Effect of interval training in the competitive period on anaerobic capacity in judo athletes

Competitive load in many sports requires comprehensive engagement of all energy systems that help human body work under conditions of long-term and intensive physical exercise. These requirements also concern judo athletes since a judo bout involves repeated exercise at high intensity and with variable duration, with energy costs covered mainly from anaerobic energy systems used during contraction of skeletal muscles [1,2,3]. The specific nature of competitive exercise performed during a 5-minute judo bout causes that muscle glycogen is the major energy substrate while contribution of anaerobic processes is similar to 70% of the entire energy demand in a human body [4]. Judo athletes at the highest level of sports skill are characterized by high level of anaerobic capacity [5], ability to work effectively under conditions of decompensated metabolic acidosis and ability of fast removal of acid metabolites during short periods of rest typical of a judo bout. According to Sikorski et al. [7,8], mean post-exercise blood levels of lactic acid measured after judo bouts during international and national-level tournaments were 13.7 mmol/l, ranging from 8 to 20 mol/l. Maintaining a high level of anaerobic capacity is essential in judo training in the competitive period since it determines the effectiveness of a series of actions that are taken during a bout. Few reports in the literature have attempted to analyse interval training performed under real conditions of training by athletes at high sports skill level. Study aim: to determine the effect of interval training on cycle ergometer on relative values of mechanical work (J/kg), peak power (W/kg) and time of work (s) at the level of 97% of peak power during 6 repetitions of test exercise on cycle ergometer.