Can judo experience, somatic maturation, growth and physical capacities discriminate young judo athletes from different competitive levels?

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze whether judo experience, somatic maturation, growth, and physical capacities discriminate young judo athletes from different competitive levels (state and national). Sixty-six young male judo athletes (36 from state and 30 from national level) participated in this study, divided from the annual competitive season. The assessments were performed in two stages separated by 48 hours: anthropometric measurements and physical tests (standing long jump – SLJ, medicine ball throw test-MBT, handgrip strength test – HGS, Special Judo Fitness Test – SJFT and Judogi Grip Isometric Strength Test–JGST). Judo athletes were asked for their date of birth and judo experience. T-test and discriminant analysis were used to compare and discriminate the variables between young judo athletes from state and national groups with the level of significance set at 5%. The main results showed that stature, judo experience, JGST, and SLJ performance were higher in the national group (p < 0.05) and could adequately discriminate competitive levels (structural coefficient >30, p < 0.001). It was concluded that young male judo athletes who compete at the national level are taller, more experienced, and present superior physical performance in tests related to strength and power than athletes from the state group of the same age.