PMID 27445856

Research
All papers

High-Intensity Intermittent Training Positively Affects Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance in Judo Athletes Independently of Exercise Mode

Franchini E, Julio UF, Panissa VL, Lira FS, Gerosa-Neto J, Branco BH

Question

Do lower-body cycling, upper-body cycling, and judo-specific uchi-komi HIIT modes differentially improve aerobic and anaerobic performance in judo athletes compared with regular judo training alone?

Summary

In 35 male state-level judo athletes, 4 weeks of low-volume all-out intermittent training added to regular judo produced some upper-body aerobic and upper/lower-body anaerobic improvements. The exact adaptations differed by mode: lower-body cycling, upper-body cycling, or judo-specific uchi-komi.

Methodology

  • Male state-level judo athletes training regularly.
  • 35 participants.
  • Cycle ergometer or uchi-komi.
  • Work intervals: 20 seconds.
  • Recovery: 10 seconds between efforts; 5 minutes between blocks.
  • Intensity: All-out.
  • 22 minutes 40 seconds including warm-up and rests.
  • 2 sessions/week.
  • 4 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled experimental training study
  • Upper-body aerobic power, Wingate power, Blood lactate, and Muscle damage markers were tracked.

Outcomes

Upper-body MAP

Upper-body HIIT increased upper-body maximal aerobic power.

p=0.008 within upper-body group.

Improved

Upper-body power

Uchi-komi increased upper-body peak power, and lower-body HIIT increased upper-body power at OBLA.

Uchi-komi PP p=0.015; lower-body POBLA p=0.020.

Improved

Lower-body power

Lower-body HIIT improved lower-body mean power in bout 4, while upper-body and uchi-komi groups had lower mean power overall post-training.

Lower-body group bout 4 p=0.007; upper-body p=0.047; uchi-komi p=0.029.

Mixed

Body composition

Body mass and body fat percentage did not change.

No group, time, or interaction effects, p>0.05.

No clear change

Insights

  • For athletes, a low-volume 20:10 format can be sport-specific or ergometer-based.
  • Mode selection matters; adaptations were not identical across upper-body, lower-body, and uchi-komi formats.
  • Do not expect body-composition changes from a short low-volume block in trained athletes.

Limitations

  • Small all-male athlete groups.
  • Control blood markers were not measured.
  • No long-term follow-up or competition outcomes.
  • Adherence reporting was limited.

Safety

  • No adverse events were specifically reported.
  • Muscle damage markers increased acutely after Wingate tests but did not show a training-period effect.
  • Control-group blood markers were not measured.