This study is conducted with the aim of determining whether there is a difference between hand preference and success of adult Karate and Taekwondo athletes with regards to their gender. 255 athletes in total (144 male and 111 female) who participated in Turkey inter-university karate and taekwondo championships are included in the research. The "Oldfield Survey (1971)" that was developed to determine the hand preferences and some bio-motor characteristics of the athletes was implemented. In order to evaluate the success status, the correlation difference between the data obtained by following the results of the competition evaluation, hand preference and success was evaluated in the SPSS program. Dominant hand preference, athletic success and medal winning status of the athletes in both branches were compared. According to the findings, female karate and taekwondo athletes' dominant hand preference and medal winning status have a weak and negative relation (p < 0.05). There was no significant relation between dominant hand preference and the branches (p > 0.05). There was also no significant relation between dominant hand preference, medal winning status and branches of male karate and taekwondo athletes (p > 0.05). In conclusion, a weak relation was found out between dominant hand preference of left-handed female karate and taekwondo athletes in their favor with regards to winning medals. However, no relation was found regarding male athletes.

In previous studies, the effect of single or combined intake of caffeine (CAF) and taurine (TAU) on exercise performance was investigated. However, the potential synergistic effect on physical and cognitive performance after fatigue induced by anaerobic exercise is unknown. The effects of single and combination CAF and TAU supplementation on the Wingate test in elite male boxers and to evaluate balance, agility and cognitive performance after fatigue are being investigated for the first time in this study. Twenty elite male boxers 22.14 ± 1.42 years old were divided into four groups in this double-blind, randomized crossover study: CAF (6 mg/kg of caffeine), TAU (3 g single dose of taurine), CAF*TAU (co-ingestion of 3 g single dose of taurine and 6 mg/kg of caffeine) and PLA (300 mg maltodextrin). The findings are as follows: co-ingestion of CAF*TAU, improved peak (W/kg), average (W), minimum (W) power, time to reach (s), and RPE performances compared to the PLA group significantly (p < 0.05). Similarly, it was determined that a single dose of TAU, created a significant difference (p < 0.05) in peak power (W/kg), and average and minimum power (W) values compared to the CAF group. According to the balance and agility tests performed after the Wingate test, co-ingestion of CAF*TAU revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to the PLA group. In terms of cognitive performance, co-ingestion of CAF*TAU significantly improved the neutral reaction time (ms) compared to the TAU, CAF and PLA groups. As a result, elite male boxers performed better in terms of agility, balance and cognitive function when they consumed a combination of 6 mg/kg CAF and 3 g TAU. It has been determined that the combined use of these supplements is more effective than their single use.

Background This study aims to determine and compare the effects of exercise modalities with different intensities on the secretion of key inflammation and hypoxia markers in amateur athletes. Methods Twenty-three athletes with a mean age of 20.1 years, living at low altitude (1850 m) participated in this study. The participants' maximal oxygen consumption values (VO2 max) were determined with an incremental cycle exercise test as 54.15 ± 6.14 mL kg min−1. Athletes performed four protocols: at rest, 50% VO2 max, 75% VO2 max and 100% VO2 max (until exhaustion) with one-week intervals. 50% VO2 max, 75% VO2 max sessions were performed continuously for 30 min on a bicycle ergometer and 100% VO2 max session was performed by cycling until exhaustion. Blood samples were obtained at rest and immediately after each exercise session. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) levels were measured. Results There were significant differences in serum TNF-α levels in 75% VO2 max and 100% VO2 max sessions (489.03 ± 368.37 and 472.70 ± 365.21 ng/L, respectively) compared to rest conditions (331.65 ± 293.52 ng/L). Serum CRP levels of 50% VO2 max and 75% VO2 max sessions (1.19 ± 0.50; 1.07 ± 0.52 mg/L) were significantly higher than the rest condition (0.74 ± 0.35 mg/L). There were significant differences in serum IL-10 levels of rest condition and 50% VO2 max; 50% VO2 max, and 100% VO2 max sessions (328.09 ± 128.87; 446.36 ± 142.84; 347.44 ± 135.69; 324.88 ± 168.06 pg/mL). Serum HIF-1α levels were significantly higher in 75% VO2 max session compared to rest (1.26 ± 0.16; 1.08 ± 0.19 ng/mL) (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions Both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathway is induced on different exercise intensities. Exercise protocols performed until exhaustion may lead to activation of inflammatory pathways and hypoxia-induced damage.

The purpose of this study is to determine the nutritional habits and nutritional knowledge levels of athletes competing in the boxing junior men category (15-16 years old). The sample of the study consists of athletes within the age group of 15-16 competing in the Turkish High School Junior Men's Boxing Championship. The nutrition level scale was applied to the athletes. The data were analysed using Independent Student T test and one-way variance analysis. The majority of the boxers involved in the study were found to be fed enough, received four fundamental food groups on a balanced basis in their meals, made changes in their diet on the days they do sports, paid attention to their pre-workout and post-workout nutrition, and thought that regular nutrition has a positive effect on performance, in addition, it was found that the scale scores were moderate according to the age of sports, national athlete status, weight, nutrition, eating four fundamental food groups of meals, taking care of nutrition during their days and after training, it was also found that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups, that there was a positive effect on the performance of regular nutrition with the boxers who paid attention to pre-workout nutrition and that the boxers with higher nutritional knowledge were significantly higher than the others, and that the nutritional knowledge levels were also influenced by their family income levels. In this research, it can be said that the nutrition knowledge levels of star men boxers are in moderate level and it can be said that the levels of knowledge, especially those with national athlete status and high sports age, is not different from others, in contrast to expectations.

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