Development of a Noncontact Kickboxing Circuit Training Protocol That Simulates Elite Male Kickboxing Competition

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2015-12, Vol.29 (12), p.3405-3411
• Main Authors: Ouergui, Ibrahim, Houcine, Nizar, Marzouki, Hamza, Davis, Philip, Zaouali, Monia, Franchini, Emerson, Gmada, Nabil, Bouhlel, Ezzedine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Athletes; Blood Glucose - analysis; Circuit-Based Exercise - methods; Growth Hormone - blood; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Hormones; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Male; Physical Exertion - physiology; Simulation; Sports - physiology; Sports training; Testosterone - blood; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001005

ABSTRACTOuergui, I, Houcine, N, Marzouki, H, Davis, P, Zaouali, M, Franchini, E, Gmada, N, and Bouhlel, E. Development of a noncontact kickboxing circuit training protocol that simulates elite male kickboxing competition. J Strength Cond Res 29(12)3405–3411, 2015—The aim of this study was to verify whether the specific kickboxing circuit training protocol (SKCTP) could reproduce kickboxing combatʼs hormonal, physiological, and physical responses. Twenty athletes of regional and national level volunteered to participate in the study (mean ± SD, age21.3 ± 2.7 years; height170 ± 0.5 cm; body mass73.9 ± 13.9 kg). After familiarization, SKCTP was conducted 1 week before a kickboxing competition. Cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone (GH), blood lactate [La], and glucose concentrations, as well as the Wingate upper-body test and countermovement jump (CMJ) performances were measured before and after SKCTP and combat. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured throughout rounds (R) R1, R2, and R3. Testosterone, GH, glucose, [La], HR, RPE, and CMJ did not differ among the 2 conditions (p > 0.05). However, Cortisol was higher for competition (p = 0.038), whereas both peak (p = 0.003) and mean power (p < 0.001) were higher in SKCTP. The study suggests that SKCTP replicates the hormonal, physiological, and physical aspects of competition. It is therefore suggested as a good form of specific kickboxing training, as well as a specific assessment tool to be used by kickboxing coaches to quantify kickboxersʼ fitness levels, when physiological parameters responses to the test are measured.