The Influence of Physiological Characteristics on the Competitive Success of Judo Athletes

The strong connection between physiological adaptations to training and the level of technical abilities of competitors is often difficult to establish since judo is a sport in which technique is dominant, while the physiological characteristics and their parameters make up the basis on which the judo athlete builds his individual technique and tactics. The aim of the paper is to present the results of our own research carried out over the past decade and to indicate the possible guidelines for designing an effective training plan and program. Anaerobic capacity enables an intensive, but short-term manifestation of maximum muscle strength characteristic for this type of sport. For judo athletes, aerobic capacity is the basis for repetition and extended load during a judo match, and especially during overtime in those cases when the final decision was not made during the usual five-minute match. Top judo athletes are characterized by high values of muscle strength and muscle endurance, especially in the upper body. Ideally, judo athletes should, through an optimum combination of training and a proper diet, maintain the percentage of body fat from 7–10%, with the exception of the highest weight categories.