title: Aerobic training program for the enhancements of HR and VO2 off-kinetics in elite judo athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiologic and performance changes with the addition of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to a traditional judo programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine elite judokas (6 males and 3 females; age: 20±4 yrs; body mass: 69±2 kg; height: 172±7 cm; judo practice time: 13±6 yrs; weekly training volume: 13±5 hours, mean±SD) were recruited to perform a 12-week specific aerobic training program, which consisted of 2 session/week of 30-min continuous run at 60% at Vmax and one session/week of high-intensity interval training 15x1-min at 90% of Vmax with 1 min of active recovery at 60% of Vmax. Before and after the intervention all athletes performed a graded maximal exercise Test to measure maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max), ventilatory threshold (VT), maximal velocity (Vmax), heart rate (HR) and V̇O2 off kinetics. V̇O2 and HR recovery kinetics were evaluated on a breath-by-breath basis using a single component exponential function. Anaerobic capacity during specific movements was assessed with the Special judo fitness Test (SJFT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximal speed reached during the maximal aerobic power test significantly increaseed (P=0.04), but V̇O2max did not change. τ of HR and of V̇O2 recovery significantly decreased by 17.3% (P=0.04) and 22.0% (P<0.01), respectively. VT increased (6.6%; P=0.03) and the SJFT Index improved (12%; P<0.001) 12% after training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aerobic fitness of elite judokas may be improved by adding aerobic routines to the normal training enhancing the recovery capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy - matteo.bonato@unimi.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rampichini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sbriccoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merati
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Torre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D000072696:High-Intensity Interval Training / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000193:education / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D055815:Young Adult