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Plasma FFA at the moments before (0 min), during (60 min) and after-training (120 min) for the Caffeine and Placebo Conditions. ap = 0.004 0 versus 120 min for both conditions, bp ≤ 0.033 60 versus 120 min for both conditions, cp = 0.047 Caffeine versus Placebo
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Background
Nutritional ergogenic aids are foods or nutrients that can improve physical performance. Among these foods with ergogenic properties, caffeine has shown that it can increase the fat catabolism, strength, and improve the cognition and time reaction of an athlete, therefore, it is hoped that it can improve the performance of judokas. This...
Citations
... In combat sports similar to BJJ, such as Olympic wrestling and Judo, subjective perception of effort has been found to be a reliable indicator of fatigue and exertion (Carmo et al., 2021). For instance, studies conducted with Olympic wrestlers and Judo athletes have shown that sRPE scores tend to correlate with high levels of fatigue, particularly in muscle groups such as the forearms and deltoids (Nilsson et al., 2002, Bromley et al., 2018, Franchini et al., 2019Massuça et al., 2014). ...
Introduction. Subjective perception of effort, measured via session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE), is a valuable tool for optimizing training load, preventing overtraining, and enhancing athlete performance in Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ). Objective. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the application of sRPE to assess ITL in BJJ, focusing on its effectiveness for understanding training intensity and preventing overtraining. Methods. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, SCIELO, and Web of Science to identify studies on sRPE in BJJ. Data extraction focused on sample size, athlete characteristics, and training load control mechanisms. A total of nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review and meta-analysis. Key outcomes, including pre-combat and post-combat sRPE values, were analyzed to evaluate physical stress and training intensity. Results. The review revealed significant increases in sRPE values post-combat compared to pre-combat, indicating high levels of physical stress generated by both simulated combats and BJJ competitions. Similar responses across different sRPE measures demonstrated consistency in intensity across interventions. However, data heterogeneity and small sample sizes in some studies highlight the need for further research with standardized methodologies. Conclusion This research demonstrated a significant post-combat increase in sRPE, emphasizing the intensity of BJJ training and competitions. It also underscores the importance of standardized protocols to enable comprehensive comparisons across studies. By improving training periodization and athlete management, this study contributes to advancing the application of sRPE in optimizing performance and preventing overtraining in BJJ athletes.
... Special judo fitness test (SJFT) is based on executing special throw type called Ippon-seoi-nage ( "one arm over the back throw") in set amount of time. Consumption of 5mg/kg of caffeine before performing it was found to be helpful in increasing number of throws and decreasing fatigue index in comparison to placebo in high-level judo athletes [23]. ...
... Lastly, in judo athletes, the ingestion of 5 mg/kg of caffeine increased plasma fatty acids, lactate levels, and the number of throws during SJFT, while reducing fatigue, particularly in the later stages of randori training. These findings emphasize caffeine's practical applications for improving performance during training sessions that mimic competition [23]. ...
Introduction: Caffeine, a well-known stimulant, is commonly used by athletes to enhance performance across various sports, including combat sports. Its ergogenic properties, such as improved strength, endurance, and cognitive function, have been well documented in the literature. This paper explores the effects of caffeine supplementation on combat sports, specifically in disciplines such as judo, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, and boxing. The impact of different doses of caffeine on performance in these sports is examined, along with potential risks, limitations, and considerations for its use. Aim of Study: The primary aim of this study is to analyze the effects of caffeine on performance in combat sports, considering various factors such as optimal dosage, timing, and the impact of habitual caffeine consumption. Additionally, this paper evaluates the potential adverse effects, including anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cardiovascular concerns, as well as the considerations regarding caffeine’s status as a banned substance in sports. Material and methods: A review of the literature on caffeine and its effect was performed using the PubMed database. Results and Conclusions: Caffeine supplementation consistently enhances performance in combat sports. Doses ranging from 3–6 mg/kg were found to improve strength, endurance, and reaction times across various combat sports, with higher doses being more effective for elite athletes. However, habitual caffeine consumption may diminish responsiveness to caffeine’s ergogenic effects. Caffeine’s potential adverse effects, such as anxiety, insomnia, and increased heart rate, were reported, with gender differences in sensitivity. While caffeine’s ergogenic effects are well-established, its use should be personalized, considering individual responses and training status. Furthermore, caffeine's legal status and potential interactions with other substances, such as alcohol and medications, must be considered in competitive settings.
... A total of 1026 elite combat athletes were recruited in the 67 studies reviewed. A total of 508 elite athletes were recruited from grappling events, of whom 287 were from judo 37,38,40,41,43,44,47,53,[56][57][58]62,64,65,67,68,[72][73][74][78][79][80][81]85 , 113 from jiu-jitsu 39,41,48,52,56,60,69,71 , 83 from wrestling 36,51,61,66 and 25 from jujitsu and wrestling without a clear sample of combat types 83,84 . A total of 445 elite athletes were recruited in the striking event, of whom 257 were from taekwondo 42,45,46,49,50,54,55,59,65,[75][76][77]82 , 70 from boxing 86,[94][95][96]98 , 26 from karate 89,97 , 36 from kendo 86,93 , 36 from fencing 88,101,102 and 20 from sanda 92 . ...
... In 67 included studies, we examined the benefits of 26 different dietary supplements for elite combat sports athletes. Among these, caffeine emerged as the most frequently studied dietary supplement, with 24 studies focusing on caffeine (CAF) alone 42,44,46,47,49,50,52,54,56,57,60,64,65,67,69,70,78,80,84,85,89,95,99,102 or sodium bicarbonate + caffeine (SB_CAF) 65,89 . Thirteen studies explored sodium bicarbonate (SB) alone 41,45,48,55,65,66,73,74,81,86,89,96 or betaalanine + sodium bicarbonate (BA_SB) 41 , creatine + sodium bicarbonate (CR_SB) 45 , and highly alkaline water (HAW) 100 . ...
With an increasing number of studies delving into the impact of dietary supplements on combat sports performance, researchers are actively seeking a more efficient dietary supplement for use in these sports. Nonetheless, controversies persist. Hence, we undertook a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis to discern the most effective dietary supplements in combat sports by synthesizing the available evidence. We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and SPORTDiscus, covering the period from their establishment to November 2, 2023. Our aim was to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the benefits of various dietary supplements for elite combat sports athletes. The risk of bias in these trials was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials. Subsequently, we employed Bayesian network meta-analysis through R software and Stata 15.0. During the analysis, we performed subgroup analysis based on the type of combat, distinguishing between striking and grappling disciplines. The analysis is based on 67 randomized controlled trials that meet all the inclusion criteria, involving 1026 elite combat sports athletes randomly assigned to 26 different dietary supplements or placebos. Results from the 50 trials included in the network meta-analysis indicate that compared to a placebo, sodium bicarbonate combined with caffeine (SMD: 2.3, 95% CrI: 1.5, 3.2), caffeine (SMD: 0.72, 95% CrI: 0.53, 0.93), beta-alanine (SMD: 0.58, 95% CrI: 0.079, 1.1), and sodium bicarbonate (SMD: 0.54, 95% CrI: 0.30, 0.81) was associated with a statistically significant increase in blood lactate concentrations. Compared to placebo, caffeine (SMD: 0.27, 95% CrI: 0.12, 0.41) was associated with a statistically significant increase in the final heart rate. Compared to placebo, creatine combined with sodium bicarbonate (SMD: 2.2, 95% CrI: 1.5, 3.1), creatine (SMD: 1.0, 95% CrI: 0.38, 1.6), and sodium bicarbonate (SMD: 0.42, 95% CrI: 0.18, 0.66) was associated with a statistically significant increase in mean power. Compared to placebo, creatine combined with sodium bicarbonate (SMD: 1.6, 95% CrI: 0.85, 2.3), creatine (SMD: 1.1, 95% CrI: 0.45, 1.7), and sodium bicarbonate (SMD: 0.35, 95% CrI: 0.11, 0.57) was associated with a statistically significant increase in peak power. Compared to placebo, caffeine (SMD: 1.4, 95% CrI: 0.19, 2.7) was associated with a statistically significant increase in the number of kicks. Compared to placebo, caffeine (SMD: 0.35, 95% CrI: 0.081, 0.61) was associated with a statistically significant increase in the number of throws. This study suggests that a range of dietary supplements, including caffeine, sodium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate combined with caffeine, creatine, creatine combined with sodium bicarbonate, and beta-alanine can improve the athletic performance of elite combat sports athletes.
... It is characterized by a temporal structure of 3:1 or 2:1 effort/pause ratios with an intensity above maximal lactate steady state and a total duration between 1 and 5 min for each set [7]. The randori phase can last even 40 min in a typical training session with many fighting bouts [8]. Due to such characteristics, the free-style practice of randori is supposed to drive numerous effects within the cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains, which are worth investigating. ...
Intense sports activities affect cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains, possibly concurring in reducing pain perception and anxiety. Within a framework for a new socio-ecological narrative that considers opposition (such as fighting) and collaboration (cooperative learning) as carriers of self-control and pain perception inhibition, we investigated the acute effects of a judo-specific session on cognitive (inhibitory control and simple reaction time), perceptual (pain and fatigue), affective (anxiety) and physiological (hormone profile) domains. Eleven male black belt judokas (age 39.0 ± 13.9 years; training experience: 23.2 ± 14.4 years) were recruited and tested before and after judo randori and resting sessions. Inhibitory control and simple reaction time were assessed via the Flanker task and clinical reaction time test, pain and fatigue were assessed using Borg’s category-ratio scale (CR-10), and the state–trait anxiety inventory Y-1 test assessed anxiety. Glucose, insulin, cortisol, creatinine, and irisin levels were measured. Cognitive performance, perception of fatigue and physiological variables increased after randori bouts, while pain decreased. Inhibitory control, perception of pain, perception of fatigue and glucose, cortisol, and creatinine significantly differed (p < 0.05) between randori and resting sessions. A high-intensity randori may induce acute beneficial effects on cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains. Further studies should compare the results with the outcomes from a collaborative and non-agonist environment and confirm the socio-ecologic framework.
... Nonetheless, another study showed that simulated taekwondo performance was improved with caffeine . Other original studies have shown specific and non-specific effects on aspects of judo (Astley, Souza, & Polito, 2017;Carmo et al., 2021;Durkalec-Michalski et al., 2019), boxing (Coswig et al., 2018;San Juan et al., 2019), jiu jitsu (Diaz- Lara et al., 2016;Merino-Fernández et al., 2022), wrestling (Negaresh et al., 2019) and karate (Rezaei et al., 2019). A systematic review and meta-analysis quantified the effect of caffeine intake on combat sports performance (Diaz- Lara et al., 2022), showing that (Fig. 1). ...
... Moreover, 200-300 mg of caffeine given as a sugar substance at the 10-kilometer mark of a 30 km cycling TT was demonstrated to boost average power output (+3.8%) for the final 10 km of the task, as well as provide a 4% improvement in peak sprint power production at the conclusion [157]. A double-blind study performed on ten elite judokas demonstrated improvement in training parameters such as number of throws and a lower fatigue index, combined with a better biochemical profile, after caffeine supplementation [158]. ...
Advanced nutritional interventions are one of the key components of elite sports performance in general. Combat sports require a high percentage of muscle mass with minimum body weight to generate the maximum power possible. An adequate level of nutrition knowledge, particularly with respect to identifying energy needs while avoiding confusion over dietary supplements and false perceptions of steroid requirement, which may compromise the health condition, is of crucial importance. In this context, the aim of our work is to highlight nutritional require-ments/nutritional assessment, the importance of daily dietary intake in combat players, which increasingly includes a broad range of sports nutrition supplements, and the roles of vitamins, minerals and proteins, combined with antioxidants and strength training, in muscular performance. The main nutrients required in the daily diet of combat players, the mechanisms of action, the main outcomes and possible side effects are summarized. Special attention is paid to natural supplements and their importance and advantages over synthetic ones, along with future trends of development.
... The 26 studies included in this systematic review regrouped 17 trials [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] from grappling, eighttrials [61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68] from striking combat sports, and one trial [69] from mixed martial arts (MMA). ...
... From the 26 included studies, two trials [58,63] examined the effect of caffeine and sodium bicarbonate separately and in combination. Using a capsule form, the timing between caffeine supplementation and the subsequent performance testing was 30 min [44,62] [63][64][65][66][67][68][69], and 120 min (i.e., testing after a training session) [47]. However, when using a caffeinated chewing gums form, only one study [51] investigated the effect of this supplementation form using both 2.7 mg·kg −1 and 5.4 mg·kg −1 doses 15 min before testing. ...
... Since the objective of each study was to enhance performance as much as possible, from the 26 included studies, six [45,48,49,52,57,63] were multi-arm studies, with variation in dose [48,49,52,57,63] or in timing [47]. ...
Although the effects of caffeine supplementation on combat sports performance have been extensively investigated, there is currently no consensus regarding its ergogenic benefits.This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to summarize the studies investigating the effects of caffeine supplementation on different aspects of performance in combat sports and to quantitatively analyze the results of these studies to better understand the ergogenic effect of caffeine on combat sports outcomes. A systematic search for randomized placebo-controlled studies investigating the effects of caffeine supplementation on combat sports’ performance was performed through Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases up to 18 April 2022. Random-effects meta-analyses of standardized mean differences (Hedge’s g) were performed to analyze the data. Twenty-six studies of good and excellent methodological quality (based on the Pedro scale) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results revealed caffeine has a small but evident effect size (ES) on handgrip strength (ES = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.52; p = 0.02), and total number of throws during the special judo fitness test (SJFT) (ES = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.78; p = 0.02). Regarding the physiological responses, caffeine increased blood lactate concentration ([La]) in anaerobic exercise (ES = 1.23; 95% CI: 0.29 to 2.18; p = 0.01) and simulated combat (ES = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.47; p = 0.002). For Heart Rate (HR), caffeine increased HR final (ES = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.52; p = 0.003), and HR 1min (ES = 0.20; 95% CI 0.004 to 0.40; p = 0.045). However, caffeine had no impact on the countermovement jump height, the SJFT index, the judogi strength-endurance test, the number and duration of offensive actions, HR at the end of the fight, and the rating of perceived exertion. Caffeine supplementation may be ergogenic for a range of combat sports aspects involving isometric strength, anaerobic power, reaction time, and anaerobic metabolism. However, supplementation effects might be ineffective under certain circumstances, indicating supplementation needs to take into account the performance metric in question prior to creating a dosing protocol.
... Wushu routines have the characteristics of rich content, complex action structure, asymmetry, and many route changes. Wushu exercises especially emphasize the embodiment of "essence, Qi, and spirit," which requires the accuracy and coordination of the motor center corresponding to the cerebral cortex [3]. The uncertainty of wushu competition results greatly enhances the psychological pressure of athletes [4][5][6]. ...
In view of the problems that there are many influencing factors in wushu athletes’ competitive performance, which lead to low accuracy of index evaluation and large error of weight calculation, this paper puts forward the modeling and analysis of influencing factors of wushu athletes’ competitive performance. Preprocess and segment wushu routine characteristic signals, extract wushu routine characteristics by using fast Fourier transform coefficients, construct the index system of the influence of competitive performance ability, and determine the ideal solution and negative ideal solution of the index weight after standardizing the indexes of influencing factors. The index weight of the influencing factors of wushu athletes’ competitive performance is determined by calculating the pasting progress, and the evaluation model of the influencing factors is constructed with the help of the grey correlation degree method. The experimental results show that the proposed model can effectively determine the key degree of the influencing factors of wushu athletes’ competitive performance and improve the competitive performance of wushu athletes.
... Most studies focussed on grappling disciplines (n = 33) , followed by striking disciplines (n = 15) [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41], mixed disciplines (n = 1) [75] and combat sports in general since they were not identified in the methodology (n = 2) [76,77]. In the case of NEAs, caffeine was the most evaluated supplement (n = 26) [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] ...
... For striking combat sports, caffeine has been the most tested NEA in the grappling modality with 17 studies, with judo being the most evaluated discipline (Table 2). Caf-feine has been tested in judoists 60 min before the exercise protocol with a dose ranging from 3 to 9 mg/kg [43,45,47,[49][50][51][52]54,56,58]. Specific skills including the number of total throws [47,49,52,54,56], total attacks [49][50][51], the special fitness judo test (SFJT) index (expressed as heart rate divided by total throws) [52,56] and handgrip strength [43,45,51] showed mixed results regardless of the dose used. ...
... Caf-feine has been tested in judoists 60 min before the exercise protocol with a dose ranging from 3 to 9 mg/kg [43,45,47,[49][50][51][52]54,56,58]. Specific skills including the number of total throws [47,49,52,54,56], total attacks [49][50][51], the special fitness judo test (SFJT) index (expressed as heart rate divided by total throws) [52,56] and handgrip strength [43,45,51] showed mixed results regardless of the dose used. General skills or physiological responses such as heart rate [45,47,49,52,56], and fatigue or effort perception [45,47,49,50,52,54,56,58] also produced mixed results, while only blood lactate levels (+14.8-54.1% [47,51,54,56]) increased with a dose ranging from 5 to 6 mg/kg compared with the placebo groups [47,51,54,56]. ...
Nutritional ergogenic aids (NEAs) are substances included within the group of sports supplements. Although they are widely consumed by athletes, evidence-based analysis is required to support training outcomes or competitive performance in specific disciplines. Combat sports have a predominant use of anaerobic metabolism as a source of energy, reaching peak exertion or sustained effort for very short periods of time. In this context, the use of certain NEAs could help athletes to improve their performance in those specific combat skills (i.e., the number of attacks, throws and hits; jump height; and grip strength, among others) as well as in general physical aspects (time to exhaustion [TTE], power, fatigue perception, heart rate, use of anaerobic metabolism, etc.). Medline/PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO were searched from their inception to May 2022 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Out of 677 articles found, 55 met the predefined inclusion criteria. Among all the studied NEAs, caffeine (5-10 mg/kg) showed strong evidence for its use in combat sports to enhance the use of glycolytic pathways for energy production during high-intensity actions due to a greater production of and tolerance to blood lactate levels. In this regard, abilities including the number of attacks, reaction time, handgrip strength, power and TTE, among others, were improved. Buffering supplements such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate and beta-alanine may have a promising role in high and intermittent exertion during combat, but more studies are needed in grappling combat sports to confirm their efficacy during sustained isometric exertion. Other NEAs, including creatine, beetroot juice or glycerol, need further investigation to strengthen the evidence for performance enhancement in combat sports. Caffeine is the only NEA that has shown strong evidence for performance enhancement in combat sports.
... While the authors suggested that caffeine ingestion was ergogenic for some outcome variables, their conclusions were based only on nine included studies. In recent years, several additional research that examined caffeine's effects on combat sports performance has been published (Athayde, Lima Kons, and Detanico 2018;Carmo et al. 2021;Coswig et al. 2018;De Azevedo et al. 2019;Durkalec-Michalski et al. 2019;Filip-Stachnik et al. 2021b;Lopes-Silva et al. 2021;Merino Fernandez et al. 2021;Negaresh et al. 2019;Rezaei et al. 2019; Saldanha da Silva Athayde, Kons, and Detanico 2019;San Juan et al. 2019), highlighting the need for an updated review of the evidence. Furthermore, we consider it highly relevant to perform a meta-analysis about this topic, given that some of the studies published on this topic might have been statistically underpowered. ...
The interest in the benefits of caffeine in combat sports has grown exponentially in the last few years, evidenced by the significant rise of post-competition urine caffeine concentration. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of caffeine on different performance variables in combat sports athletes. In total, we included 25 studies. All studies included had blinded, and cross-over experimental designs, and we conducted a risk of bias analysis. For nonspecific outcomes, there was an ergogenic effect of caffeine on vertical jump height (SMD: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.71) and reaction time (SMD: -1.08, 95% CI: -1.51, -0.66). For outcomes specific to combat sports, there was an increase in the number of throws with caffeine in the Special Judo Fitness Test (SMD: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.14, 1.09). Caffeine ingestion increased the number of offensive actions during combats (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.74). Caffeine ingestion increased the duration of offensive actions during combat (SMD: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.96). Finally, caffeine ingestion increased blood lactate concentration after bout 1 (SMD: 1.35) bout 2 (SMD: 1.43) and bout 3 (SMD: 1.98). Overall, athletes competing in combat sports may consider supplementing with caffeine for an acute increase in exercise performance.
