The comparison of judo-specific tests

Abstract

Background. There are some judo-specific performance tests developed in recent years. It has been reported that these tests present the same physiological results as aerobic and anaerobic power measurements carried out in laboratories. Measurements carried out by using judo-specific exercises are important to control the development of the training. Problem and aim. The aim of this study was to determine whether 3 different judo-specific tests could discriminate judo athletes from different levels and present the same physiological results as simulated judo match. Methods. Eight male judo athletes who have competed in international competitions in the recent year and 7 male judo athletes who have competed in national competitions in the recent year voluntarily participated in this study. During the selection process, some criteria such as at least 4-year judo background, attending trainings regularly and no injuries in the recent year which adversely affected athletes' training program were taken into consideration. Athletes carried out 4 different practices (tests): Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT), Uchikomi Fitness Test (UFT), Santos Test (ST) and Simulated Judo Match (SJM). Tests were carried out randomly at the same time of the day with at least 2, at most 3 days intervals. Rest values of hearth rate (HR) and lactate (LA) were measured before tests and at 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 30th minutes of the recovery period. Paired comparisons of the variables were tested with independent sample t-test, changes in HR and LA values in both groups were tested with the three-factor mixed-design analysis of variance with repeated measurement. Results. Elite and non-elite athletes were found to have the same physical characteristics except body fat percentage. Time of measurement (F = 187.57) and tests (F = 21.05) significantly affected the level of lactate (p < 0.05), the interaction effect between test and time factors was also found significant (F = 8.80; p < 0.05). Contrarily, changes of the lactate concentration during the tests were similar in elite and non-elite judo athletes (F = 0.82; p < 0.05). Conclusion. Despite similar changes in HR and LA only SJFT and ST discriminated elite and non-elite judo athletes in terms of number of throws and test-specific evaluations while UFT did not discriminate the levels of the athletes.