball-specific jumping and nonspecific jumping and sprinting, and to a much lesser extent, by throwing explosive power The results obtained in this age group bring to the fore the ability of spiking and serving a ball of high speed, which hinders the opponents from playing those balls in serve reception and field defence. This ability, combined with a high standing vertical jump reach and spike approach vertical jump reach (which is the basis of the 1st varimax factor) enables successful performance of all volleyball elements by which points are won in complex 1 (spike) and complex 2 (serve and block). Even though the 2nd factor (nonspecific jumping and sprinting) has a slightly smaller impact on situational efficiency in young players, this ability provides preconditions i.e. preparation for successful realisation of all volleyball elements, so greater attention must be paid to perfecting it in young female volleyball players.

Morphological and motor characteristics of Croatian first league female football players.

The aim of this study was to determine the structure of morphological and motor characteristics of Croatian first league female football players and their impact on the estimated quality of the players. According to the goal of the research, a sample consisted of 70 Croatian first league female football players. Participants were measured in 18 tests for assessing morphological characteristics, a set of 12 basic motor abilities tests and a set of 7 tests for assessing football-specific motor abilities. Exploratory factor analysis strategy was applied separately to all measured tests: morphological, basic motor abilities and football specific motor abilities. Factor analysis of morphological tests has shown existence of 3 significant latent dimensions that explain 64% of the total variability. Factors are defined as transverse dimensionality of the skeleton and voluminosity (35%), subcutaneous fat tissue (16%) and longitudinal dimensionality of the skeleton (13%). In the area of basic motor abilities, four factors were extracted. The first factor is responsible for the integration of agility and explosive power of legs, i.e. a factor of movement regulation (agility/lower body explosiveness) (23%), the second one defines muscle tone regulation (15%), the third one defines the frequency of leg movements (12%), while the fourth one is recognized as responsible for the manifestation of basic strength, particularly of basic core strength (19%). Two factors were isolated in the space of football-specific motor abilities: football-specific efficiency (53%) and situational football coordination (27%). Furthermore, by use of factor analysis on extracted latent dimensions (morphological, basic and football specific motor abilities) two higher order factors (explaining 87% of common variability) were extracted. They were named morphological-motor factor (54%) and football-specific motor abilities factor (33%). It is assumed that two extracted higher-order factors fully describe morphological and motor status of first league female football players. Furthermore, the linear regression results in latent space showed that the identified factors are very good predictors of female football players quality (delta = 0.959). In doing so, both specific motor abilities factors and the first factor of basic motor abilities as a factor of general motor efficiency have the greatest impact on player quality, and these factors have been identified as most important predictors of player quality in Croatian women's first league and elite female football players in general. Obtained results provide deep insight into the structure of relations between the morphological, motor and specific motor variables and also indicate the importance of such definition of specific motor abilities. Consequently, results explicitly indicate the necessity of early, continuous, and systematic development of football-specific motor abilities in female football players of high competitive level but also, adjusted, to the younger age categories.

Quantitative sex differentiation of morphological characteristics in children aged 11 to 14 years.

Sex is one of major factors of individual variability. In kinesiology, we explore and record changes brought on by growth and development, so we will use a sample of 1020 subjects, at the age of powerful changes caused by sexual maturation, to investigate differences in morphological characteristics of children and to determine the significance of differences based on sex. The aim of this transversal research was to determine the sex differentiation of morphological characteristics in 5th and 8th grade students of elementary school as well as structural differences between the sexes. Differential sex differences in the structure of morphological parameters surely exist, and in their basis lies in a different temporal, or periodical onset of development phases, while multivariate analysis of variance for each age removes any doubt about these differences being more than obvious. Differences in the structure of discriminant function in children aged 11 are conditioned primarily by diverse structuring of transverse dimensions, in a way that boys are distinctly superior in knee diameter, and girls in bicristal diameter. As early as the age of 11, it can clearly be recognized that pre-puberty had already progressed in girls, which is then followed by puberty. At the age of 12 girls are already experiencing a puberty spurt, which is manifested in further development of bicristal diameter and longitudinal dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of lower extremities. Thirteen year old boys are on the verge of a puberty spurt, which is manifested through the development of longitudinal dimensionality, and to a lesser extent, of transverse dimensionality of the skeleton. Secondary discriminant distinctiveness can be observed continuously across all variables assessing the dimension of deposition of fat reserves, and also, absolute values of measures of subcutaneous fat tissue are more prominent in female students. It is indicative that subcutaneous fat deposits are still secondary determinants in distinguishing groups of children according to sex, in a way that this dimension is continuously expressed more perceptibly in girls.

Quantitative sex differentations of motor abilities in children aged 11-14.

Sex differentiations of motor development in certain time periods of growing in boys and girls are changes provoked by maturity. The aim of this research was to establish sex differentiations in motor abilities on the transversal sample of 1020 subjects, pupils from the fifth to the eighth grade of the elementary school. Sex differentiations are significantly more expressed in puberty than in pre-puberty age, which approves that the development trend of certain motor abilities is different compared to the sex. We established a statistically significant difference between boys and girls in performing applied motor tests in all four age categories. In both younger and older age groups it is evident girls are more superior to boys in flexibility manifested in the bigger range of movement in a certain joint or a set of joints, i.e. in joint movability, as well as in the easiness and gracefulness of movements. In children of younger ages, motor efficiency of boys in relation to girls is manifested in the greater power of the trunk, greater explosive power of jump and sprint type and in coordination. The boys of older age have increased the difference in explosive power, particularly of throw type with better agility, equilibrium and greater static strength of arm and shoulder belt. There has evidently been a greater development of the muscle mass in the male sex compared to the female sex. On the basis of research results it has been concluded that the motor development follows faster, i.e. sooner in girls compared to boys and that puberty peak happens at the age of twelve for girls (6th grade) and at the age of thirteen for boys (7th grade).

Impact of biomotor dimensions on efficiency of young judoka.

The aim of this research was to identify factors of morphological and basic motor status in young judoka in prediction of fighting efficiency. The subject sample included 57 judoka aged 13 to 15, who have been involved in training process for averagely three years. The sample of predictor variables included a set of 18 variables for assessing anthropometric characteristics and a set of 12 variables for assessing basic motor abilities. Factor analysis was used to analyze the structure of morphological characteristics and basic motor abilities, and within the analysis, varimax rotation of principal components of the intercorrelation matrix was conducted. Morphological status of judoka was defined by four factors: longitudinal dimensionality of the skeleton, subcutaneous fat tissue, transverse dimensionality of the skeleton and body mass and volume. Motor status was defined by the following factors: power and coordination (force regulator) factor, movement frequency (speed regulator) factor, flexibility and balance factor and precision factor. Significant impact of morphological-motor factors on situational efficiency in judoka, i.e. success in competitions (multiple correlation was 0.86), was obtained by regression analysis. The best predictor of competition efficiency in young judoka was the factor which integrates explosive power, coordination and muscle endurance, and which is underlain with a force regulation mechanism. The second most important predictor determining fighting efficiency is the factor of movement frequency which is controlled by a speed regulator mechanism.

Impact of biomotor dimensions on player quality in young female volleybal players.

A set of 18 test for assessing anthropometric characteristics and 12 tests for assessing motor abilities was used on a sample of 183 young female volleyball players (average age of 13.11 +/- 1.07 years). The main goal of this research was to determine the latent structure of biomotor status, as well as relations of that status to situational efficiency in female volleyball players. Situational efficiency of young volleyball players was assessed on a five-point Likert scale, in relation to each individual player's contribution to the performance of her team, and with regard to the result of that team achieved in the competition. By factor analysis, 3 anthropometric ("endo-mesomorphy", "longitudinal dimensionality of the skeleton" and "transverse dimensionality of the skeleton") and 4 motor factors ("explosive power of legs and agility", "precision", "explosive power of arms and flexibility" and "balance") were obtained. Significant impact of morphological-motor factors on situational efficiency of young female volleyball players was obtained by regression analysis. Set of predictor variables accounts for 40% of the total variance of the system. On a univariate level, all extracted factors, except precision and balance, had a significant impact on situational efficiency. Factors named "longitudinal dimensionality of the skeleton" and "explosive power of legs and agility" had the greatest partial contribution in explaining the criteria. Obtained results confirmed previous findings about the importance of individual dimensions of biomotor status for efficiency in volleyball.

Morphological, motor and technical determinants of fighting efficiency of Croatian female cadet age karate athletes.

The aim of this research was to determine the significance of morphological factors, factors of basic motor and specific motor abilities, and the factors of technical efficiency, on the karate fight success in Croatian female cadet karate athletes. With this purpose, the group of 18 anthropometric measures, 10 basic motor tests, 5 situational karate motor tests, the group of 8 evaluations of 6 basic karate techniques, and 2 karate kata performances was applied on the sample of 101 Croatian karateka aged 14 to 16. Inside the morphological area, the factor analysis isolated: Body mass and volume factor, Subcutaneous fat tissue factor, Longitudinal skeleton dimensionality factor, and Transversal fist dimensionality factor; in the basic motor area: General motor efficiency factor; in the situational motor area: General specific motor efficiency factor; in the area of karate technique performance evaluation: General technical efficiency factor. After that, the application of canonical discriminative analysis determined the differences between high and lower quality karate athletes in the overall area of the isolated factors. The discriminative function showed that high quality female karate athletes compared to those of lower quality differ the most in higher technical efficiency, higher basic and specific motor efficiency, while having somewhat less fat tissue and somewhat wider wrist and fist diameter.

Predictors of fitness status on success in Taekwondo.

The aim of this research was to determine the order and importance of particular fitness status variables impact on success in taekwondo according to opinions of top taekwondo instructors (experts). Partial objectives included analysis of metric characteristics of the measuring instrument, and determining differences between two disciplines (sparring and technical discipline of patterns) and two competition systems (WTF and ITF). In accordance with the aims, the research was conducted on a subject sample which consisted of 730 taekwondo instructors from 6 continents and from 69 countries (from which we selected 242 instructors), who are at different success levels in both taekwondo competition systems (styles) and two taekwondo disciplines. The respondents were divided into 3 qualitative subsamples using a dependent variable of the instructor's accomplished results. In 6 languages, they electronically evaluated, in percentage value (%), the impact of 8 motor and functional abilities: specific strength (STR), flexibility (FLX), specific endurance (END), speed (SPE), balance (BAL), coordination (COO), agility (AGI) and accuracy (ACC). The analysis of metric characteristics of the constructed instrument showed a satisfactory degree of agreement (IIr) which is proportional to the level of respondent quality, i.e. it grows along with the increase in instructor quality in all analyzed disciplines of both systems. According to the obtained results, speed and specific endurance were ranked as the abilities which are most important for success in the sparring discipline in both competition systems (WTF and ITF), whose instructors also expressed a higher level of agreement in relation of speed and success in the technical disciplines.

Biomotor status and kinesiological education of girls aged 10 to 12 years--example: volleyball.

The aim of this study was to define processes of orientation and/or selection towards sports game of volleyball in schoolgirls of Kastela, aged 10-12, by examining the relations between regular classes of physical education (PE) and extracurricular sport activities. For this purpose, two morphological measures were used (body height and body mass) and a set of 11 motor tests (6 basic motor abilities tests and 5 motor achievement tests) on a sample of 242 girls aged 10-12 was used, divided into a subsample of 42 girls participating in volleyball training (Volleyball players) and a subsample of 200 girls who do not participate in volleyball training (volleyball non-players). Based on the comparison of test results of schoolgirls from Kastela and Croatian norms, factor analysis of applied variables and discriminant analysis of these variables between volleyball players and non-players, processes and/or phases of selection in forming quality volleyball players were defined. Selection processes are preceded by orientation processes in physical education classes, i.e. choosing those sport activities which are in accordance with the biomotor status of students. Results have shown that orientation and initial selection in female volleyball needs to be executed based on the motor set of psychomotor speed, repetitive strength of the trunk and flexibility (muscle tone regulation), and body height. Volleyball training has affected the muscle mass development and the development of strength factors, so that explosive strength of jumping and/or takeoff along with body height, has predominantly differentiated female volleyball players from non-players, aged 10 to 12, and serve and spike quality will have dominant influence on the match outcome.

Biomotor status and kinesiological education of students aged 13 to 15 years - example: karate.

The aim of this paper was to obtain information relevant for efficient selection in karate, based on comparison of biomotor status of male/female 7th and 8th grade students in primary school "Bijaci" from Kastel Novi and karate practitioners and non-practitioners (cadets) in Croatia. For this purpose, a sample was drawn of 352 primary school students (150 males and 152 females) and 50 karate practitioners (25 males and 25 females), all aged 13 to 15 years, and 2 morphological measures (body height and body mass) and a battery of 6 motor tests was used. A biomotor system which determines the situation efficacy in male and female karate practitioners was defined based on the comparison of test results of students from Kastela, Croatian karateka and Croatian standards, factor analysis of applied variables and discriminant analysis of those variables between karate athletes and students from Kastela. In male karate athletes, general motor efficacy in karate is based on explosive strength of jumping type, repetitive strength of the trunk and coordination, followed by flexibility, static strength of the arms, and movement frequency speed. In female karate athletes, integration of force, coordination, muscle tone regulation and speed is dominant for achieving success in karate. Female karate athletes use speed and fine muscle tone regulation in motor functioning more than male karate athletes, who use basic strength more.

Gender differentiations of cognitive-motor functioning in prepubertal and pubertal children.

The aim of this study was to determine cognitive and motor status factors in female and male children aged 10-14, as well as developmental and/or integration functions according to gender. The study included 162 girls and 134 boys aged 10-14, divided into four groups: 84 girls aged 10-12 (mean age 11.26, SD 0.68), 84 boys aged 10-12 (mean age 11.41, SD 0.50), 78 girls aged 13-14 (mean age 13.52, SD 0.63) and 50 boys aged 13-14 (mean age 13.21, SD 0.53). The significance of quantitative differences between boys and girls in the overall system of variables was defined based on the results of canonic discriminant analysis of variance, and within each variable based on the results on univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the younger age group (10-12 years), girls were superior to boys in a test assessing flexibility (Seated straddle stretch), whereas, compared to girls, boys had greater strength of the trunk (Crossed-arm sit-ups), greater explosive strength ofjump and sprint type (Standing broad jump and 20 m dash), and coordination (Obstacle course backwards and Steps laterally). In the older age group (13-14 years) differences in flexibility were even more prominent in favor of girls, whereas the differences in explosive strength increased in favor of boys, especially of the throwing type with better agility (Steps laterally), balance (Board balance) and greater static strength of arms and shoulders (Bent-arm hang). In order to determine qualitative differences between pubertal and prepubertal girls and boys, the matrix of variable inter-correlations was factorized by the procedure of principal components procedure, that were then transformed to promax solution. The results showed that cognitive functioning had a significant role in the motor efficacy of girls and boys aged 10 to 14. In the age group of 10-12 years, in females, cognitive functioning is related to the motor system which integrates the regulation of muscle tone with agility/coordination, whereas in males there is a relation between cognitive abilities and the regulator of speed of upper extremities movement frequency. In the age group of 13-14 years, in females, cognitive functioning is involved in forming the factors for regulation of coordination and the intensity of energy mobilization in lower extremities, and to some degree, in the factor for regulation of intensity of energy mobilization in upper extremities and strength of the trunk, whereas in males the integration of synergetic regulation of movement in terms of balance and agility in terms of speed of direction change is carried out with significant involvement of cognitive abilities.

Psychometric properties of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist in preschool children in Serbia.

AIM: To demonstrate the use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) as a tool for screening problems in psychosocial development in preschool children in Serbia. METHODS: The form was filled out by parents to 269 children. The statistical and metric characteristics of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist were analyzed, while cut-off values were compared with the values reported from other countries. RESULTS: The PSC scale filled out by parents was found to have acceptable reliability in our sample of preschool children. A high level of reliability of the scale was achieved (á = 0.86). Average values on the scale were lower than in other analyses. There was no statistically significant difference in behavioral traits in regards to children's gender (p=0.53). Factor analysis of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist scale (promax solution) established an existence of a general factor. This general factor is structured with internal and external behavioral traits, as well as with impulsiveness and attention deficit in preschool children. Based on our cut-off value, the need of further follow up was established in 10.4% of study children (n=28, 17 male and 11 female). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the PSC filled out by parents is a good tool for early and rapid identification of potential problems of psychosocial functioning of preschool children. It should be noted that a positive PSC score was not a diagnosis but an indication for additional analysis and assessment of the children and their families.

Relationships between cognitive and motor abilities in female children aged 10-14 years.

The aim of the study was to determine cognitive and motor status factors in female children aged 10-14 years and to identify developmental and/or integration functions according to age. The study included a sample of 162 female schoolchildren aged 10-14 years divided into two groups: 84 girls aged 10-12 (X 11.26, SD 0.68) years and 78 girls aged 13-14 (X 13.52, SD 0.63) years. Study results showed a statistically significant between-group difference in the overall system of variables (MANOVA), with the level of significance determined for each individual variable (ANOVA). The older group of subjects showed significantly superior results in comparison with the younger group in the motor tests assessing flexibility, agility, psychomotor speed, explosive strength of throwing type and repetitive strength of the trunk, as well as in the test assessing cognitive functioning. Qualitative differences between the two age groups (prepubertal and pubertal) were determined by use of the matrix of variable inter-correlations factorized by the procedure of principal components that were then transformed to promax solution. The results thus obtained indicated cognitive functioning to take significant part in the motor efficacy of girls aged 10-14 years. In the younger age group (10-12 years), cognitive functioning was related to the motor system that integrates muscle tone regulation and agility/coordination. In the older age group (13-14 years), cognitive functioning was involved in the formation of the first and third factor isolated, i.e. in the factor regulating coordination and intensity of energy mobilization of lower extremities (general motor efficiency) and, to a lesser extent, in third factor regulation the intensity of energy mobilization of upper extremities and trunk strength.

Impact of morphological and motor dimensions on success of young male and female karateka.

The aim of this paper is to identify morphological and motor structures which determine the achievement of top results in karate in the age group of younger cadets. With this purpose, a set of 18 morphological measures and a set of 12 motor tests were used on a sample of 60 male and 51 female Croatian karateka aged 13 to 15. Different morphological structures were isolated by factor analysis according to gender. Two morphological factors in male karateka, named: ecto-mesomorphy and fat tissue. Three factors in female karateka, named: endo-mesomorphic somatotype, ecto-mesomorphic somatotype and transverse dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of the hand and wrist. Also, different motor structures were isolated by factor analysis according to gender. In male karateka: the first factor responsible for cortical regulation of movement, the second one responsible for power-force regulation and the third one named precision. In female karateka: the first factor integrating regulators of speed, force, movement structures and muscle tone with synergetic regulation, the second one responsible for energy regulation integrating core strength and sprint, and the third one named precision. Latent structure of fighting efficiency in karate differs according to gender. Two morphological factors, namely force regulator and factor of cortical regulation of movement, and one morphological factor defined as ecto-mesomorphy factor have a significant impact on determining success in male karateka. In determining fighting efficiency of young female karateka, two motor factors have significant impact, namely: the first factor integrating regulators of speed, force and agility/coordination, accompanied by regulator of muscle tone and synergetic regulation, and the second factor of basic core strength which ensures the initial energy component in technique performance, particularly of kicks. Out of all morphological factors, transverse dimensionality of the skeleton, particularly of hand, significantly determines the fighting efficiency of young female karateka.

Effect of nordic walking on functional ability and blood pressure in elderly women.

The aim of the study was to analyze the effects produced by the use of experimental program (Nordic polewalking) on functional abilities in elderly women. Three-month polewalking led to reduction in the pulse rate at rest, diastolic and systolic blood pressure at the level of significance of 0.01 (p = 0.000). Polewalking improved the values of fitness index (FITIND) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) at the level of significance of 0.01 (p = 0.000). On final measurement, three variables, i.e. pulse rate at rest - HRR (E = 73.42 vs. C = 79.68), systolic blood pressure - BPS (E = 118.42 vs. C = 123.65) and diastolic blood pressure - BPD (E = 79.04 vs. C = 83.54), showed lower results in experimental group compared with control group. On final measurement, experimental group showed higher values of the FITIND (E = 81.79 vs. C = 62.66) and VO2max (E = 21.83 vs. C = 16.81) variables as compared to control group. Accordingly, such a moderate physical activity, which is not too vigorous yet intensive enough to induce favorable changes, appears to be recommendable for elderly women. The present study included 60 women from the Novi Sad community, mean age 58.5 +/- 6.90 years, mean body mass 70.9 +/- 15.32 kg and mean body height 164.8 +/- 7.24 cm. Study population was divided into two groups of 30 subjects: experimental (E) group and control (C) group. The experimental program was performed three times a week for three months. The Nordic walking program was so designed for the performers to be in the aerobic work zone throughout the exercise. Nordic walking with poles was performed over three months. Study results revealed functional abilities of the study women to have modified during the longitudinal process.