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Romero, C, Ramirez-Campillo, R, Alvarez, C, Moran, J, Slimani, M, Gonzalez, J, and Banzer, WE. Effects of maturation on physical fitness adaptations to plyometric jump training in youth females. J Strength Cond Res35(10): 2870–2877, 2021—The aim of this study was to compare the effects of maturation on physical fitness adaptations to plyometric jump training (PJT) in youth females. Jumping, sprinting, change of direction speed, endurance, and maximal strength were measured pre-post 6 weeks of PJT in 7th- and 10th-grade subjects. In the seventh grade, subjects formed a PJT group (Plyo-7, n= 10; age, 12.7 ± 0.6 years; breast maturation stages IV [n= 2], III [n= 7], and II [n= 1]) and an active control group (Con-7, n= 9; age, 12.8 ± 0.6 years; breast maturation stages IV [n= 2], III [n= 6], and II [n= 1]). In the 10th grade, subjects conformed a PJT group (Plyo-10, n= 9; age, 16.3 ± 0.5 years; breast maturation stages V [n= 5] and IV [n= 4]) and an active control group (Con-10, n= 9; age, 16.2 ± 0.5 years; breast maturation stages V [n= 5] and IV [n= 4]). Magnitude-based inferences were used for data analysis, with effect sizes (ESs) interpreted as <0.2 = trivial; 0.2–0.6 = small; 0.6–1.2 = moderate; 1.2–2.0 = large; and 2.0–4.0 = very large. The Plyo-7 and Plyo-10 showed meaningful improvements in all physical fitness measures (ES = 0.21–2.22), while Con-7 and Con-10 showed only trivial changes. The Plyo-7 and Plyo-10 showed meaningful (ES = 0.16–2.22) greater improvements in all physical fitness measures when compared with their control counterparts. The Plyo-10 showed meaningful greater improvements in 20-m sprint, 2-km running time trial, maximal strength, squat jump, and drop jump from 20 cm (ES = 0.21–0.42) when compared with Plyo-7. In conclusion, PJT is effective in improving physical fitness in younger and older female youths. However, greater adaptations were observed in more mature subjects.

ABSTRACTThe aims of the present short review were to (i) summarise data relating to the heart rate (HR) response to combat sports matches according to many factors and (ii) determine the cardiovascular demand and intensity of combat sports matches. The present review shows that HR increased significantly across rounds during male taekwondo, boxing and kickboxing matches. HR and maximal heart rate (HRmax) increased significantly across successive karate and judo combat matches in young men and boy athletes. It has also been shown that there are no significant differences between winners and losers and males and females in HR response during official and simulated striking combat sports matches. Furthermore, combat HR intensity as a percentage of HRmaxvaried from 90% to 94%, from 86% to 100%, from 83% to 94%, and approximately 95% during judo, taekwondo, karate and Muay Thai matches, respectively. Coaches, sports scientists and athletes can also use HR to (i) assess athletes’ cardiovascular demand and (ii) monitor exercise intensity during combat sports matches.

The aim of the present study was to compare the technical-tactical aspects of female professional mixed martial arts (MMA) matches by combat outcomes and rounds from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC™). We analyzed 174 rounds separated by Combat Outcomes (Split Decision n=54; Unanimous Decision n=72; KO/TKO n=28; Submission n=20) of 2012-2014 events. The time-motion variables were categorized into total combat time separated by the amount of time spent performing low or high intensity activity per round, on stand-up or groundwork situations. The principal findings showed significant differences between Split and Unanimous Decision outcomes vs. KO/TKO and Submission groups in stand-up combat with low intensity by round (160.4±83.6s and 158.4±87.6s vs. 44.8±38.8s and 42.1±44.1s, respectively, p<0.001) and in total combat time by round (300.7±0.3s and 300.0±0.4s vs. 154.4±95.2s and 204.2±96.6s, respectively, p<0.001). Significant differences were found when compared the Total, Head and Leg Strikes Attempts, where winners by KO/TKO and Submission demonstrated lower frequencies than Split and Unanimous Decision(p<0.001; for all comparisons). In conclusion, technical-tactical skills can be associated with contextualized practices, where female athletes who finalized the matches by KO/TKO and Submission had higher values of striking and grappling actions during the groundwork combat, while those who had Split or Unanimous Decision outcomes showed higher values of striking actions during stand-up combat.