The frequency of falls in children judo training

Purpose: Falling techniques are inseparable part of youth judo training. Falling techniques are related to avoiding injuries exercises (Nauta et al., 2013). There is not good evidence about the ratio of falling during the training in children. Methods: 26 children (age 8.88±1.88) were video recorded on ten training sessions for further indirect observation and performance analysis. Results: Research protocol consisted from recording falls and falling techniques (Reguli et al., 2015) in warming up, combat games, falling techniques, throwing techniques and free fighting (randori) part of the training session. While children were taught almost exclusively forward slapping roll, backward slapping roll and sideward direct slapping fall, in other parts of training also other types of falling, as forward fall on knees, naturally occurred. Conclusions: Judo coaches should stress also on teaching unorthodox falls adding to standard judo curriculum (Koshida et al., 2014). Various falling games to teach children safe falling in different conditions should be incorporated into judo training. Further research to gain more data from groups of different age in various combat and non-combat sports is needed

Fear of crime and victimization among the elderly participating in the self-defence course

Purpose. Self-defence training could enhance seniors´ defensive skills and fitness. There is lack of evidence about fear and concerns of seniors participating in the self-defence course. Methods. 18 elderly persons (16 female, 1 male; age 66.2, SD=5.86) participated in the self-defence course lasting 8 training units (each unit 60 minutes). Standardized tool for fear of crime and victimization analysis previously used in Euro-Justis project in the Czech Republic (2011) was used in pretest and posttest. Results. We explored the highest fear of crime by participants in their residence area after dark (mean=2,77; median=3; SD=0,80), lower fear at the night in their homes (mean=2,29; median=2; SD=0,75) and in their residence area at the daytime (mean=2,00; median=2; SD=0,77) at the beginning of the course. We noticed certain decrease of fear of crime after the intervention. Participant were less afraid of crime in their residence area after dark (mean=2,38; median=2; SD=0,77), they felt lower fear of crime at the night in their homes (mean=2,00; median=2; SD=0,48) and in their residence area at the daytime (mean=1,82; median=2; SD=0,63). Conclusions. The approach to self-defence teaching for elderly should be focused not just on the motor development, but also on their emotional state, fear of crime, perception of dangerousness of diverse situations and total wellbeing. Fear of crime analysis can contribute to create tailor made structure of the self-defence course for specific groups of citizens

Individual Variability of Effort-Based Training Prescriptions in Competitive Cyclists

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the use of effort-based intensity prescriptions as a method to reduce individual variability and the occurrence of training non-response. Specifically, this thesis explores the physiological, psychological, and metabolomic responses to the interaction of training duration and effort-based intensity on a single-bout basis, whole session basis, and during chronic training intervention. The first experimental study (Chapter 4) investigated individual variability during self- paced exercise bouts at a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of either 9, 13, or 17, conducted for either 1, 4, or 8 min. The study found that effort-based intensity prescriptions at higher RPEs and shorter durations result in lower levels of individual variability. The second study (Chapter 5) investigated individual variability during maximal isoeffort training sessions in either short interval (30 sec), long interval (5 min), or continuous exercise matched for total training duration. Long intervals displayed lowest variability in both how the session was performed as well as physiological response compared to short intervals and continuous sessions. The third study (Chapter 6) comprised a 6-week training intervention using maximal isoeffort intensity prescriptions using short (30 sec) or long interval (5 min) session formats, as well as a control group. Whilst short intervals resulted in higher levels of individual variability, a greater training response was found following this session format compared to both the long interval and control groups. The fourth study (Chapter 7) investigated the metabolomic differences between session formats, and between variable and consistent responding participants from Chapter 5. Distinct metabolomic differences were found between all session formats, and key metabolites were found relating to energy turnover, purine metabolism, and amino acid metabolism based on whether individuals were consistent or variable in session performance. The fifth study (Chapter 8) investigated the chronic changes in the urinary metabolome following the training interventions as described in Chapter 6. Several metabolomic markers differentiated between training responders and non-responders, in addition to metabolites associated with increased MMP or V̇O2max across all training groups. The main finding of this thesis was that the use of higher intensity effort-based targets and shorter interval durations has potential in reducing the occurrence of non-response to training