Maximal lactate steady state in Judo

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Combat Sports Research

Background:

• Assessing aerobic demand is crucial for optimizing training in judo.
• Traditional methods for evaluating aerobic capacity may not fully reflect the specific demands of judo.
• The respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) is a key indicator of aerobic performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) measured during a novel Judo Specific Incremental Test (JSIT).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of JSIT for assessing aerobic demand in judo athletes.
• To compare the validity of JSIT against the gold standard Maximal Lactate Steady State (MLSS) procedure.

Main Methods:

• Eight well-trained male judo players participated in the study.
• Participants performed a maximal incremental specific test for judo (JSIT) to determine RCT.
• Both JSIT and a 30-minute Maximal Lactate Steady State (MLSS) test were conducted, simulating UchiKomi drills.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was found between the intensity at RCT measured by JSIT and MLSS (p=0.40).
• A high and significant positive correlation (r=0.90, p=0.002) was observed between MLSS and RCT.
• High agreement was demonstrated between the two methods, indicating consistency.

Conclusions:

• The respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) measured during the Judo Specific Incremental Test (JSIT) is a valid method for assessing aerobic demand.
• JSIT offers a valid and ecologically sound approach to evaluating the aerobic capacity of judo athletes.
• This finding supports the use of JSIT in judo-specific training and performance monitoring.