Aggressiveness in Judokas and Team Athletes: Predictive Value of Personality Traits, Emotional Intelligence and Self-Efficacy

Combat sports and martial arts are often associated with aggressiveness among the general public, although data on judo and/or martial arts and aggressiveness seem to be unclear. This research aims to compare athletes who have trained judo for a prolonged time (minimum 5 years) and athletes from various team sports, primarily regarding the manifestation of aggression, but also regarding personality traits, emotional intelligence, and self-efficacy. Also, the potential predictive value of personality traits, emotional intelligence, and self-efficacy for aggression within subsamples of judokas and team athletes was tested. The research findings showed that professional judo athletes are characterized by a low degree of aggression, especially low indirect and physical manifestations of aggression. In addition, the personality traits Honesty-Humility and Openness to experience are well expressed, contrary to Emotionality and Extraversion, which are less pronounced. They are also characterized by moderate general self-efficacy. On the other hand, members of team sports produced the opposite results, as they are characterized by increased aggression, pronounced traits of Emotionality and Extraversion, somewhat less pronounced traits of Honesty-Humility, Openness to new experience, and less pronounced general self-efficacy. The percentage of explained variability of aggression is slightly higher in the subsample of team sports and constitutes 49.9% of the variability, while in the subsample of judokas it constitutes 47.8% of the variability of the criteria. Practical implications, limitations, and future research directions were discussed.

The effect plyometric training with active-passive recovery for 8 weeks on performance physical abilities male judo athletes

Background and Study Aim. Judo is a popular sport with dynamic characteristics and requires high physical abilities to achieve achievement. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of plyometric exercises with active-passive recovery for eight weeks to improve the physical ability of male judo athletes. Material and Methods. This study used an experimental method. A total of 36 male judoka participated as samples and were randomly divided into three groups. The plyometric experimental group with active recovery (21.8±1.78 years, 1.70±0.06 m, 71.1±13.5 kg), plyometric experimental group with passive recovery (21.7±2.53 years, 1.71±0.06 m, 63.8±10.1 kg), and the control group (21.4±2.30 years, 1.72±0.05 m, 67.4±7.76 kg). The training program was conducted for eight weeks with a frequency of 3 times/week. The experimental group was treated with plyometric training after warm-up, judo training, and post-exercise active-passive recovery intervention. The control group continued regular judo training. The statistical analysis procedure used the ANOVA test to determine the difference and comparison of the pre-test and post-test mean values in the control and experimental groups with a significance level (p<0.05). Results. The results showed differences in the average value of experimental and control groups found significant to the VO2Max endurance and leg power. Meanwhile, no significant difference occurred in left and right grip strength, flexibility, and speed. Conclusions. The study concluded that plyometric training with active-passive recovery positively affects male judoka's VO2max endurance and leg power.

Comprehensive and special physical fitness of judo athletes of provincial national teams in the age groups: youngster (U16) and junior (U21)

The research aimed to determine the relationship between the universal and special physical fitness of judoists. The study involved players from the youngster (U16) and junior (U21) age group from provincial teams. The International Physical Fitness Test was used to measure comprehensive fitness, and the Special Judo Fitness Test was applied to assess special fitness. The research has shown that juniors exhibit a higher level of all-round (excluding flexibility) and special fitness than youngsters. More relationships between comprehensive physical fitness and special fitness were demonstrated in the youngster group. Leg muscle strength, endurance, agility, and abdominal strength were found to have the most significant impact on the overall level of all-round fitness in the youngster age group, while in the age group under 21, endurance, hand strength, and arm strength had the most significant impact. It has been shown that the combination of individual components of versatile fitness in a given training cycle may bring positive effects in shaping those features in both age groups. Besides, it has been shown that when taking account of the athlete’s ontogenetic development and his/her sensitive period, the relationships between the components of comprehensive fitness and comprehensive and special fitness can significantly affect the effectiveness of the training process in both age groups.

Body Size Measurements and Physical Performance of Youth Female Judo Athletes with Differing Menarcheal Status

Purpose: To compare body size measurements and physical performance among female youth judo athletes with differing menarcheal status and to identify indicators of physical performance in post-menarcheal girls. Methods: Nineteen young female judo athletes (age 13.9 ± 2.3 years) were divided into a pre-menarche (n = 7) and a post-menarche (n = 12) group. The athletes were evaluated through neuromuscular tests, including standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), and handgrip strength (HGS), and judo-specific assessments, including the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) and the Judogi Grip Strength Test (JGSTISO). Furthermore, years of experience in judo and the age at menarche were determined. Results: The main results showed higher performance for the post-menarche group for most variables (p < 0.05) compared to the pre-menarche group. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age at menarche, chronological age, and body mass explained close to 70% of JGSTISO, while training experience, chronological age, and age at menarche explained close to 59% of SLJ. Additionally, chronological age and age at menarche explained 40% of MBT, and chronological age and height explained 52% of HGS. Conclusions: Age at menarche and somatic growth variables explained moderate proportions of the variance of physical performance, thereby providing evidence that these parameters are the primary indicators of physical performance in young female judo athletes.

World-ranking performance in judo athletes with visual impairment: An approach considering sport classes and weight categories

The objective of this study was to analyze the ranking scores in Paralympic judo athletes in different visual impairment classifications (B1, B2, and B3) and describe the frequency of athletes of each classification allocated in the first five and last five positions in the ranking list. A total of 488 judo athletes with visual impairment (332 male and 156 female) took part in this study. Data were extracted from the Official Ranking List, documented and organized by the International Blind Sports Federation, and analyzed according to sport classes (B1, B2, and B3) and weight categories. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the scores among different groups. The main results showed that B1 athletes presented lower total and best scores compared to B2 and B3 counterparts in both female ( p = .020, p < .001, respectively) and male groups ( p = .010, p = .005, respectively). In addition, when analyzing the ranking list position, there was a higher percentage of B1 athletes in the last five positions in female (60%) and male groups (60%) than B2 and B3 athletes. Investigations about classification and competitive system can assist coaches and sports organizations to identify the appropriateness of the ranking system scores adopted for athletes with visual impairment. Our findings showed some issues when considering competitive programming that includes all visual impairment classes in the same category.