Want to get your heart rate up? Then Spar!

Entrez PubMed: "The mean HR during the 20 sparring matches was 191.8 +/- 9.4 beats.min-1 which was equal to 96.7 +/- 4.2% of HRmax"

Sparring sure beats running on a treadmill!

Discover how to prevent karate injuries!

Prevention of karate injuries--a progress report -- McLatchie and Morris 11 (2): 78 -- British Journal of Sports Medicine: "Methods of preventing karate injuries are discussed. These fall into three groups:--1. Prevention by control. 2. Prevention by using protective clothing. 3. Pre-fight medical examination."

Oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate responses during and following karate training.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise - Abstract: Volume 31(2) February 1999 p 342-347 Oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate responses during and following karate training.: "Conclusions: Although the training intensity of karate exercises studied was moderate and the effects of karate training on EPOC were minimal, the mean value of EE was well above the accepted threshold for total body mass and fat weight loss."

There's nothing wrong with a little total body mass and fat weight loss.

Injury rates in Shotokan karate

Injury rates in Shotokan karate -- Critchley et al. 33 (3): 174 -- British Journal of Sports Medicine: "CONCLUSIONS: The absence of protective padding does not result in higher injury rates than in most other series of Shotokan karate injuries. Strict refereeing is essential, however, to maintain control and minimise contact. "

Interesting...