Sports training in virtual reality to improve response behavior in karate kumite with transfer to real world

Virtual reality (VR) training has become valuable in sports to improve motor behavior and train specific situations under standardized conditions. However, studies comparing conventional with VR are rare, especially for advanced athletes. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the performance improvement achieved through can be transferred real world (RW). Therefore, we present a study analyzing sports-specific response using head-mounted display (HMD) combined its transfer RW. In ten sessions over 6 weeks, group (VRG, n = 15) performed virtual karate (10 min) (80 min), while (CG, 12) conducted only (90 at same time. The consisted of athlete responding various attacks by opponent karate-specific manner. design included pretest, an intermediate test (after 5 sessions), posttest. We analyzed concerning competition-relevant Gyaku-Zuki jodan (GZj) Kizami-Zuki (KZ) parameters ‘response time’, “response quality” when athletes had react For parameter time,” improvements were detected VRG GZj KZ. both groups, no could found. provided positive feedback regarding integration into training.