Physiological, Nutritional and Performance Profiles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes

The Effects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Body Composition, Health Fitness, Functional Movement Screening in non-Elite Healthy Young Adults

OBJECTIVES Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has grown massively in recent years, but its positive effects in non-elite population has not been analyzed. The purpose of current study was to exam the effects of BJJ on body composition, health fitness components, and functional movement screening (FMS) in healthy young adults.METHODS Combined exercise program was composed of aerobic and resistance exercises. All participants were randomly assigned either into BJJ exercise group (BJEG, n=10, 28.10±2.64 years) or combined exercise group (CEG, n=10, 28.20±3.43 years). Exercise intervention was conducted for ninety minutes per session, three times per week for twelve weeks.RESULTS Body fat (%) and muscle mass (kg) were significantly improved in both groups. Muscle strength in upper and lower extremity, muscle endurance, flexibility, power were significantly improved in both groups. Cardiorespiratory fitness in BJEG was significantly improved. Also, FMS total score and deep squat score showed significant improvement in both groups.CONCLUSIONS BJJ is an effective exercise for health and fitness management purpose in non-elite healthy young adults.

Evidence-based post exercise recovery in combat sports: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Some methods such as ergo nutritional aids, cooling or massage among others could improve recovery in combat sports (CS). The effects, doses, duration, and timing of these methods remains unknown. Nowadays, there is no clear consensus regarding the recovery strategies and it is necessary to understand the type of fatigue induced in CS and its underlying mechanisms. The main aim of this article is to review the update literature related to recovery strategies in CS.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A literature search was conducted following preferred reporting items for review statement on the topic of: "combat sports," "recovery," "nutrition," "fatigue," "ergogenic aids," "weight cutting" and "hydration."

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The initial search of the literature detected 369 articles about CS. Later, 307 were excluded after being determined unrelated to recovery or after failure to fulfill the inclusion criteria. Of the 80 included articles, 19 satisfied the final inclusion criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

To optimize CS performance, adequate recovery is required during training and competition processes. Traditional ergo nutritional supplementation of carbohydrates and proteins combined. Besides, the consumption of evidence supported supplementation (green tea, beetroot gels, creatine or alkaline water) improve recovery processes. Further methods of recovery including physical (cold water immersion, massage or photobiomodulation) and physiological (types of active recovery, sleep and rest) therapies have also been shown useful. This narrative review elucidates the important role of recovery techniques in CS.

SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN BLOOD PARAMETERS AMONG KYRGYZ ELITE JUDO ATHLETES

ABSTRACT Introduction: Evaluation of health status and physical condition of Kyrgyz Judo Athletes before the Olympic Games. Objective: To evaluate changes in hematological, biochemical and blood gas values of athletes during the training period. Methods: Eight elite athletes (n=8 men), participated to the study. Before and after the exercise periods (baseline, 3rd month and 6th month), blood samples were taken, to determine plasma red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), blood clot cell (PLT), granulocyte (NOTR) and agranulocyte (LNF) counts, hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) values, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and venous blood pH, PO2, PCO2, SAT O2, HCO3, BE, Na, K, Cl values. In addition, serum glucose (Glu), total protein (TP), total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol, triglyceride (Trig), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Creat), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values were measured. Results: Although, the athletes’ WBC and LNF counts increased significantly (p<0.05) in post-exercise periods, no statistical significance (p>0.05) was found in the other hematological parameters. Blood pH, pCO2, HCO3 and BE values decreased (P<0.05) after the exercise periods. Conclusion: The effects of exercise on judo athletes were evaluated before the Olympics. Level of Evidence III; Case-control study.

Monitoring Internal Training Load, Stress-Recovery Responses, and Immune-Endocrine Parameters in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training

Campos, F, Molina Correa, JC, Canevari, VCM, Branco, BHM, Andreato, LV, and de Paula Ramos, S. Monitoring internal training load, stress-recovery responses, and immune-endocrine parameters in Brazilian jiu-jitsu training. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between training loads, stress, and immune-endocrine markers during a precompetitive period in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athletes. For this, 12 athletes were submitted to 1 physical and 1 technical-tactical training session per day, 5 days a week, for 7 weeks. The saliva sampling and physical tests (countermovement jump [CMJ] and squat jump [SJ]) were performed before starting the training period (pre) and at the fourth week (4-week) and eighth week (post). Session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire-Sport (RESTQ) were applied, and the training load was calculated weekly. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Friedman test were used, with significance levels set at p < 0.05. Increased training loads were recorded by the sRPE method in technical-tactical training sessions (p < 0.05). Higher physical loads were reported by athletes during weeks 1-4, contributing to overall higher training load, monotony, and strain during this period (p < 0.05). Increased perception of stress, by the RESTQ, and cortisol were detected, whereas decreased salivary testosterone and salivary immunoglobulin A were observed at 4 weeks (p < 0.05). No significant differences were detected in CMJ and SJ tests, suggesting that training neither elicited significant fatigue and underperformance nor improved strength performance. However, decreasing physical training loads appeared to reduce symptoms of stress and improved recovery, favoring immune recovery and anabolic balance. Thus, the sRPE seems to be a reliable and simple method to monitor training loads in BJJ athletes because variation in values was related to the RESTQ and physiological responses to training loads.

Nonoperative Treatment for Partial Ruptures of the Lateral Collateral Ligament Occurring in Combination With Complete Ruptures of the Anterolateral Ligament: A Common Injury Pattern in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes With Acute Knee Injury

Background:

Combined partial lateral collateral and complete anterolateral ligament (PLCCALL) injuries are a specific injury pattern seen in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) because of the knee varus-flexion mechanism that frequently occurs during grappling.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of this injury pattern in a series of BJJ athletes with an acute knee injury and to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes after nonoperative management at a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Our hypotheses were that PLCCALL injuries are common in BJJ and that nonoperative treatment is associated with excellent clinical outcomes and return to the preinjury level of sport.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

All BJJ athletes who presented with an acute knee injury between July 2013 and June 2017 and who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee were included. A specific emphasis was placed on identifying those whose imaging demonstrated PLCCALL injury. Clinical evaluation included physical examination as well as Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores.

Results:

Of the 27 patients analyzed, 7 (25.9%) had MRI-proven PLCCALL injuries. The mean follow-up after nonoperative management was 41.3 months. The mean IKDC and Lysholm scores were 94 and 92 before the injury, 26 and 36 at the initial assessment after the injury, and 83 and 78 at 12-month follow-up, respectively (P < .00001). All 7 patients had returned to their preinjury level of sports by the 12-month follow-up. The mean time between injury and return to competition level was 4.7 months (range, 4-6 months).

Conclusion:

PLCCALL injury is a specific but infrequent injury pattern in BJJ. The prognosis of this injury after nonoperative treatment appears to be excellent. Improved functional scores (IKDC and Lysholm) and changes on MRI demonstrated that the anterolateral ligament has intrinsic healing potential, as the images showed complete healing of the previously documented rupture of the anterolateral ligament from its proximal attachment.

Physical and Physiological Profiles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes: a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling combat sport that has intermittency as its core element; in other words, actions of high, moderate and low intensity are interspersed during matches, requiring a high level of conditioning to support optimal levels of performance for the total match time. The athletes perform from four to six matches during a day of competition, and this number may increase if the open-class competition, which is held parallel to the competition by weight class, is considered. This systematic review examined the physical and physiological profiles of Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes.

METHODS

Only scientific researches dealing with the major fitness components of Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes (i.e. body composition and somatotype, aerobic and anaerobic profiles, muscular strength and power) and using accepted methods that provided relevant practical applications for a Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete's fitness training and/or performance were included in the current review. A computer literature search was carried out of the PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, SportDiscus and Scopus databases (up to January 2016).

RESULTS

The database research generated 205 articles. After the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 studies were included for the present systematic review. A total of 1496 subjects were involved in all the selected investigations.

CONCLUSIONS

Body fat is generally low for these athletes and the mesomorphic component is predominant. The different studies showed VO2max values between 42 and 52 mL/kg/min, and it seems that aerobic fitness does not discriminate among Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes of different competitive levels. There is a lack of scientific studies that have investigated anaerobic responses both in lower and upper limbs. Maximal dynamic, isometric and endurance strength can be associated with sporting success in Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes. Although decisive actions during Brazilian jiu-jitsu matches are mainly dependent on muscular power, more specific studies are necessary to describe it. Studies involving the female sex should be conducted. In addition, further research is needed to analyse whether there are differences between sex, belt ranks and competitive level, and among the different weight categories for different variables.