Background An ability to generate high values of the rate of force development (RFD) in the lower limbs in specific time points seems to be essential in karate, because the time of striking actions is shorter than the time, which is necessary to generate maximal muscular power. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute impact of a simulated karate on the bilateral and lateral RFD performance and inter-limb RFD asymmetry of the lower limbs in elite athletes of different age categories and to indicate the time slot in which athletes achieve peak RFD performance. Methods 61 elite kumite athletes participated in this study, which included a randomized crossover study design. The isometric mid-thigh pull test was used to evaluate athlete`s RDF profile of the lower limbs. Results Statistical analysis did not confirm the acute impact of the simulated karate bout on the RFD performance according to the analyzed lower extremities in the studied groups (p > 0.05), excluding some statistically significant effects in the RFD at 200 ms. The peak RFD values were reported mainly in the 150 ms. Conclusions The simulated kumite bout seems to elicit acute improvements in the bilateral and lateral peak RFD performance in the lower extremities due to a possible PAPE effect. The inter-limb RFD profile seems to be associated with age-related differences as a tendency to generate higher RFD performance in the DLL was reported in younger athletes (U16), while an opposite effect tended to occur in U18 and senior groups.
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