EFFECT OF THE RANGE OF BODY WEIGHT LOSS ON COMPETITIVE RESULT OF JUDO ATHLETES

The scientific literature lacks accurate and reliable knowledge on the effects of various HIIT programs and pre-competitive body weight loss on the competitive results of judo athletes. Objective: this scientific work is devoted to assessing the effect of pre-competitive body weight loss on competitive performance of junior judo athletes, who applied high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in pre-competitive training cycle. Materials and methods: an analysis of dynamics of body weight loss among junior judo athletes during the pre-competitive training cycle was carried out. The athletes’ competitive results were assessed using the Potential Analysis System (PotAS). Results and conclusion: just over half of the junior judo athletes studied reduce body weight before competition in the range of 5 to 10% of body weight. It was found that judo athletes, who reduced their body weight by no more than 5% of their total body weight, demonstrated significantly (p ≤ 0,05) higher competitive results.