Karin Ayumi Matsushigue

Physiological profiles of elite judo athletes.

To be successful in international competitions, judo athletes must achieve an excellent level of physical fitness and physical condition during training. This article reviews the physiological profiles of elite judo athletes from different sex, age and weight categories. Body fat is generally low for these athletes, except for the heavyweight competitors. In general, elite judo athletes presented higher upper body anaerobic power and capacity than non-elite athletes. Lower body dynamic strength seems to provide a distinction between elite and recreational judo players, but not high-level judo players competing for a spot on national teams. Even maximal isometric strength is not a discriminant variable among judo players. However, more studies focusing on isometric strength endurance are warranted. Although aerobic power and capacity are considered relevant to judo performance, the available data do not present differences among judo athletes from different competitive levels. Typical maximal oxygen uptake values are around 50–55mL/kg/min for male and 40–45mL/kg/min for female judo athletes. As for other variables, heavyweight competitors presented lower aerobic power values. The typical differences commonly observed between males and females in the general population are also seen in judo athletes when analysing anaerobic power and capacity, aerobic power, and maximal strength and power. However, further research is needed concerning the differences among the seven weight categories in which judo athletes compete.

Taekwondo: Physiological responses and match analysis.

Matsushigue, KA, Hartmann, K, and Franchini, E. Taekwondo: Physiological responses and match analysis. J Strength Cond Res 23(4): 1112-1117, 2009-The aim of the present study was to determine the time structure and physiological responses during Songahm Taekwondo (TKD) competition and to compare these variables between winner and non-winner athletes. Fourteen men subjects were analyzed. Blood lactate concentration (LA) and heart rate (HR) were determined before and after the match. The match was filmed for the determination of the number of techniques used, the duration of effort and rest periods (RPs), and the interval between high-intensity movements (HM). Post-match LA was 7.5 ± 3.8 mmol·L−1, HR was 183 ± 9 b·min−1, and HM was 31 ± 16 seconds. The mean effort time (8 ± 2 seconds) did not differ from mean interval time (8 ± 3 seconds). Winners used a smaller total number of techniques, but post-match LA or HR did not differ from that of non-winners. In conclusion, the glycolytic metabolism was not the predominant energy source and the physiological responses did not differ between winners and non-winners. Coaches and sports scientists should prepare a technical or physical training session considering the low glycolytic contribution in this sport, hence the training protocol should involve high-intensity movements interspersed with longer RPs to provide the creatine phosphate recovery, with special attention given to the technical quality of TKD skills and not to higher technique volume during a simulation of matches.

Níveis de lactecidemia durante jogo de pólo aquático: estudo preliminar

The water polo game is an sport event of intermittent characteristic, with four periods of 7 min and 2 min of interval between the periods. In cases of game extension, after a 5-min resting period, the game follows on with two game periods of 3 min each, with a 1-minute interval for the teams to change sides. In events with these characteristics, the use of blood lactate measurement has been suggested as an indicative of metabolic response. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to check blood lactate accumulation [La] immediately after each period of a game of the 1999 State Championship for Children and Adolescents (a game to classify the 3rd place in the Championship), and to verify if there are [La] differences between game periods and extension periods. The sample was made of five athletes of the Clube Internacional de Regatas Team (age = 15.8 + 0.4 years; body mass = 71.5 + 11.0 kg and height = 180 + 4 cm). Blood was drawn from the ear lobe and analyzed by a Yellow Springs model 1500 Sport analyzer. Kruskal-Wallis Oneway statistical analysis was used to compare [La] among the periods. The results of the [La] are not different (chi-square = 0.9615; p = 0.9156), in the different periods (period 1 = 4.64 + 1.21 mM; period 2 = 5.08 + 1.95 mM; period 3 = 4.72 + 1.33 mM; period 4 = 4.32 + 1.12 mM; extension = 4.11 + 1.03 mM). Results indicate low demand from the anaerobic glycolysis, and suggest that there is a higher demand from the anaerobic system (ATP-CP) in the decisive moments of the game, and from the aerobic metabolism in the interval between the periods. Due to the lack of studies involving water polo, the preparation of new papers that bring more conclusive information may be appropriate.

Respostas do lactato sanguíneo e da freqüência cardíaca em duas diferentes provas do automobilismo

The purpose of the study was to characterize and to evaluate the athletes conditions during two different car race events. A professional pilot was submitted to tests in the international race track of Interlagos - Brazil. Blood lactate and blood glucose were determined before and after the races (formulas Corsa and Kart), held on different days. The heart rate (HR) was registered every fifteen seconds and five seconds during the competitions, respectively. The races were filmed, aiming at the synchronization among the race events and the HR recordings. The aerobic conditioning of the pilot was determined through the anaerobic threshold in a standardized field test. The results of the blood lactate at the end of the races point to different intensities between the two races, F-Kart being higher than F-Corsa. There was correlation between HR and the blood lactate and this suggests that the HR, at least in that experienced pilot, is not altered by the stress of the modality. The response of the HR may be related to the physical effort and anxiety to win just as in any other sport.