BackgroundAmong combat sports, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) present elevated physical fitness demands from the high-intensity intermittent efforts. However, information regarding how metabolic and neuromuscular physical fitness is associated with technical-tactical performance in Judo and BJJ fights is not available. This study aimed to relate indicators of physical fitness with combat performance variables in Judo and BJJ.MethodsThe sample consisted of Judo (n = 16) and BJJ (n = 24) male athletes. At the first meeting, the physical tests were applied and, in the second, simulated fights were performed for later notational analysis.ResultsThe main findings indicate: (i) high reproducibility of the proposed instrument and protocol used for notational analysis in a mobile device; (ii) differences in the technical-tactical and time-motion patterns between modalities; (iii) performance-related variables are different in Judo and BJJ; and (iv) regression models based on metabolic fitness variables may account for up to 53% of the variances in technical-tactical and/or time-motion variables in Judo and up to 31% in BJJ, whereas neuromuscular fitness models can reach values up to 44 and 73% of prediction in Judo and BJJ, respectively. When all components are combined, they can explain up to 90% of high intensity actions in Judo.DiscussionIn conclusion, performance prediction models in simulated combat indicate that anaerobic, aerobic and neuromuscular fitness variables contribute to explain time-motion variables associated with high intensity and technical-tactical variables in Judo and BJJ fights.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes in movement velocity during resistance training with different loads while the trainees attempted to move the load at a predetermined repetition duration. Twenty-one resistance-trained men (age: 25.7 ± 5 years; height: 177.0 ± 7.2 cm; mass: 85.4 ± 13.56 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. Participants performed 2 test sessions. The first to determine 1-repetition maximum (1RM) load, and the second to evaluate velocity loss during a set to failure performed at 75% and 50% of 1RM using a 2-s concentric and 2-s eccentric repetition duration, controlled by a mobile app metronome. When using 75% 1RM there was a significant loss of movement velocity between the antepenultimate and the penultimate repetition (5.33%, p < 0.05), as well as during the penultimate and the last (22.11%, p < 0.05). At 50% of 1RM the participants performed the set until momentary failure without significant velocity loss. Monitoring velocity loss during high-load resistance training through simple methods can be an important tool for standardize the intensity of effort employed during submaximal training. This can be useful in clinical conditions where maximum exertions are contraindicated or when specific logistics are lacking.

Moraes, RF, Ferreira-Júnior, JB, Marques, VA, Vieira, A, Lira, CAB, Campos, MH, Freitas-Junior, R, Rahal, RMS, Gentil, P, and Vieira, CA. Resistance training, fatigue, quality of life, anxiety in breast cancer survivors. J Strength Cond Res 35(5): 1350–1356, 2021—Resistance training (RT) has shown to be effective in improving fatigue, quality of life (QOL), and anxiety levels among breast cancer survivors (BCS), but there is no consensus as to how this practice should be prescribed for optimal performance. This study analyses the effects of once weekly RT on fatigue, QOL, and anxiety levels among BCS. Randomized controlled trial. Twenty-five BCS (aged 54.6 ± 5.5 years) were randomized into RT or control groups. The RT group performed 8 weeks of RT (once per week). Fatigue was assessed using the Piper Fatigue scale, QOL was assessed using the SF-36, and anxiety was assessed using the STAI State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Resistance training significantly improved the following subscales of SF-36: aspects of physical functioning (+27%, p = 0.027); physical role functioning (+54%, p = 0.008); emotional role functioning (+42%, p = 0.027); and mental health (+16%, p = 0.032). Furthermore, RT improved fatigue levels (−55%, p = 0.001 for general fatigue) and anxiety (anxiety state, −19%, p = 0.012; anxiety trait, −23%, p = 0.001). Resistance training seemed to be a positive nonpharmacological tool for the reduction of fatigue, anxiety, and for improvement of several aspects of QOL in BCS.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy treatment on muscle strength, quality of life, fatigue, and anxiety in women with breast cancer. Nineteen women who were undergoing a chemotherapy treatment (breast cancer treatment [BCT] group, 52.2 ± 13.1 years) and 18 women without cancer (control [CNT] group, 55.8 ± 8.4 years) answered questionnaires for evaluation of fatigue (Fatigue Scale), quality of life (Short-Form Healthy Survey [SF-36] questionnaire), and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [IDATE]) levels. Muscle strength was also assessed by an isometric grip test and an isokinetic knee extension test. Physical limitations, social and emotional domains of quality of life were lower in the BCT group in comparison to the CNT group (p = 0.002; p = 0.003; p = 0.0003, respectively). The other domains did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). There were no differences in fatigue and anxiety levels between both the BCT and CNT groups (p > 0.05). Additionally, isometric grip strength was higher in the CNT group when compared to the BCT group (p = 0.048). However, there were no differences between the BCT and CNT groups for peak torque and total work at both 60°.s−1 (p = 0.95 and p = 0.61, respectively) and 180°.s−1 (p = 0.94 and p = 0.72, respectively). These results suggest that three cycles of chemotherapy treatment may impair handgrip isometric strength and quality of life in women with breast cancer.

This study aimed to compare the anthropometric profile and physical fitness of young judo and wrestling athletes. Twenty-four young athletes (judo (n = 13) and wrestling (n = 11)) participated in this study. The first visit involved anthropometric and flexibility evaluation, abdominal endurance test, upper limbs resistance and cardiorespiratory test. After 48 h, horizontal jump test (HJT), vertical jump test (VJT), medicine ball throw test (MBT), chin-up test (CUT), chin-up isometric test (CUIT) and the anaerobic resistance test were performed. Judo athletes presented greater values for body mass (p = 0.020), height (p = 0.010), and body mass index (p = 0.026) than wrestlers. Judo athletes also performed better for abdominal endurance (p = 0.044), upper limb resistance tests (p < 0.001), VJT (p = 0.022) and MBT (p = 0.023) than wrestling athletes. These results suggest that young judo athletes presented a higher performance in abdominal endurance, upper limbs resistance, HJT, VJT and MBT than wrestling athletes, suggesting that strength and conditioning are related to modality specificity.