Notational analysis of top Ukrainian karate fighter Stanislav Horuna’s matches in WKF competitions

The aim of this research was to conduct a video analysis of WKF matches featuring Stanislav Horuna, focusing on all match parameters that influenced his victories and defeats. The essence of this research is to analyze and compare the results achieved by this fighter and his opponents. The sample that was analyzed as part of this research consisted of top WKF kumite matches of Stanislav Horuna. More precisely, 12 fights from 2012-2020 in the senior - 75kg category are included. All variables were registered and tracked within each bout, using Lince multi-platform sports analysis software (Lince_1.21 version). The monitored variables were: the time of the action, the technique used during the attack or counterattack, the guard during the implementation of the scoring techniques, the type of points achieved and their frequency, the number and type of penalties received, the outcome of the match (winner and non-winner), the effectiveness of the techniques (scoring and non-scoring). By analyzing 12 matches of the Ukrainian fighter, it was recorded that the total number of his attacks was 203, and that 20 actions were goals (efficiency 9.85%). Gyaku zuki jodan was his the most common punch technique. On the other hand, the total number of all attacks by his opponents was 173, of which 20 were hits (efficiency 11.56%). This case study confirmed that by applying the score analysis of the matches of the top karate player Stanislav Horuna it can contribute a lot to the development of the way of fighting at the top level.