Introduction: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based combat sport where athletes are classified by age, rank, gender, and weight. Rapid weight loss (RWL) practices are commonly adopted by BJJ and other combat sport athletes to meet weight category requirements, often using various strategies with or without nutritional guidance. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, types, and effects of RWL practices among BJJ competitors, specifically comparing methods and symptom profiles between athletes with and without nutritionist support. Methodology: In this observational study, 234 BJJ athletes (121 with nutritionist support and 113 without) completed the Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire (RWLQ) via Google Forms. Data were collected during national competitions held in Brazil, Ireland, and Italy across 2022 and 2023. Athletes reported on their weight loss history, frequency of RWL, specific methods used, and experienced symptoms. Statistical analyses, including Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Shapiro-Wilk tests, were conducted, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: indicated that athletes with nutritionist support practiced RWL more frequently and achieved greater weight loss (mean 7.6 kg over 3 instances) than those without support, primarily using gradual dieting (56.2% vs. 31.9%). This group also reported higher rates of fatigue (78.5% vs. 67.3%) and headache (52.1% vs. 34.5%). Conclusions: BJJ athletes with nutritional guidance not only engaged in more frequent and substantial RWL but also experienced increased RWL-related symptoms, suggesting a potential trade-off between supervised weight management and symptom burden.

Eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) muscle training produce distinct physiological responses, with potential implications for musculoskeletal, metabolic, and cardiovascular health. Therefore, our objective is to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of ECC and CON training on strength, hypertrophy, metabolic function, and cardiovascular health across diverse adult populations. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024627600). The review included eight randomized controlled trials, pooling data from a total of 441 participants. For strength-related outcomes, six studies (n = 322) were included; for hypertrophy, four studies (n = 210); and for cardiovascular measures, three studies (n = 154). Studies were assessed using the TESTEX scale. Standardized mean differences and random-effects models were applied (p ≤ 0.05). Results indicated that ECC training consistently produced moderate to large improvements in muscle strength (pooled ES = 0.95; I² = 78.6%) and hypertrophy (pooled ES = 0.60; I² = 62.3%), particularly in populations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and older adults. The rate of force development (RFD) showed large effect sizes for ECC (RFD50: ES = 0.97; RFD100: ES = 0.95) but minimal change for CON (RFD50: ES = 0.04; RFD100: ES = 0.10). Both ECC and CON showed minimal effects on cardiovascular outcomes (heart rate and blood pressure: pooled ES range = −0.16 to 0.00; I² = 41.8%) and limited tendon remodeling (ES = −0.18). In conclusion, ECC exercise demonstrates superior benefits for improving muscular strength, hypertrophy, and power across varied populations, particularly those with clinical conditions such as COPD. Its impact on cardiovascular health and tendon properties, however, appears limited. These findings support the integration of ECC modalities into targeted rehabilitation and performance programs.

This study investigated the critical aspect of match intensity in MMA bouts and its impact on performance. MMA is a physically demanding sport, and understanding the dynamics of intensity throughout matches is essential for both athletes and trainers. To achieve this goal, we adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for comprehensive and ethical reporting of our findings. We conducted a thorough search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Bireme, CINAHL, SportDiscus, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane, to identify relevant articles. Our search terms included "mixed martial arts athletes," "movement time study," "male athletes," "female athletes," "lactate," "heart rate," and "motor action." Our meta-analysis yielded compelling results. We found a statistically significant difference between the third and second rounds (p=0.0001) for both total high-intensity and low-intensity time. Additionally, significant differences were observed when comparing the second round to the first round for total high-intensity time (p=0.52) and total low-intensity time (p=0.58). These findings indicate a progressive increase in intensity throughout the rounds, with the third round significantly affecting the fight's outcome. Our results suggest that trainers and athletes should consider a specific strategy for the third round to address potential metabolic fatigue. Future research should delve deeper into strategies that can effectively manage intensity throughout MMA bouts, with a focus on factors like nutrition, recovery, and psychological aspects, which could provide valuable insights into optimizing performance in this demanding sport. Keywords: Technical-tactical analysis; Task performance and analysis; Exercise physiology; Martial Arts.

Background: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been employed in athletes from various sports to enhance performance; however, no data have focused on its effects in mixed martial arts (MMA). This study investigated the effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), an alternative modality of TMS, on motor performance and plasma oxidative-stress biomarkers of ten male mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with ten professional MMA athletes (aged 18–35 years). Participants were assigned to the experimental (iTBS) or placebo groups. Baseline and post-intervention performance were assessed using the Multiple Frequency Speed of Kick Test (MFSKT) and a Progressive Speed Kick Test (PSKT). Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress, including thiols, total antioxidant capacity, 8-isoprostane, and carbonylated proteins, were measured before and after the performance tests in both groups. The iTBS was applied to the left primary motor cortex at an 80 motor threshold for the experimental group and at sub-threshold levels for the placebo group. A two-way ANOVA for paired groups, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests, were used to analyze the repeated measures, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements on the MFSKT [25.4 (±1.2) kicks vs. 20.8 (±1.4) kicks] and the PSKT [27.6 (±1.5) vs. 22.4 (±1.7) kicks] in the iTBS group vs. placebo, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of the serum redox balance biomarkers pre- and post-test, suggesting a limited impact on redox homeostasis despite performance enhancement. The placebo group showed no notable changes in either test or biomarker levels. Conclusions: These results highlight the improved physical performance in MMA athletes without altering redox biomarkers in the blood—emphasizing its applicability for neuromodulation in sports.

Introduction: Combat sports are defined by two individuals engaged in individual competition. Tournaments are divided into categories and in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ), competitors perform rapid weight loss (RWL) in different ways and at different levels, and the level of different competitors can impact RWL. Objective: analyzed the frequency and volume of RWL in different regions of the world (Brazil vs. Europe) and its different grades. Methodology: This is an observational study, with 234 (77.7% M, 22.3% F) BJJ competitors. The RWL questionnaire (RWLQ) was applied using the Google Forms platform during interviews that were conducted in national-level competitions in Brazil, Ireland and Italy between the years 2022 and 2023. They were asked about weight loss history, frequency and percentage of RWL. Frequency and percentage were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test to compare weight loss, habits and routine of BJJ practice. The significance level applied was p ≤ 0.05. Discussion: The results indicate that in Brazil there are more black belts (35.4% vs. 23.3%), more professionals (24.5% vs. 11.6%) and the greatest weight loss was also seen in Brazil (8.4 kg vs. 5.2 kg). In Brazil, 67.3% are engaged in strength activities other than BJJ, while in Europe 44.2%. Conclusion: We can conclude that there is no significant difference between the regions regarding the frequency and volume of RWL, however, the level of specialization of the sport, greater weight loss and graduation show a tendency to perform RWL.

Background: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), has emerged as a potential ergogenic strategy for modulating neural activity and enhancing cognitive and physical performance in sports. However, evidence regarding its application in combat sports remains limited, heterogeneous, and fragmented. This study aimed to systematically synthesize the effects of NIBS on neuromodulation and cognitive, physical, and psychophysiological performance-related outcomes in combat sport athletes. Although NIBS encompasses several stimulation techniques, the evidence identified in combat sport athletes in this review predominantly involved tDCS. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251150915). Searches were performed in CAPES, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus using predefined keywords related to combat sports and brain stimulation techniques. Studies were included if they involved combat sport athletes and investigated the effects of NIBS on performance-related outcomes. Data extraction included study design, sample characteristics, stimulation protocols, and main findings. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for randomized studies and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies, while certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework. Results: Nine studies were included in the final synthesis (eight identified through database searching and one through other methods/manual reference screening), encompassing athletes from taekwondo, judo, boxing, mixed martial arts, fencing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Most studies applied tDCS protocols targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) or the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), with intensities ranging from 1 to 2 mA and stimulation durations between 10 and 20 min. tDCS demonstrated potential benefits in reaction time, selective attention, memory, and resistance to fatigue, as reflected by increased time to task failure. Additionally, enhancements in neuromuscular activation and reductions in anxiety were observed. However, results were heterogeneous, and some studies reported no significant effects on performance-related variables. Risk-of-bias assessment revealed methodological limitations across studies, and GRADE indicated low-to-very-low certainty of evidence for most outcomes. Conclusions: tDCS may influence selected cognitive, neuromuscular, and fatigue-related outcomes in combat sport athletes; however, the direction and magnitude of these effects are inconsistent across studies. Given the substantial methodological heterogeneity and the low-to-very-low certainty of evidence, no definitive conclusions regarding efficacy or routine practical application can currently be drawn. Further large-scale, standardized, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.