Judo competition is characterized structurally by weight category, which raises the importance of physiological control training in judo. The aim of the present review was to examine scientific papers on the physiological profile of the judokas, maintenance or loss of weight, framing issues, such as anthropometric parameters (body fat percentage), heart rate responses to training and combat, maximal oxygen uptake, hematological, biological and hormones indicators. The values shown in this review should be used as a reference for the evaluation of physical fitness and the effectiveness of training programs. Hence, this information is expected to contribute to the development of optimal training interventions aiming to achieve maximum athletic performance and to maintain the health of judokas.

The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of incurring a penalty (shido) on subsequent attack effectiveness and combat result among judo competitors. The sample contained 1462 throw attempts and 293 shido from 242 fights that counted toward the IJF 2013 World Ranking List, including both genders and all weight categories. Variables pertaining to attack effectiveness, combat result and combat minute were included in analyses. Data were collected through systematic observation. Two-way ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction were used to identify the effects of gender and weight category on the number of shido given per fight A series of multilevel binomial regression analyses were conducted to predict the influence of being penalised on subsequent attack effectiveness and combat result. Main findings revealed that receiving a shido was associated with match outcome, increasing the likelihood of being defeated (OR = 3.18; P < 0.01), particularly in heavier weight categories (OR = 1.22; P < 0.01). Furthermore, the probability of being penalised increased with greater time in the match (OR = 2.41; P < 0.01). Finally, winners were more effective in attacking after receiving a shido compared to combatants who ultimately lost the match (OR = 6.51; P < 0.01). Thus, developing training tasks to enhance athletes’ combativeness appears essential to avoid being penalised during the fight. Additionally, effectively dealing with being penalised is an important aspect in modern judo. The reported data may constitute a useful guide in the development of competition-specific training tasks to enhance athletes’ adaptation and responses during the fight, improving performance.

Background: Trunk rotator strength plays an important role in sports performance and health. A reliable method to assess these muscles with functional electromechanical dynamometer has not been described. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were (I) to explore the reliability of different strength variables collected in isokinetic and isometric conditions during two trunk rotator exercises, and (II) to determine the relationship of isometric and dynamic strength variables collected in the same exercise. Methods: A repeated measures design was performed to evaluate the reliability of the horizontal cable woodchop (HCW) and low cable woodchop (LCW) exercises. Reliability was assessed using t-tests of paired samples for the effect size, the standard error of measurement, the coefficient of variation (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Pearson’s (r) correlation coefficient was used to explore the association between isometric and isokinetic tests. Results: HCW exercise is more reliable than LCW exercise in assessing trunk rotator muscles. The strength manifestation that should be used is the average strength, and the most reliable evaluation was the HCW at 0.40 m·s⁻¹ concentric (ICC = 0.89; CV = 10.21%) and eccentric (ICC = 0.85; CV = 9.33%) contraction and the dynamic condition that most correlated with the isometric was LWC at 0.50 m·s⁻¹ (r = 0.83; p < 0.01). Conclusion: HCW is a reliable exercise to measure trunk rotator muscles.

The aim of this study was to identify whether ranking position predicts combat result in Senior and Junior male and female Spanish judo athletes, and how it influences the different stages of the championship. The sample was composed of 683 combats from the Senior (male = 164; female = 158 combats) and Junior (male = 193; female = 168 combats) Spain 2014 Judo National Championships, including all weight categories. Data were obtained from the official classification published by the Spanish Judo Federation. Main results revealed important advantages of high-ranked athletes, finding differences between sexes and championship stages. Specifically, high-ranked athletes had more probability of winning and passing to the next stage. This advantage appears to be greater at the initial phases in females but mitigated as the championship progresses. Interestingly, the quarterfinal appears to be a critical phase in which better skilled and prepared athletes are likely to win. Greater differences between better and lower-ranked were found in Junior females, especially at eliminatory and quarterfinals stages. On the contrary, the Junior male contest appears to be the most equitable competition. These results fuel the debate about the seeding process in judo championships.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue recopilar y analizar globalmente los éxitos deportivos del judo español (categoría sénior) en los Juegos Olímpicos, Campeonatos del Mundo y Campeonatos de Europa. La recogida de información se realizó a través de diversas páginas web específicas de judo. Hasta mayo de 2018 se lograron un total de 141 medallas (seis en Juegos Olímpicos, 21 en Campeonatos del Mundo y 114 en Campeonatos de Europa). Las décadas de 1990 y 2000 fueron aquellas en las que se consiguieron más medallas, mientras que en la década de 2010 se está produciendo una importante reducción. La consecución de éxitos fue mayor en categoría femenina, sumando el 69,5% del total de medallas y, cualitativamente, los éxitos más relevantes del judo español.

Background: this study aimed to identify the influence of postural stability on upper-limb bilateral deficit (BLD), and to compare the assessment of strength generated during elbow flexion functionally vs. analytically in the dominant and nondominant arms. Methods: Twenty men participated in two sessions to evaluate the maximum isometric strength of elbow flexion. This evaluation was performed unilaterally with the dominant arm, unilaterally with the non-dominant arm, and bilaterally, both in the sitting position (SiP) and the standing position (StP). Results: The BLD when peak force was considered was lower for StP (−6.44 ± 5.58%) compared to SiP (−10.73 ± 6.17%) (p = 0.007). Regarding peak force, statistically significant differences were observed for comparisons between dominance (p < 0.001) and Position*Dominance (p = 0.02), but mean force differences were only observed for the dominance factor (p < 0.001). Greater mean and peak forces were always produced bilaterally compared to unilaterally (p < 0.001). Conclusions: a decrease in postural stability by performing elbow flexion exercises in a standing position accentuates BLD of peak force.