PMID 31915481

Research
All papers

Immunological Responses to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu High-Intensity Interval Training Session

Ide BN, Souza-Junior TP, McAnulty SR, de Faria MAC, Costa KA, Nunes LAS

Question

What acute neuromuscular, blood, and salivary immunological responses occur after a BJJ-specific HIIT session?

Summary

In 10 experienced male Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes, one supervised BJJ-specific HIIT session increased several blood and saliva immune/metabolic markers but did not reduce horizontal countermovement jump performance. All athletes completed the session without restrictions, interruptions, muscle pain, injuries, or discomfort.

Methodology

  • Experienced male Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes, purple to black belt.
  • 10 participants.
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu guard-pass exercise with matched opponents.
  • Work intervals: 2 min.
  • Recovery: 1 min rest.
  • Intensity: Best attacks and defenses with verbal encouragement; trying to force submission.
  • About 27 min including warm-up; interval block about 17 min.
  • Single acute session.
  • Single session.
  • Acute pre-post exercise study
  • Horizontal countermovement jump, Leukocyte counts, Salivary immune/metabolic markers, and Session tolerability were tracked.

Outcomes

HCMJ

HCMJ remained 2.20 m pre to post and did not significantly change.

p=0.67

No clear change

SAA

Salivary alpha-amylase increased 576% immediately post-session.

110 +/- 49 to 744 +/- 785 U/mL; p<0.001

Improved

IgA

Salivary IgA secretion rate and concentration increased more than 100%.

Both p<0.001

Improved

Blood cells

WBC, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts increased after the session.

p<=0.05

Improved

Safety

All athletes completed the session without reported pain, injury, discomfort, restrictions, or interruptions.

No clear change

Insights

  • A 6 x 2 min, 1 min rest sport-specific BJJ interval session was tolerated by experienced athletes.
  • Immediate HCMJ may not capture all recovery needs after contact grappling, so immune/stress markers and subjective checks matter.
  • Sport-specific HIIT protocols should preserve skill matching and expert supervision.

Limitations

  • Small sample of 10 men
  • No control group
  • Acute-only study
  • No direct HR/RPE/lactate intensity measure reported
  • Findings are specific to experienced BJJ athletes and guard-pass work

Safety

  • All athletes completed the BJJ HIIT session without restrictions or interruptions.
  • No athlete reported muscle pain, injuries, or discomfort associated with the exercise.
  • The session was supervised by a black-belt BJJ teacher and used opponents of approximately the same weight class and technical level.