Comprehensive and special physical fitness of judo athletes of provincial national teams in the age groups: youngster (U16) and junior (U21)

Abstract

The research aimed to determine the relationship between the universal and special physical fitness of judoists. The study involved players from the youngster (U16) and junior (U21) age group from provincial teams. The International Physical Fitness Test was used to measure comprehensive fitness, and the Special Judo Fitness Test was applied to assess special fitness. The research has shown that juniors exhibit a higher level of all-round (excluding flexibility) and special fitness than youngsters. More relationships between comprehensive physical fitness and special fitness were demonstrated in the youngster group. Leg muscle strength, endurance, agility, and abdominal strength were found to have the most significant impact on the overall level of all-round fitness in the youngster age group, while in the age group under 21, endurance, hand strength, and arm strength had the most significant impact. It has been shown that the combination of individual components of versatile fitness in a given training cycle may bring positive effects in shaping those features in both age groups. Besides, it has been shown that when taking account of the athlete’s ontogenetic development and his/her sensitive period, the relationships between the components of comprehensive fitness and comprehensive and special fitness can significantly affect the effectiveness of the training process in both age groups.