Judo performance: kinanthropometric importance for technical tactical and biomechanics

Análise de performance no judô: considerações cineantropométricas e biomecânicas

Abstract

In such a competitive combat sport as judo, it is important that the training is carefully planned so that the athlete can stand out in the international competition. In this context, it is important that the trainer and evaluator are accurate regarding the measures taken of the athlete. Such measures, when correctly performed, can prepare the trainer with tools that allow prescribing contextualized training. The present point of view will show how kinanthropometric variables can be considered by coaches and evaluators when performing technical-tactical and biomechanical analysis in judo athletes. There are differences between sex and weight divisions as to the actions that are prevalent in each one of the categories. Lighter divisions performances must have specific training regarding approach and gripping. Attention should be paid to anticipation in athletes of the light and middle divisions. The rating of force development is the most important biomechanical measure.

Key words
Martial arts; Data analysis; Athletic performance; Body weights and measures

Resumo

Em uma modalidade esportiva de combate tão competitiva como o judô é importante que o treinamento seja planejado minuciosamente para que um atleta possa se destacar no cenário competitivo internacional. Neste contexto, é importante que o treinador e avaliador sejam precisos quanto as medidas realizadas no atleta. Tais medidas, quando corretamente realizadas, podem municiar o treinador com ferramentas que permitam prescrever treinamentos contextualizados. O presente ponto de vista apresentará como variáveis cineantropométricas podem ser consideradas por treinadores e avaliadores ao realizarem análises técnico-táticas e biomecânicas em atletas de judô. Existem diferenças entre sexo e categorias de peso quanto às ações que são predominantes. Categorias mais leves realizam devem realizar treinos específicos quanto ao approach e pegada. Deve-se dedicar atenção a antecipação em atletas das categorias leves e médio. A taxa de desenvolvimento de força é a variável biomecânica mais importante

Palavras-chave
Artes marciais; Analise de dados; Desempenho atlético; Pesos e medidas corporais

INTRODUCTION

Judo biomechanists and notational analysts are worried about the analysis and enhancement of performance¹. Authors of recent studies made wide use of video analysis and technology with important implications for assessment and training², trying to improve knowledge about motor actions and lever used during determinant attacks¹. Recently, those involved in these two sub-disciplines of sport science have recognized some other commonalities, which suggest that the two should grow closer together, collaborate more and share theories and methods³. The issues that are common to both biomechanists and notational analysts include optimizing feedback to the performer and coach to improve performance. These common issues include the management of information complexity⁴, addressing the reliability and validity of their data, and exploitation of the approaches and methods of artificial intelligence. However, the association between performance analysis and anthropometric analysis seems to be scarce.

There are many kinanthropometric measures that can be used to predict the judo performance. We can separate them in: a) determine an athletic performance; b) select possible talents for the sport; and c) differentiate groups of athletes between weight division and sex. Therefore, the present point of view aimed to present how anthropometric measures can be used in technical-tactical and biomechanical analysis for success in competitive judo. Such knowledge can help coaches and physical evaluators to focus on the assessments and variables that can really determine performance in this combat sport.

IMPORTANCE OF TECHNICAL-TACTICAL ANALYSIS FOR MODERN TRAINING AND COMPETITION

Investigations conducted weight division comparisons to provide further insights in the relationship between key-morphological variables and performance analysis⁵. When expensive high technology (ex. dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) appears to be unavailable and impractical for most sport scientists, descriptive anthropometric characteristics offer a unique wealth of information that can be used to analyze the size, proportionality and body composition of the athlete.

Even today, it is common that athletes train at the same volume and intensity in judo decontextualized trainings. However, there are differences in technical-tactical actions between men and women in the seven weight divisions. In elite athletes, a higher difference was observed between tactical actions when men and women were analyzed in their respective weight divisions. The lightest categories are those which need more attention regarding the tactics for the grip domain. Furthermore, between men and women in the middleweight there is a higher difference in the time dedicated to approaching and grappling, in which men tend to devote more time to the approach⁶. These data show the need to plan (at least part of the training) in a specific way, so that athletes can develop precise preparation for the demands of their division.

Regarding performance analysis, the main transitions between judo combat factors presented higher prevalence of the following combinations: approach phase, gripping occurring before the lever and attacks, attack occurring earlier than the groundwork and pause phase². Regarding the approach phase of judo, high frequencies could be used by athletes to engage in evasive gripping actions in order to control space and ultimately gain control of their opponent for subsequent attacks⁷. Figure 1 shows the schematic division to perform a judo combat analysis.

Figure 1
Division of technical-tactical actions to perform a judo combat analysis.

Studies about performance analysis in judo associated with Kinanthropometry characteristics could explain the connection between determinant combat phases and their technical-tactical analysis^6,7. For instance, weight divisions demonstrated significant performance differences associated with physical differences, light and middle categories rapidly analyze their adversary and execute their anticipated gripping tactics, which has been recognized to be a key factor in technical efficacy². However, a possible explanation for these differences is the fact that these groups had a higher number of anthropometric standardized athletes in absolute volume participating in judo tournaments than the extra lightweight and heavier categories. Therefore, lighters, half middle and middle judo athletes have to develop unpredictable or difficult forms of approach, avoiding typical approach positions and vulnerable positions.

Regarding the gripping phase, there is a range of primary and secondary factors influencing the development of judo expertise which need more research: gripping associated with high levels of power and produced torque appear to be one of the essential characteristics that determine success in competition⁷. Past study showed that middleweight athletes had higher gripping frequencies than other weight categories, particularly gripping more often with one hand targeting their opponent’s back and sleeves⁵. Recent findings outline the relationship between balance control and the bilateral reactionary gripping task. It is possible that middleweight athletes use a varied number of grip combinations to avoid opponent attacks and to execute throwing techniques with the purpose of compromising their opponent’s balance and causing them to fall to the ground². In turn, future studies need to consider wingspan as one of the factors associated with defense for attacks, repositioning the control through a strength grip and counterattacking. On the other hand, heavier athletes used more defensive grip configurations (i.e. back and collars) associated with the absolute weight on the opponent's shoulders, aiming to control their dynamic posture, and at the same time avoiding opponent’s possible attempts to displace their balance (center of gravity), approaches and arm lever or minimal length techniques⁵.

BIOMECHANICAL AND KINANTHROPOMETRY ASPECTS FOR JUDO PERFORMANCE

Technical-tactical, biomechanical and Kinanthropometry characteristics of athletes influence performance and specific judo training. Currently, successful judo athletes demonstrated lower body fat percentage for both male and female, except for heavyweight athletes⁴. These variables are critical for coaches, who could benefit from relevant information to direct their decision in establishing a judo team roster, especially when the selection process is limited in time and weight divisions. Therefore, physical preparation should focus on improving muscular power and capacity in both upper and lower extremities of the body, considering technical-tactical analysis associated with biomechanical factors and the Kinanthropometry characteristics of judo athletes. Inclusively, some investigations showed advantage in the biomechanical variables evaluated in judo techniques³, however, in biomechanics there are different levels of assessment that could be considered in judo⁸.

The first point is a group of basic assessment; muscle utilization of short-stretching cycle, limitation of muscle groups involved in performance and control of degrees of freedom involved in the chain of movement. Muscle utilization of the short-stretching cycle: During the start of any movement it is common to see joint variations in the opposite direction to the movement, generating an eccentric tension, these variations originate with the purpose of obtaining a contribution from the elastic components (fascia, tendons, sarcolemma and titin) of muscle tissue, which provides this contribution without any energy cost⁹. The mechanical characteristics that these structures have provide this energy accumulation, but this material also presents variations as a result of the holding time in the eccentric variation, temperature, level of flexibility and coordination. In judo, it is very important how an assessment is frequently used by trainers with squat jump and countermovement jump¹⁰ and the relation with Kinanthropometry characteristics, actuality assessment of shortening-stretching cycle is with force platform in variables; jump height, mean power, peak power, maximum force, and peak velocity, but the main problem is that the best variable in explosive force is rating of force development¹¹ and the difference between squat jump and countermovement jump with this variable.

Limitation of muscle groups involved in performance (minimize energy expended): The optimal performance of a movement is based on the economy of effort, which includes limiting excessive movements and muscle groups for the motor task. These movements contribute to a decrease in energy used in muscle work and, therefore, the application of the concept of muscular efficiency, mainly determining differences in the control strategy in the muscles¹². To assess the limitation of involved muscle groups, the electromyography of surface (EMGs) is used, in assessment of judo with EMGs in lower extremities in different throwing techniques where elite judokas revealed higher EMG activity of agonist muscles during throws but lower co-activation levels in different with sub elite judokas⁸. In the other hand, the judo-specific resistance training also has assessment with EMGs, where it shows that major EMG activities are: deltoid muscle, erector spinae muscle, trapezius muscle, but the main problem in this point is the form in which the different articles normalize the data of EMG, so the contraction voluntary maxima (CVM) is the best form of normalizing the EMG signal. when the movements evaluated are not maximal and it is necessary to search other mechanics of normalizing the signal EMG validation¹³.

Control of degrees of freedom involved in the chain of movement: The realization of a movement begins with the coordination of larger segments towards smaller and distal structures¹⁴. This chain of movement can be generated in a more complex manner as more planes and axes of movement are added. The control of the force that is generated to carry out this movement must be adequate in both directions to achieve the motor task. In sports, the flexibility is a very complex assessment since tests are not valid and do not have global normative values. In the few validated global tests there is the sit and reach test, which is a field test used to measure hamstring and lower back flexibility of the population, but also widely used in athletes and to show normative values in sport¹⁵, being part of British Judo Tests. In judo is necessary to add major test that evaluates the flexibility in judokas.

FINAL COMMENTS

To this end, research from a broad range of performance analysis is likely to advance the understanding of this combat sport. If practitioners are to intervene effectively and enhance these skills, then a better understanding of how performance analysis associated with Kinanthropometry aspects is necessary. Further, this point of view has demonstrated that among judo players, the best achievers can be discriminated from analysis associated with biomechanical characteristics and the technical-tactical actions on the basis of their Kinanthropometry characteristics. There are limitations regarding the use of EMG that must be considered before performing this measurement. It should be noted, however, that the rating of force development is the most important biomechanical variable. Finally, there is a lack of studies concerning this subject, it is recommended that further research examines the use of novel technology as a means to differentiate between performance levels of athlete’s Kinanthropometry factors, and give specific consideration to develop a specific testing and training protocol for judo players.

COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL STANDARDS

• Funding

  This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. This study was funded by the authors

• Ethical approval

  This research is in accordance with the standards set by the Declarationof Helsinki

How to cite this article

• Brito CJ, Aedo-Muñoz E, Miarka B. Judo performance: Kinanthropometricimportance for technical tactical and biomechanics. Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum 2020, 22:e76584. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2020v22e76584

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  07 Dec 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  21 May 2020
• Accepted
  25 Oct 2020