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In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of warm-up music preference and loudness on physical performance, perceived exertion (RPE), and enjoyment in young taekwondo athletes. In a crossover counterbalanced design, 20 taekwondo athletes (10 male, 10 female) performed a battery of physical tasks specific to taekwondo under the following five conditions: (a) No music (NM), (b) Preferred music-Soft (60 dB; PMS), (c) Preferred music-Loud (80 dB; PML), (d) Non-preferred music-Soft (60 dB; NPMS), and (e) Non-preferred music-Loud (80 dB; NPML). On each lab visit, participants completed a taekwondo-specific agility test (TSAT), a10-second kick test (KSKT-10s) and a multiple frequency speed of kick tests (FSKT) within each music condition. Pre-exercise enjoyment was assessed using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) after the warm-up, while we obtained RPE scores after each test. The PML condition resulted in significantly better agility test times on the TSAT compared to PMS ( p < .001), and NPML ( p < .001). Furthermore, PML led to a greater number of total kicks during the FSKT-10s test compared to the PMS ( p < .001), and NPML ( p < .001) conditions. The decrement index on the FSKT was lower in PML than in PMS and NPML conditions ( p < .001). For RPE, values were significantly lower with preferred than non-preferred music ( p < .001). These findings lend support to ergogenic benefits of listening to PML prior to taekwondo physical tasks, with important implications for enhancing taekwondo training and performance.

This study was conducted to determine whether the relative age effect (RAE) is present in different age groups, weight categories, sexes, and across different time frames in international-level judo competition. A total of 9451 judo athletes competing at the Olympic Games and/or World Championships in the Cadet, Junior and/or Senior age groups between 1993 and 2020 were considered. Athletes' birthdate distributions were grouped in four quartiles (Q1: January-March; Q2: April-June; Q3: July-September; Q4: October-December) and compared to a day-corrected theoretical distribution using Chi-squared analysis. Poisson regression was also used to evaluate the ability to explain weekly birth count. RAE was more prevalent in males than females ( p < .05), and for Cadets and Juniors compared to Seniors ( p < .05). Heavyweight and middleweight categories presented RAEs in Senior and Junior males, while for females it was present in Cadet heavyweights ( p < .05). RAE was more prevalent in recent years (2009-2021) for Senior male judo athletes ( p < .05). Poisson analysis illustrated some nuanced information, including RAE detection during an earlier time frame, not readily apparent with the traditional analysis.

Our aim in this study was to compare performance adaptations based on tactile or sonorous stimuli in para-judo athletes with congenital or acquired visual impairment. Twenty judo athletes with a type of visual impairment performed both the adapted Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) with tactile and sonorous stimuli and the standard SJFT. We used two-way ANOVA with repeated measurements in the second factor to compare the SJFT performance of athletes with visual impairment between two groups (acquired or congenital) in the two test situations, with the level of significance set at p < .05. Both groups of participants performed better on the adapted SJFT with tactile and sonorous stimuli compared to the standard condition on number of throws ( p = .029 and p < .001) and showed lower final and post 1-minute heart rates (HR) ( p < .05). There were no group differences in performance on any SJFT adaptations ( p > .05). Thus, both SJFT adaptations (tactile and sonorous stimuli) enhanced the judo-specific performance of athletes with both acquired and congenital visual impairments. However, athletes with either origin of impairment showed a better HR in the adaptive tactile stimuli testing compared to the standard SJFT testing condition.

This study aimed to test the reliability, sensitivity, construct and logical validity of an adapted Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) for judo athletes with visual impairment . Twenty judo athletes with visual impairments performed both the adapted SJFT with tactile and sonorous stimuli (experimental conditions) and the typically administered SJFT (standard condition). We used analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated-measures to compare the groups' SJFT performances, and one-way ANOVAs to compare different visual ability classes of athletes (B1, B2 and B3). We used t-tests to compare SJFT variables between elite and sub-elite groups. We set statistical significance for all tests at p  < 0.05. The standard SJFT showed excellent test-retest reliability for number of throws and overall index (ICC = 0.91-0.95), and both sonorous and tactile sensitivity adaptations of the SJFT showed medium sensitivity for detecting performance changes. The number of throws and SJFT index were higher with the sonorous adaptation of the test, compared to the tactile and standard versions ( p  < 0.001). Athletes who were blind (B1) presented similar performances to athletes who were partially sighted (B2 and B3) only on the SJFT with the sonorous stimulus. Moreover, only the sonorous SJFT adaptation discriminated between the performances of elite and sub-elite athletes ( p  < 0.001). In conclusion, both SJFT adaptations showed excellent reliability and medium sensitivity on test-retest, but, only the SJFT with the sonorous stimulus seemed valid for assessing judo athletes with varying degrees of visual impairment, and only the sonorous stimulus SJFT discriminated elite from sub-elite athletes.

Given humans' limited ability to recall past experiences for evaluation, scholars have proposed the peak-end rule stating that if perceived discomfort at the end of an aversive experience is lower than the peak discomfort experienced, the aversive experience will be remembered more positively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the peak-end rule as applied to high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Participants were 30 inactive men ( M age = 27.9, SD =  5.2 years). In the first session they performed a graded exercise test on cycle-ergometer to determine their maximal aerobic power (MAP) ( M  = 233, SD  = 35W); and, in the second and third sessions, they performed two HIIE protocols in randomized order: (a) Short trial - 20-minutes of HIIE, composed of 30-second efforts at 100% of MAP interspersed by 30-seconds of passive recovery; and (b) Long trial - 20-minutes of the short trial, plus 10-minutes more of HIIE, decreasing 3% of MAP in each additional bout, resulting in 70% of MAP in the last bout. During exercise, we recorded the participants' rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and affect, using the Feeling Scale (FS). At 30-minutes post-exercise, we again recorded the participants' affect, using the Global Affect Evaluation (GAE) and their session-RPE, and we recorded their enjoyment, using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). In the last session, the participants chose a favorite protocol to repeat. All sessions were interspersed by at least 72 hours. The 10-minutes extra HIIE in the Long-trial condition resulted decreased heart rate values ( M  = 157, SD  = 13bpm to M  = 144, SD  = 14bpm; p < 0.001), but psychological responses during and after exercise did not differ, nor did participants' preferred HIIE protocol. As the load drop for the Long-trial was not enough to change the psychological responses during exercise, there was no difference in the retrospective evaluation as the peak-end rule would have suggested.

Several variables can be manipulated to compose high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) protocols, and these different combinations may evoke different psychological responses (affect, enjoyment, mood, and perceived exertion). This study investigated psychological responses during four HIIE protocols. Following anthropometric measurements and two maximal exercise tests, 23 physically inactive adults (11 males [ M age  = 25.6, SD  =   4.8 years; M body mass  = 68.5, SD  =   12.2 kg; M height  = 1.72, SD  =   0.08 m] and 12 females [ M age  = 25.0, SD =  3.5 years; M body mass  = 57.2, SD  =   8.7 kg; M height  = 1.59, SD  = 0.06 m]) performed four different types of HIIE on different days: (a) Long-interval HIIE (HIIE L -10 × 60 seconds:60 seconds), (b) Short-interval HIIE (HIIE S -2 blocks of 10 × 30 seconds:30 seconds with 120 seconds between blocks), (c) Repeated Sprint Training (19 × 6 seconds all out:40 seconds), and (d) Sprint Interval Training (4 × 30 seconds all-out efforts: 240 seconds). We used a final session to assess participants' HIIE preference. We recorded participant reports of affect, mood, and perceived exertion throughout protocols, and we recorded enjoyment after exercise session. Perceived exertion significantly increased across all HIIE protocols ( p  <   .001), with higher values in the first quartile during Sprint Interval Training versus HIIE L ( p  =   .033). Affective response presented higher values pre-exercise and at the first quartile compared with all other moments ( p  <   .001). Tension ( p  <   .001) and depression ( p  =   .013) decreased from pre- to post-exercise in all experimental conditions. At pre-exercise, female participants were tenser than males ( p  =   .018), though males presented higher pre-exercise vigor scores than females ( p  =   .023). Vigor increased over time for females ( p  =   .022). Enjoyment did not vary between sexes or protocols. Participants expressed a higher preference for Repeated Sprint Training. HIIE protocols promoted positive psychological responses for physically inactive young adults, and exercise designs may modulate psychological responses.

This study assessed the relative age effect (RAE) in judo athletes who participated in the Olympic Games from 1964 to 2012. The names and birthdates of the Olympic judo athletes were collected from open-access websites. Data from male (n=1,762) and female (n=665) competitors were analyzed separately. Chi-squared tests were performed to investigate REA in medalists, and by weight categories and sexes. When the analyses used semesters to divide the period when the athletes were born, a RAE was found in male heavyweight athletes and male medallists. Thus, in a selected group of judo athletes who had participated at the highest competitive level, RAEs were present in both athletes who won Olympic medals and heavyweight athletes in the male group.

This study evaluated whether the judogi colour (blue or white) could influence a combat outcome (victory or defeat) in 1,233 judo official combats. Sex, age group, and level of competition were also considered in the analysis. Binomial probability tests showed a higher probability of an athlete's winning a combat wearing blue judogi for both sexes, levels of competition (regional and state), and for the athletes of the junior and senior categories. Thus, blue judogi may bias competitive outcome for both sexes in regional and state level competitions and for athletes above junior age.

This response to Amtmann's letter emphasizes that the knowledge of the typical time structure, as well as its variation, together with the main goal of the mixed martial arts athletes--to win by knock out or submission--need to be properly considered during the training sessions. Example with other combat sports are given and discussed, especially concerning the importance of adapting the physical conditioning workouts to the technical-tactical profile of the athlete and not the opposite.

This response to Paillard (2011) focuses on the intermittent nature of mixed martial arts (MMA). It also emphasizes that the main goal of MMA athletes is to win by knockout or submission and that these actions normally are high-intensity actions or preceded by high-intensity actions. Additionally, there is evidence that high-intensity intermittent exercise protocols are able to improve aerobic fitness. It is important only to adjust physical training to the athletes' techniques and tactics.

Little information is available concerning early specialization and competitive success in judo across the early training years. Thus, the present objective was to verify the stability of individual competitive performance of a state-level championship for judo athletes who had been previously successful. For this, 406 athletes from six age groups (9 to 20+ years old) of each sex were followed for 10 years. Using recorded data from the São Paulo State Judo Federation beginning in 1999, the scores and standings for these judo players were analyzed. The proportion of medal winners during this period was not constant, differing from the grand mean in all groups of both 204 males and 202 females. At the end of this period, only 7% of the male and 5% of the female athletes had maintained their competitive levels. Successful competitive performance in early judo competition was not associated with success later in adulthood.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) have become a fast-growing worldwide expansion of martial arts competition, requiring high level of skill, physical conditioning, and strategy, and involving a synthesis of combat while standing or on the ground. This study quantified the effort-pause ratio (EP), and classified effort segments of stand-up or groundwork development to identify the number of actions performed per round in MMA matches. 52 MMA athletes participated in the study (M age = 24 yr., SD = 5; average experience in MMA = 5 yr., SD = 3). A one-way analysis of variance with repeated measurements was conducted to compare the type of action across the rounds. A chi-squared test was applied across the percentages to compare proportions of different events. Only one significant difference (p < .05) was observed among rounds: time in groundwork of low intensity was longer in the second compared to the third round. When the interval between rounds was not considered, the EP ratio (between high-intensity effort to low-intensity effort plus pauses) was 1:2 to 1:4. This ratio is between ratios typical for judo, wrestling, karate, and taekwondo and reflects the combination of ground and standup techniques. Most of the matches ended in the third round, involving high-intensity actions, predominantly executed during groundwork combat.

The hypothesis that salivary cortisol would increase and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) decrease after a kickboxing match was tested among 20 male athletes. Saliva samples collected before and after the match were analyzed. Salivary cortisol and salivary IgA concentrations (absolute concentration, salivary IgAabs) and the secretion rate of IgA (salivary IgArate) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A Wilcoxon test for paired samples showed significant increases in salivary cortisol from pre- to postmatch. No significant changes were observed in salivary IgAabs or secretory IgArate and saliva flow rate. This study indicates that a kickboxing match might increase salivary concentration and thereafter it could be considered a significant source of exercise-related stress. On the other hand, the effect of a kickboxing match on mucosal immunity seems not to be relevant.

Technical actions performed by two groups of judokas who won medals at World Championships and Olympic Games during the period 1995-2001 were analyzed. In the Super Elite group (n = 17) were the best athletes in each weight category. The Elite group (n = 16) were medal winners who were not champions and did not win more than three medals. Super Elite judokas used a greater number of throwing techniques which resulted in scores, even when expressed relative to the total number of matches performed, and these techniques were applied in more directions than those of Elite judokas. Further, the number of different throwing techniques and the variability of directions in which techniques were applied were significantly correlated with number of wins and the number of points and ippon scored. Thus, a greater number of throwing techniques and use of directions for attack seem to be important in increasing unpredictability during judo matches.

Retention and transfer of the technique of o-soto-gari by 32 9-yr.-old children was optimized by conditions of acquisition similar to those of competition.