Comparison of Mental Toughness and Power Test Performances in High-Level Kickboxers by Competitive Success

Background Kickboxing is a high-intensity intermittent striking combat sport, which is characterized by complex skills and tactical key actions with short duration. Objectives The present study compared and verified the relationship between mental toughness (MT), countermovement jump (CMJ) and medicine ball throw (MBT) power tests by outcomes of high-level kickboxers during National Championship. Materials and Methods Thirty two high-level male kickboxers (winner = 16 and loser = 16: 21.2 ± 3.1 years, 1.73 ± 0.07 m, and 70.2 ± 9.4 kg) were analyzed using the CMJ, MBT tests and sports mental toughness questionnaire (SMTQ; based in confidence, constancy and control subscales), before the fights of the 2015 national championship (16 bouts). In statistical analysis, Mann-Withney test and a multiple linear regression were used to compare groups and to observe relationships, respectively, P ≤ 0.05. Results The present results showed significant differences between losers vs. winners, respectively, of total MT (7(7;8) vs. 11(10.2;11), confidence (3(3;3) vs. 4(4;4)), constancy (2(2;2) vs. 3(3;3)), control (2(2;3) vs. 4(4;4)) subscales and MBT (4.1(4;4.3) vs. 4.6(4.4;4.8)). The multiple linear regression showed a strong associations between MT results and outcome (r = 0.89), MBT (r = 0.84) and CMJ (r = 0.73). Conclusions The findings suggest that MT will be more predictive of performance in those sports and in the outcome of competition.Ministry of Higher Teaching and Scientific Research, Tunisi

Acute neuromuscular, cognitive and physiological responses to a Japanese kickboxing competition in semi-professional fighters

BACKGROUND: Japanese kickboxing is a combat sport designed to accommodate fighters from different combat sports styles. However, the physiological profile of this discipline is unknown. Therefore, this study describes the neuromuscular, metabolic and cognitive responses to an official Japanese kickboxing (K-1) fight in 8 kickboxers. METHODS: Measurements before and after the competition involved a simple reaction time test (SRT), countermovement jump (CMJ), blood lactate (BLA) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Additionally, each participant’s volume of strikes was extracted from a match-analysis. RESULTS: CMJ height was unaffected by the fight (p = 0.230 max; p = 0.208 mean). SRT increased post-fight (p = 0.0036). Peak BLA concentration was 15.3 ± 1.6 mmol·L-1 at 2 minutes post-fight. RPE increased post-fight (p < 0.001). Match-analysis showed 86 ± 23 total blows. For rounds 1, 2, and 3, blow distribution was 32.7%, 32.6% and 34.7%, respectively. Total punches were significantly greater (p < 0.001) than knee-strikes. Total kicks were also significantly greater than knee-strikes (p = 0.002). No difference was found between numbers of punches and kicks (p = 0.952). There was a positive correlation (p = 0.029; r = 0.76) between the sum of all strikes in the first two rounds and ΔBLA. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained here indicate that K-1 fighters need to improve tolerance to lactate accumulation to perform greater number of actions. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that CMJ height was not sensitive to specific fatigue induced by fighting

Monitoring Internal Training Intensity Correlated with Neuromuscular and Well-Being Status in Croatian Professional Soccer Players during Five Weeks of the Pre-Season Training Phase

This study aimed to investigate the changes in internal training intensity, well-being, and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and to determine their relationship across five weeks of the pre-season training phase in professional soccer players. A total of 22 professional male soccer players (age = 21.7 ± 4 years, body height = 185.9 ± 6.3 cm, body weight = 79 ± 6.3 kg, BMI = 22.8 ± 1.4 kg·m−2; VO2max = 52.9 ± 3.2) from the Croatian Second League voluntary participated in this study. The players spent 2230 ± 117 min in 32 technical/tactical and strength/conditioning training sessions, mostly at the low intensity zone (61%), and played 8 friendly matches at a high intensity (&gt;90%). A one-way repeated measure of analysis ANOVA revealed a significant difference between weeks in CMJ performance (F(1,22) = 11.8, p &lt; 0.001), with CMJ height in weeks 4 and 5 being likely to very likely higher than that noted in week 1. Moreover, significant differences between weeks were found in all internal training intensity measures (average [F(1,22) = 74.8, p &lt; 0.001] and accumulated weekly internal training intensity [F(1,22) = 55.4, p &lt; 0.001], training monotony [F(1,22) = 23.9, p &lt; 0.001], and training strain [F(1,22) = 34.5, p &lt; 0.001]). Likewise, differences were observed for wellness status categories (fatigue [F(1,22) = 4.3, p = 0.003], sleep [F(1,22) = 7.1, p &lt; 0.001], DOMS [F(1,22) = 5.7, p &lt; 0.001], stress [F(1,22) = 15.6, p &lt; 0.001]), mood [F(1,22) = 12.7, p &lt; 0.001], and overall well-being status score (F(1,22) = 13.2, p &lt; 0.001). Correlation analysis showed large negative correlations between average weekly internal training intensity and fatigue (r = −0.63, p = 0.002), DOMS (r = −0.61, p = 0.003), and WBI (r = −0.53, p = 0.011). Additionally, fatigue was significantly associated (large negative correlation) with accumulated weekly internal training intensity (r = −0.51, p = 0.014) and training strain (r = −0.61, p = 0.003). Small, but non-significant, correlations were found between CMJ performance and wellness status measures. These findings highlight the utility and simplicity of monitoring tools to improve athletes’ performance