Background: Martial Arts athletes compete in various weight categories and they manage body weight regularly during the course of the year to gain an advantage over an opponent. The bodyweight reduction can be gradual or rapid. Rapid weight loss is used more often by athletes. A common athlete ´s behavior during rapid weight loss is starvation or a fluid intake reduction, which can easily lead to hypohydration. Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the hydration status of young karate athletes close to the beginning of the performance at the Slovak National Karate Championships. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 10 young top-level male kumite karate athletes: age (M=16.9, SD =1.57 years), body height (M=17.6, SD=2.8 cm), body weight (M=62.14, SD=6.83 kg), sports practice (M=9.7, SD=2.11 years), BMI (M=20.47, SD=2.35). Athletes have been measured by Tanita bio impedance scale and urine specific gravity (USG) was assessed by Atago refractometer before their fights. Results: According to median values of the whole observed sample, karate athletes were hypo-hydrated before their fights commenced, Mdn = 1.021 g.ml-1 (z = -2.805, p = .005, r = .887). The individual values showed that two athletes were severally hypohydrated, four were hypohydrated, only four athletes were hypohydrated minimally. Conclusions: Karateka tend to deepen their hypo-hydration before the competition. We recommend that karate athletes drink enough liquids before the competition and avoid lowering the body weight by reducing fluid intake. This will prevent inauspicious events that may negatively affect their performance and prolong the regeneration process. The athletes should be educated about the importance of proper hydration to be able to protect their long-term health.
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