Physical Performance in Young Judo Athletes: Influence of Somatic Maturation, Growth, and Training Experience

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the individual contributions of chronological age, somatic maturation, body size and composition, and training experience as indicators of performance in neuromuscular and judo-specific assessments in young athletes. Methods: Sixty-six youth judo athletes performed anthropometric measurements, neuromuscular tests—standing long jump test (SLJ), medicine ball throw test (MBT), handgrip strength test (HGS), and judo-specific tests—Special Judo Fitness test (SJFT) and Judogi Grip Isometric Strength Test (JGST_ISO). A multiple linear regression was used with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: The main results showed age-peak height velocity (PHV), body fat and training experience explained close to 20% of SJFT performance. Chronological age, age-PHV, height, body mass and body fat accounted for 42% of variance in JGST_ISO. Chronological age, body fat and training experience explained 35% of the variance in SLJ, while chronological age, body mass and body fat explained 53% of the variance in MBT. Finally, age-PHV, body mass and height explained 54% of the variance in HGS. Conclusion: Estimated age-PHV and growth variables explained moderate to large proportions of the variance in neuromuscular tests (with exception of SLJ), while both estimated age-PHV, training and growth variables were predictors of judo-specific performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescence
• exercise testing
• physical fitness
• strength

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge all volunteer participants for their collaboration, and the Santa Catarina Judo Federation for the support in our project.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financed by own authors.