Effect of short-term functional training intervention on athletic performance in elite male combat sambo athletes

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport 2023-02, Vol.23 (2), p.328-334
• Main Authors: Kudryavtsev, Mikhail, Osipov, Aleksander, Guralev, Vladimir, Ratmanskaya, Tatyana, Aldiabat, Hamza, Aldiabat, Ibrahim, Kolokoltsev, Mikhail, Davidenko, Ivan, Glukhov, Andrey, Karpenko, Elena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Athletes; Body Composition; Coaches & managers; Combat sports; Control Groups; Exercise; Investigations; Males; Physical fitness; Professional ethics; Research Methodology; Sports training; Strength training; Warm up (exercise)
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2023.02039

Excellent physical fitness is essential for improving the athletes' sport performance. Scientists reported that there is no full information on the impacts of functional training intervention on physical fitness in elite combat athletes. This investigation studied the effects of 4-weeks functional training loads (based on CrossFit® training) on athletic performance in elite combat sambo male athletes. Research materials and methods. Forty-four males - elite combat sambo athletes (mean age - 21.06±3.42 years) participated in this investigation. Twenty-two athletes (Experimental group - EG) practiced in 4-weeks functional training intervention during the pre-competition period. Other athletes (Control group - CG), don't applied functional intervention in the training routine. To determine athletic performance, all athletes were evaluated with regards to their performance during the three combat sambo tournaments within 4-weeks in post-intervention. The athletes' individual athletic performance (rank position - RP) was evaluated in accordance with guidelines of the German potential analysis system (PotAS). The athletes' technical effectiveness (TE) was conducted based on digital video recordings of competition combats. Research results. No significant differences were reported between EG and CG in RP and TE mean values during the first 2-weeks in competition cycle. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in RP and TE mean values between EG and CG during the last 2-weeks in competition cycle. EG demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) higher RP and TE mean value, comparison in CG. Conclusions. A 4-weeks functional training intervention based on CrossFit® specific training can be implemented in pre-competition period of elite combat sambo male athletes when preparing for national competitions to enhance athletic performance.