Effect of interval training in the pre-competition phase on aerobic capacity and peak power in judo contestants at high sports skill level

A characteristic feature of competitive exercise in judo is sequences of 10 to 30 second attacks and defences interspersed with 10s rests [1], which causes that cyclically re peated exercise with anaerobic and mixed (aerobic/anaerobic) represent the basic energy expenditure in this sport. In single, several-second actions, the major source of energy for the skeletal muscles is creatine phosphate [2]. During actions that take 20-30 s, the energy for muscular contraction is mainly used from the glycolytic system [3]. During a 5-minute judo bout, the essential importance is also from aerobic processes [4]. Assuming that aerobic and anaerobic capacity might affect the result of a competitive judo bout, the aim of the study was to determine the effects of a 5-week training program carried out in the pre-competition period among judo athletes at high sports skill level. Aim: to evaluate short (ca. 10s) maximum exercise in the form of the running intervals on running speed at the anaerobic threshold (V.AT.) during graded exercise test to exhaustion on a mechanical treadmill and relative mechanical work (J/kg), peak power (W/kg) and time of maintaining 97,5% of peak power in the Quebec test.