Association between special judo fitness test index and physiological variables among Indian judokas

Background: Judo is an Olympic grappling combat sport that demands a combination of aerobic and anaerobic capacities along with explosive power to execute combative actions. The Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) was used to evaluate the performance of judokas. However, limited research has explored the relationship between the SJFT index and aerobic and anaerobic capacities, particularly in India. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the SJFT index and physiological variables in Indian judokas. Methods: A total of 22 judokas (male=12, female=10) aged 17-19 years underwent the Yo-Yo-Intermittent Recovery Level-1 test and 30-sec. Wingate test. The SJFT index was obtained by adding the heart rate immediately and 1 min after SJFT, divided by the total number of throws (TT) after completion of the standard SJFT protocol. Stepwise multiple linear regression was employed to determine the association between the SJFT index, aerobic capacity, and anaerobic power. Results: The SJFT index ranged from 8 to 11 and was under “Excellent" category as per the existing classificatory norms. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) ranged from 41.3±1.76 to 46.2±2.9 ml/kg/min and the peak power ranged from 8±1.02 to 11.2±1.24 W/kg. The strongest predictor of average power was a combination of gender, weight, and total number of throws (r2=0.835, SEE=0.516). Conclusions: The specific performance of judokas expressed by the SJFT index was associated with aerobic capacity, whereas the total number of throws was correlated with anaerobic power, even after adjusting for confounders. This suggests that improvements in physiological parameters can significantly contribute to better judo-specific performance and warrant routine monitoring.