Physiological and performance changes in national and international judo athletes during block periodization training

Abstract

Block periodization (BP) has been proposed as an alternative approach for application in the context of high-level sports. Despite its growing acceptance, there is no empirical evidence of BP adoption in high-level judo athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the maximal strength, muscle power, judo-specific performances, and hormonal concentration changes of state/national level (NG) and international level (IG) judo athletes subjected to BP. Twenty-one elite judo athletes (international level = 10; 21.7±1.9 years, 167.2±7.6 cm, 67.6±9.4 kg, 15.7±1.9 years of practice; national level = 11; 21.9±3.0 years, 167.5±9.1 cm, 71.8±16.5, 15.9±3.0 years of practice) were subjected to 13-week BP training (5-week accumulation phase [ACP], 5-week transmutation phase [TP], and 3-week realization phase [RP]). The judo-specific performance (SJFT) increased as there was observed a decrease in the SJFT index (final heart rate [HR] (bpm) + HR1 min after the test divided by the number of throws) for both NG (effect size [ES] = 0.83) and IG (ES = 0.53) from ACP to TP (p < 0.05). The row exercise maximal strength decreased (p < 0.05; ES = 1.35) after the ACP but returned to the baseline level after the TP, for the whole group (ES = 1.39). The athletes did seem to cope appropriately with the demands of BP, as besides increases in SJFT performance no significant changes were observed for cortisol and testosterone concentrations. This is the first study to demonstrate that judo athletes from different competitive levels subjected to BP improved SJFT, likely due to an appropriate balance between training loads and recovery. Thus, the BP approach may be a useful alternative periodization strategy for high-level judo athletes.

Contest coefficients of the elite judo athletes of Russia and Kyrgyzstan (less than 60 kg, 66 kg, 73 kg and 81 kg) from 2010 till 2015

“…A number of the experts advise the use of the results of physical [31] and special tests [49,50] in conjunction with the level of the activity in competitive matches for the expert evaluation of the level of technical and tactical preparedness of the athletes [39,51]. In our opinion, the results of various physical and special tests may not provide completely objective data on the level of readiness of a judoka to a competitive struggle.…”

Block periodization of strength and endurance training is superior to traditional periodization in ice hockey players

“…Previous studies have observed improved endurance performance after block periodization in sports demanding both strength, power, and endurance like soccer 39 and judo, 23 but none of these studies included a control group, making it difficult to interpret the efficacy of BP vs TRAD. In the present study, BP achieved a larger increase in VO 2max than TRAD, despite similar training volume and intensity in the two groups.…”

“…Importantly, Manchado et al did not control for training intensity, making it somewhat difficult to tell whether the difference in training responses was due to a difference in periodization or the difference in intensity. Similarly, a study on judo athletes observed improvement in a judo‐specific performance test after block periodization, but the lack of a control group makes the interpretation difficult . There is a clear lack of studies assessing effects of block periodization in well‐trained team athletes, facing complex performance requirements, involving both strength, power, and endurance.…”

“…Similarly, a study on judo athletes observed improvement in a judo-specific performance test after block periodization, but the lack of a control group makes the interpretation difficult. 23 There is a clear lack of studies assessing effects of block periodization in well-trained team athletes, facing complex performance requirements, involving both strength, power, and endurance.…”

Periodización del entrenamiento aplicada a los programas de entrenamiento extremo

“…Poucos estudos, até o presente momento, analisaram a efetividade da periodização em bloco quando comparado com as demais periodizações do treinamento sobre os ganhos de força, força explosiva e aptidão cardiovascular [26][27][28][29][30] . Painter et al 26 compararam a periodização em bloco com a periodização não linear no treinamento de força (3 dias por semana/10 semanas) para os ganhos de força e potência muscular e na eficiência do treinamento (ganhos obtidos/carga de treinamento) em atletas do atletismo.…”