Background and Study Aim: The unified K44 classification and the revised five-minute single-round format have reshaped tactical demands in para taekwondo. The purpose of research is empirical evidence that can significantly influence training practices and competition strategies in the evolving landscape of para taekwondo. Material and Methods: A total of 173 athletes from the 2023 World Para Taekwondo Championships and the 2024 Paris Paralympics were analysed using notational analysis. Offensive frequency, kick-to-score ratio, defensive success rate, and technical diversity were examined to compare winners and non-winners and to identify predictors of victory. Results: Cross-tabulation analysis showed that non-winners exhibited a higher overall offensive frequency than winners (69.5% vs. 61.3%, p<0.001, V = 0.087) and also demonstrated a higher frequency of technical actions during the final 4-5 min phase of the match (23.7% vs. 20.6%, p<0.001, V = 0.042). In contrast, independent-samples t-tests showed that winners had significantly higher kick-to-score ratios (40.17% vs. 16.09%, p<0.001) and defensive success rates (83.91% vs. 59.83%, p<0.001) than non-winners. Logistic regression analysis further identified defensive success rate (OR = 1.135, 95% CI = 1.102 to 1.169, p<0.001) and kick-to-score ratio (OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 1.029 to 1.074, p<0.001) as significant predictors of match outcomes. Conclusions: Under the revised para taekwondo rules prioritizing technical efficiency (kick-to-score ratio) and defensive stability (defensive success rate) is significantly more critical for winning than merely increasing offensive volume. In male K44 competition strategic pacing and robust defence emerge as the central performance determinants.
Background and study Aim: Wrestling is a strength and endurance sport. Understanding the methods and means that support the development and enhancement of muscle strength and anaerobic capacity can provide valuable insights and facilitate the design of appropriate training programs in competitive wrestling. The aim of this study was the effect of supplementation with ashwagandha on changes in muscle strength and endurance of the upper and lower limbs in highly skilled wrestlers during an 8-week training program. Material and Methods: The study included 26 elite wrestlers. All participants were enrolled in a structured sports training program. During the 8-week training period, the athletes received either a placebo or an ashwagandha supplement (2 x 300 mg/day). Before and after the 8-week supplementation period, selected indicators of muscle strength and anaerobic capacity of the upper and lower limb muscles were assessed. Results: No differences in muscle strength were observed in wrestlers after the placebo and ashwagandha supplementation periods. The rate of decline in maximum upper and lower limb muscle power and the time to maintain maximum lower limb muscle power worsened in the placebo group, which may be a result of the intensive 8-week preparation period. This effect was not observed in the ashwagandha group. Conclusions: Ashwagandha does not improve muscle strength in elite wrestlers; however, it may enhance athletes tolerance to fatigue resulting from an intensive training period, as evidenced by measures of anaerobic capacity in the upper and lower limbs. To identify measures and methods for optimizing the training process, further research should be conducted by extending the duration of supplementation or increasing the dose of ashwagandha or other supplements while developing various motor skills in wrestlers, taking into account their athletic level, gender, and fighting style.
Background and Study Aim: Kakari practice, which is one of the methods of practicing such techniques, involves skilfully breaking uke's body balance and repeating techniques using accurate form. Accordingly, using both the pulling and lifting hand is important, the position of the upper limbs needs to be improved and the reproducibility ensured, and the sense of the shoulder joint position is thought to have a considerable influence. Sense of position refers to the perception of one's own body posture and where body parts are located, without relying on visual information. Many biomechanical studies report the focus on the pulling and lifting hand, but none examine the sense of position. The cognitive goal of this research is knowledge about the sense of the shoulder joint position in judo athletes. Material and Methods: We observed 14 judo athletes: 7 represented the conventional lightweight group, including five 66kg and two 73kg, and 7 heavyweights, including two 81kg, one 90kg and two over 100kg. We used BIODEX (13BY6333, manufactured by Sakai Medical Co., Ltd.) in automatic and passive modes to measure both shoulder joints. The measurement items were flexion/extension (60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees), abduction/adduction (60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees), and external rotation/internal rotation (5 degrees, 35 degrees). The analysis was conducted from multiple perspectives. Results: We succeeded in finding significant differences in comparison bybody mass, hikite and tsurite, and target angle. In the comparison between lightweight and heavyweight athletes, the sense of shoulder joint position in heavyweight athletes may be superior as a whole. The comparison between hikite and tsurite, the tsurite side of the shoulder joint may have a better sense of shoulder joint position. Comparison by target angle established that the 120 degrees target angle had the smallest error, suggesting that this angle had the superior sense of position. Conclusions: Heavyweight athletes may have an overall superior sense of shoulder joint position. The comparison between the pulling and lifting hands revealed athletes are more likely to have a better sense in the former. Moreover, when comparing target angles between the two hands, the error for the target angles of 120 degrees was the smallest in the pulling hand, thus suggesting a better sense of position.
Background and Study Aim: Modern living conditions require a reassessment of many aspects of the problem of human development, preparing one for life in a multidimensional society based on a complex balance of interests. In a pedagogical perspective, this requires addressing issues directly related to the analysis of practices and factors that can influence the formation of ideas about danger and ways to overcome it, rivalry, and the struggle for primacy. The phenomenon of hand-to-hand combat without weapons systems (martial arts without weapons) is a unique model that reflects these aspects. The purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: How are hand-to-hand combat without weapons systems (martial arts without weapons) symbolically embodying competitive activity and certain aspects of national culture, selected and depicted in educational publications? What types of international and national martial arts weapons systems do the compilers of illustrated publications select, and how are the images of martial arts participants presented?. Material and Methods: In this study, we assumed that the world of martial arts without weapons has been presented in educational publications over the years through didactic illustrations that create a visual representation of learning. Identifying the frequency of representation of unarmed combat phenomena and their qualitative uniqueness in educational texts allows us to identify the intentions of the publications' authors as communicators in shaping ideas about the world of agonistics. The empirical sample consisted of illustrated publications combining text and illustrations, including visual dictionaries, primers, copybooks, Wimmelbooks, and textbooks on morality and the rule of law. Of 122 modern publications from 27 countries, 36 publications from 14 countries were selected, covering unarmed combat. Three thematic publications from the 17th and 19th centuries were included. Results: A trend toward selecting martial arts without weapons was identified, with boxing, judo and karate predominating, as well as national wrestling styles in countries with Turkic populations. The theme is presented primarily through the image of a child practicing hand-to-hand combat without weapons. French, Israeli, and Italian authors demonstrate martial arts without weapons by introducing animal imagery, thereby avoiding the depiction of the characters' ethnic and national affiliations. Russian publications do not cover traditional Russian martial arts without weapons, such as fistfighting, vorotok wrestling, and sambo. Wrestling styles cultivated in countries and republics with predominantly Turkic populations are widely represented, such as kuresh, khapsagay, and B & ouml;kh (Kazakh wrestling). Conclusions: When choosing the opxions for representing hand-to-hand combat without weapons system there is a tendency to favor combat sports that were previously considered national but have now achieved international status (boxing, judo, karate). The use of images of women practicing these sports demonstrates the desire of educators and illustrators to overcome ingrained patterns of stereotypical thinking among people from predominantly Muslim countries. National martial arts are not represented in European publications. This publication may be an example of countering the tendency to promote neo-gladiatorism under the attractive name of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Background and study Aim: The utilisation of music in sports training has been demonstrated to yield tangible benefits, with a particular emphasis placed on the significance of individual differences between athletes. The present study's cognitive objective is the knowledge about athletes' predispositions in terms of concentration during training sessions with the use of music. Material and Methods: A total of 117 subjects (74 female and 43 male, aged 22-24 years) who engage in competitive training utilising music were examined: 55 in bodybuilding; 32 in volleyball and 30 in fitness. The Dominant Attentional Style (DAS) questionnaire was utilised in the study. The DAS comprises ten questions, with respondents being awarded 1 point for answering `yes' and 2 points for answering `no'. Consequently, a score ranging from 10 to 20 points can be obtained, which is interpreted as follows: a score between 10 and 13 points indicates that the respondents predominantly exhibit a dissociative style (they actively seek forms of distraction from the discomfort of heavy training). Scores falling between 14 and 16 points indicate an absence of style dominance among respondents (they are only able to derive specific benefits from music during monotonous training sessions). Scores ranging from 17 to 20 on this scale indicate a preponderance of respondents who favour an associative approach. The level of significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Results: Athletes training in volleyball were characterised by a statistically significantly lower level on the attention style scale (12.75 poi points) than fitness athletes (13.97 points) and bodybuilders (14.25 points). Taking into account the specific nature of the samples, the dissociative style was characteristic of: 75% of volleyball players, 36.4% of bodybuilders and 33.3% of fitness athletes; no dominant style was characteristic of: 25% of volleyball players, 45.5% of bodybuilders and 66.7% of fitness athletes; the associative style was characteristic of only 18.2% of bodybuilders. In the studied population of athletes, 46.2% generally exhibited a dissociative style, 45.3% had no dominant style, and 8.5% exhibited an associative style. Conclusions: In the process of devising training programmes that incorporate music, it is essential to take into account the unique characteristics of the athletes in question, as well as the specific nature of the respective sport.
Background and Study Aim: Self-defence, in spite of its momentous links with personal security, quality of life and public health, is a phenomenon insufficiently explored by science, especially in complementary terms. These three aspects of linkages do not exhaust knowledge about self-defence precisely because of the complementarity factor. The aim of this paper is to argue, based on empirical evidence, for the necessity of the complementary use of self-defence exercises in the education of young people as early as possible in ontogeny. Material and Methods: The author imitatively analyses unique, unpublished research findings from Jaroslaw Szajerski's diploma thesis on testing fights in a vertical posture (TFVP) of eleven-year-old girls (n = 16) in round robin system during a cycle of physical education classes. The result of TFVP (type non-apparatus test) is conventional criterion of talent for combat sports and self-defence. Each TFVP ends with one of the participants winning 4 scuffles based on a simplified sumo formula (the possible result is in the proportions of won scuffle from 4:0 to 4:3). Effectiveness was measured by two indices: F-Index (proportion of fights won) and S-Index (proportion of scuffles won). Muscle strength was measured by four indices: total score (Index MS) and each of the three trials (standing broad jump, bent arm hand, sit ups) of the International Physical Fitness Test. Somatic potential by three indicators: body height, body mass, BMI. The individual profiles taking into account the nine indicators were based on the principle of comparing the proportion of the score to the highest leader value of each indicator. Results: The result of the post-hot reveals four factions: A-1 female leader who won all TFVPs (F-Index = 100%), but not all scuffles (S-Index 81%); B faction female students who won more than half of the TFVPs (n = 8)-individual codes B-1 to H-8; C female students who won less than half of the TFVPs (n = 8)-individual codes I-8 to O-13; P-14 female student who did not win a single TFVP. Leader A-1 dominated with the highest scores of 5 indices: F-Index, S-Index, body height, body mass, BMI. The physically strongest student (O-7) 2 indices: Index MS and trial `sit ups', The farthest jumped was by student F-6 and the longest continued `bent arm hang' was by student N-13, at the same time with the lowest body mass (30 kg) and the lowest BMI (14.07). The TFVP performance indices show the highest correlation (near-perfect: r = 0.974, p<0.01). None of the muscle strength indicators show statistically significant correlations with TFVP performance indicators, nor with body composition indicators. However, none of the body composition indices used is stable in terms of predicting the effectiveness of the TFVP. Conclusions: During mild hand-to-hand-combat measures, the greater likelihood of successful self-defence against physical aggression by female peers should be linked to the somatic potential of eleven-year-old girls identified with BMI. However, the determining factor for success in most such interpersonal confrontations will be the predisposition to combat sports and self-defence, i.e. traits strongly determinedby the mental sphere of personality (courage, will to fight, bravery, or, more generally, a predisposition for hand-to-hand combat i.e. traits strongly determined by the mental sphere of personality (courage, will to fight, bravery, self-esteem, intelligence, etc.). If TFVP were widely used in physical education practice, the results of such observations would be a good predictor of necessary interventions to strengthen the defensive potential (personal safety) of students with the lowest F-Index and S-Index.
Background and Study Aim: Fasting as a metabolic intervention is gaining popularity, yet the impact of multi-day food deprivation on redox homeostasis remains understudied. The aim of this case study was knowledge about impact of an 8-day fast on selected urinary markers of oxidative stress and renal function in trained, middle-aged individuals. Material and Methods: Six healthy, regularly training individuals participated in the study: 4 men and 2 women aged 45-60. Participants underwent an 8-day, supervised fast. Morning urine and blood samples were collected before and immediately after the intervention, and body composition analysis was performed. Protein concentration, total oxidative status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the activity of key antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its isoforms (CuZnSOD, MnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were determined. Changes in body weight and composition, as well as serum cortisol (C) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (6-HB) levels, were also analysed. Results: Statistically significant increases in urinary protein concentration (p<0.05), TOS (p<0.05), MDA (p<0.05), and CuZnSOD activity (p<0.05) were observed. Cohen's d effect size analysis confirmed a large or very large magnitude of these changes (d: 1.54, 2.52, 0.90, and 2.42, respectively). No statistically significant changes were observed in CAT, SOD, MnSOD, GPx, GST activity, or TAC values. The intervention also resulted in significant increases in serum C (p<0.01) and 6-HB (p<0.001) concentrations. Conclusions: 8-day fasting in trained middle-aged men and women induces a state of increased oxidative stress and proteinuria, indicating significant metabolic and renal burden. The antioxidant system's response is selective and noncompensatory, suggesting a potential pro-oxidant redox imbalance. These results, although based on a small sample, provide evidence of the complex metabolic effects of long-term fasting and emphasize the need for a cautious approach to its use.
Background and Study Aim: Lower extremity injuries are common among collegiate demonstration athletes, but there is limited research on their specific patterns. The cognitive goal of this research is knowledge about this category of injuries. The application goal is to provide recommendations on the prevention of this category of injuries and thus increase the personal safety of athletes. Material and Methods: A cohort of 231 taekwondo athletes was surveyed using a questionnaire designed by experts to gather information on injury occurrence, frequency, context, and treatment methods. Data analysis was conducted through frequency analysis and the apriori algorithm, a method of association rule mining, utilizing Excel 2019 and Python. Results: The most frequently injured sites were the ankle, toes, and knee, with ankle injuries exhibiting a notably high recurrence rate. The most prevalent injury pattern identified was during a demonstration -> airborne movements, vertical/horizontal rotations, obstacle techniques -> ankle-* surgical intervention. The subsequent patterns included during a demonstration -> airborne movements, vertical/horizontal rotations, obstacle techniques -> knee -> immobilization (cast) and during a demonstration -> airborne movements, vertical/horizontal rotations, obstacle landing -> knee -> physiotherapy. Conclusions: These results underscore that the airborne and rotational maneuvers characteristic of demonstration taekwondo are significant contributors to ankle and knee injuries. Such injuries often necessitate extensive medical interventions, highlighting the critical need for preventive strategies. A complementary approach, as a fundamental method used in the exploration (research and education) of innovative agonology, opens the prospect of improving interventions, both diagnostic and directly related to psychomotor activity in the preparatory process and the public presentation of taekwondo motor perfection. Therefore, a key element of preventive strategies is to resist the temptation to achieve unique visual and marketing effects at the expense of health risks.
Background and Study Aim: The global COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on the mental and physical well-being of individuals worldwide, particularly children and teenagers. Experiencing anxiety by children and adolescents who are exposed to multiple long-term stressors during developmentally sensitive periods poses a serious threat to their health. The impact of physical activity on physical, mental and social health has been confirmed in scientific research. These dimensions are interrelated, and changes in one element affect the others. This study aims to identify the preferred stress coping strategies used by adolescents engaging in various forms of physical activity, in the context of promoting a healthy lifestyle. Material and Methods: The study involved 462 adolescents, aged 14-17 (mean age 15.2 +/- 1.1 years). Respondents regularly practiced various individual sports (IS), including combat sports (CS), team sports (TS), physical recreation (PR), and exercising occasionally (PP). A standardized questionnaire "How do you cope?" (HDC) and an original survey questionnaire were used. Non-parametric statistics were applied. Results: Teenagers most often experienced problems related to maintaining relationships with peers (59.5%), mental health (32%,) physical health (11%), and insufficient contact with teachers (39%). Adolescents used similar ways of coping with difficult situations in both strategies: dispositional (standard situation) and situational (problems indicated by the teenagers) (rs = 0.501). In the dispositional strategy, active coping with stress (p<0.01) and seeking social support (p<0.05) were more frequently used by teenagers practicing individual sports compared to those engaged in team sports. In both strategies (dispositional and situational), a lower intensity of emotion focused coping was observed among adolescents participating in team sports (TS) compared to the remaining respondents (CS, IS, PR, PP), p <0.001. Conclusions: The problems indicated by teenagers prompt the search for solutions that could, strengthen social bonds, teach stress management skills, and recreate situations that foster the fulfilment of teenagers' developmental needs. Raising awareness among physical education teachers, instructors, sports coaches, and parents about the ways in which young people can address their perceived problems may help reduce stress. Mandatory health education and the promotion of physical activity should serve as effective means of supporting teenagers in coping with stress.
Background and Study Aim: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), often leading to paraplegia or tetraplegia, affects many aspects of life and requires complex environmental adjustments, new responsibilities for patients, and their caregivers. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) presents functioning and disability as a complex interaction between an individual's health status and contextual factors, and provides the basis for a methodology for managing the rehabilitation process of people with disabilities. The cognitive objective is to gain knowledge concerning independence in daily life of individuals after SCI in the early post-acute phase who are participating in the Foundation for Active Rehabilitation (FAR) camp, based on their functional profile using the Brief ICF Core Set for SCI. The applied objective is the recommendation of visualization tools designed to support the diagnosis and evaluation of progress in the rehabilitation process, useful for the therapeutic team. Material and Methods: The study was conducted among 16 participants of a 21-day FAR rehabilitation camp, including 3 women and 13 men (7 with paraplegia and 9 with tetraplegia). Individuals participated in physical activities during the camp and improved their independence in performing activities of daily living (ADL) under the supervision of instructors. During lectures with a psychologist, they shaped and strengthened mental functions, cognitive skills, and social competencies A cross-sectional study consisting of a subjective examination in the form of individual structured interviews and a physical examination using a functional physiotherapy tests and validated assessment tools was carried out in a standardized manner by two physio-therapists. The obtained results of each subject were verified with the assessment of the therapeutic and instructional team of the FAR. Results: Individuals diagnosed with tetraplegia indicate greater difficulty in capacity and performing activities. Those with tetraplegia and paraplegia necessitate partial assistance with activities of daily living. Conclusions: The three types of visualization proposed in the article (1-Categorical ICF profile; 2-Individual outcome charts; 3-Patient group specificity charts for each participant group category) can be used by therapy-instructional teams to plan targeted interventions.
Background and Study Aim: Psychologists are focusing their research on the personality of combat sports athletes. Particular attention is focused on traits that describe unacceptable, antisocial behavior, including a tendency toward aggression. Beyond aggression, there are many other personality traits, and the use of multiple questionnaires reveals a more comprehensive psychological profile. The aim of study was knowledge about the differences in personality profiles of athletes practicing two different combat sports with very similar task structures, using two questionnaires. Material and Methods: Thirty-six judo athletes and 36 Brazilian ju-jitsu (BJJ) athletes were examined using the Eysenck EPQ-R (EPQ-R), which assesses levels of neuroticism, extroversion, psychoticism, and a control scale commonly known as the lie scale. The Zuckerman-Kuhlman ZKKO (ZKKO) questionnaire, which assesses levels of impulsivity, neuroticism, and aggressiveness, was also used. Athletes from both groups did not differ significantly in age, experience, athletic achievement, and demonstrated similar technical skill levels. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare intergroup differences in the seven aforementioned traits. Relationships between traits for each group separately and for both groups combined were expressed using Spearman correlation coefficients (R). Statistical analysis was performed using the STATISTICA software package vs. 13.3. Results: The BJJ group demonstrated significantly higher levels of neuroticism, psychoticism, aggressiveness, and control scale scores. In each group, significant positive correlations were observed between neuroticism measured by the EPQ-R and the ZKKO, but a stronger correlation was observed in the BJJ group, r = 0.837, than in the judo group, r = 0.453. In turn, a stronger correlation between extraversion and impulsivity was observed in the judo group, r = 0.877, than in the BJJ group, r = 0.493. Only in the judo group was a significant correlation observed between aggressiveness and psychoticism, r = 0.753. In both groups, very large inter-individual differences were found for each trait. Conclusions: It has been observed that the use of two questionnaires containing different scales increases the diagnostic value of the personality profile description, as each test, apart from neuroticism, contains different subscales and allows for the expansion of the personality profile. It was found that BJJ competitors demonstrated significantly higher scores for those personality traits which are considered undesirable in the assessment of mental health and social norms. The intergroup differences revealed may result from higher ethical standards in the Olympic sport of judo, which is also sanctioned by the principles of Far Eastern martial arts. In individual cases, when very high levels of aggressiveness, impulsivity, and neuroticism are observed, there is a risk of antisocial behavior and psychophysical health problems. It seems advisable to introduce appropriate pedagogical and psychotherapeutic content into combat sports training to reduce the negative impact of personality traits on mental and physical health.
Background and Study Aim: The highest rank in kendo - eighth-dan - represents technical mastery and maturity, yet quantitative descriptions of striking motions at this level are scarce. Men-strike is one of the fundamental techniques in kendo and is the most frequently used effective strike in actual matches. We aimed to descriptive model men-strike motions in eighth-dan practitioners based on by analysing time-series patterns of joint and shinai angles to identify commonalities and individual differences. Material and Methods: Ten eighth-dan practitioners (1.73 +/- 0.04 m; 77.8 +/- 7.1 kg; 50.5 +/- 4.9 years of practice) performed men-strike while wearing 41 reflective markers. Three-dimensional motion was captured at 250 Hz (VICON), projected to the sagittal plane, and time-normalised (0-100%). Variability at each time point was evaluated using Z-scores against the whole-body joint-angle variability. Results: Mean men-strike motion time was 0.759 +/- 0.073 s. Low variability (Z < -1) appeared in the trunk, both elbows, left knee, and right ankle, whereas the right shoulder and left wrist exceeded +1 at specific phases, indicating individualized adjustments. The leader (result: 0.652 seconds) was the oldest of the surveyed kendo masters (68 years) and the longest practitioner (60 years). However, there is a low negative correlation between the motion time result and both years of training experience (r = -0.265) and the age of kendo masters (r = -0.206). Conclusions: Eighth-dan kendo practitioners share stable technical features in men-strike with selective scope for individual adaptation. These data provide benchmarks for instruction and a foundation for future comparative studies across skill levels.
Background and Study Aim: Previous studies have reported an association between physical activity (PA) and the occurrence and progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the existing evidence remains limited and of low-quality. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize existing knowledge on the dose-response relationship between PA and the risk of KOA, with the goal of informing precise PA recommendations for the primary prevention of KOA. Material and Methods: This meta-analysis included 7 cohort studies and 7 Mendelian randomization (MR) studies comprising 2840 cases of KOA, selected from three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI up to April 4, 2024. In the qualified studies, PA was primarily restricted and classified into exercise or sport, and the primary outcome indicators included the risk of KOA. Results: The Categorical dose-relationship analysis from the MR study showed that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and light physical activity (LPA) are the protective factors for developing KOA (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.73-0.94; OR = 0.71, 95%CI:0.63,0.80). meeting WHO PA guidelines (>= 10 Met/week) is not a significant factor for preventing KOA. The continuous dose-relationship analysis showed that there was a significant nonlinear positive dose-response relationship between PA and the risk of KOA. The linear model showed that the OR of KOA increased by 3% for every additional 4.5 met-h/week (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.07). Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed that LPA and MVPA within a specific dose range were associated with a reduced risk of KOA, and high-dose PA was associated with an increased risk of KOA. There was a significant nonlinear positive dose-response relationship between PA and the risk of KOA.
Background and Study Aim: Combat sports and endurance training significantly affect bone mineral density (BMD), although to varying degrees. Bone stress fractures (BSF) are a relatively recent and not yet fully understood issue in professional athletes. Research has not yet fully resolved the problem of BSF and low BMD, depending on the type of sport. This study aims to identify BMD in the hip and lumbar spine, as well as the incidence of BSF in adult Polish professional long-distance runners and combat sports athletes. Material and Methods: The study included 60 endurance sports (cross-country running, half marathon, marathon, ultra running,) and 69 combat sports (Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, wrestling). The following research methods were used: densitometry, kinanthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, and standardized injury questionnaires. Results: Individuals practicing in the endurance runners group had significantly lower all bone indicators compared to the combat sports athletes (large effects: >0.8), and significantly higher number of BSF in life (medium effect: 0.5 to 0.8). Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD below the expected range for age was observed only in endurance sports. A significantly higher percentage of athletes without BSF was recorded in the combat sports group. The results of covariance analyses showed that BMD in the femoral neck was significantly influenced by muscle mass, number of BSF, and sport types (adj. R-2 = 0.731). Bone mass was affected by the body height and type of sports (adj. R-2 = 0.393). Z-score was influenced by the number of BSF and sport type (adj. R-2 = 0.722). All analysed bone indicators in the lumbar spine were significantly influenced by muscle mass and the type of sport. Conclusions: In this study, there was a large and strong relationship between history of bone stress fracture, sport type, and bone mineral status. A significant fracture and sport type interaction was observed. This suggests that the effect of fracture on the femoral Z-score varies across sport types. Recommendations based on systematic diagnosis of bone mineral status can effectively prevent stress fractures in sports.
Background and Study Aim: Athletes in combat sports compete under intense physical and psychological pressure. Prior studies highlight the importance of psychological skills such as challenge orientation, deliberate practice, and goal commitment. However, limited research has explored how these factors interact with athletes' preparation for competition. The cognitive goal of this research is knowledge about the mediating role of the sense of challenge in the relationships among multi-faceted competition preparation, deliberate practice, and commitment to achieving the goal. Material and Methods: Participants were 327 athletes (male = 212, female = 115) from boxing, judo, taekwondo and wrestling disciplines, recruited from South Korea. A structured questionnaire measured four variables, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and structural equation model. Results: greater competition preparation was associated with a stronger sense of challenge, which in turn predicted higher levels of deliberate practice and goal commitment. The sense of challenge also mediated the relationship between competition preparation and both outcome variables. Conclusions: These findings suggest that fostering a challenge-oriented mind set may enhance athletes' engagement in purposeful training and strengthen their commitment to goals. This study offers practical insights for coaches seeking to optimize performance in combat sports settings.
Background and Study Aim: Despite karate's Japanese identity and global reach, little is known about how this martial art has been received, reinterpreted, and institutionalised in China. While Western studies have focused on karate's export and media-driven globalisation, the Chinese experience presents a contrasting narrative - one shaped by nationalism, reform-era openness, and Olympic ambitions. The aim of the research is to answer the question: why and how karate, once depicted as a 'foreign' and even 'inferior' art, has become one of China's most dynamic competitive sports. Material and Methods: This study adopted a mixed-methods approach (in a sense complementary) combining documentary research and interviews. Documentary data were collected from national archives, mass media sources, and policy documents related to karate in China. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 participants using snowball sampling. Results: Karate's early development in China faced limited acceptance due to the dominance of Chinese hand-to-hand combat systems (martial arts) and historical tensions with Japan. A turning point came with the thawing of Sino-Japanese relations in the late 1970s, which enabled its introduction through martial arts diplomacy and catalysed its later expansion. From an array of sources, karate's evolution is mapped across four pivotal stages, tracing the sport's evolution from a tool of hand-to-hand combat systems (martial arts) diplomacy to a strategic element within China's national sports agenda, propelled by the nation's aspirations for Olympic glory. Conclusions: The findings suggest that China's case cannot be explained solely by global media diffusion but rather by internal political and cultural dynamics. The localisation of karate illustrates how foreign handto-hand combat systems can be reinterpreted within new cultural frameworks, offering broader insight into budo globalisation and cultural adaptation.
Background and Study Aim: In the era of global health and social threats, Innovative Agonology offers a unique approach to sustainable psychosocial development also referring to the threats of civilization diseases. Fasting and physical exercise are known to modulate immune functions, including the production and release of cytokines-key signaling molecules involved in regulating inflammatory processes. However, there are limited data on the combined effects of fasting and physical exercise on cytokines profile in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an 8-day fasting and physical exercise on the concentrations of selected proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of adults. Material and Methods: The experiment involved 6 middle-aged individuals (4 men, 2 women) who practice yoga, martial arts and strength training as amateurs. Qualified participants fasted for 8 days. Blood samples were collected before and after physical exercise-both before and after the end of the fast. The determination of 27 cytokines was performed using the Bio-Plex Pro Human Inflammation Assays platform (Bio-Rad). Results: The results showed a statistically significant increase in IL-8 concentration only after 8 days of fasting and immediately after the end of physical exercise. Fasting caused a significant increase in MIP-1 beta concentration only 1 hour after the end of the exercise test. In the case of the remaining cytokines tested, no statistically significant changes in response to the interventions were demonstrated. Conclusions: The obtained data suggest that fasting and physical exercise can selectively modulate the immune response, particularly by affecting cytokines involved in leukocyte recruitment. These results may have important implications for understanding physiological mechanisms of adaptation under metabolic stress conditions and in the context of nutritional and exercise interventions.
Background and Study Aim: Lifestyle involves making personal behavioural choices that can influence the development of health and quality of life. Research does not fully resolve the problem of discrepancies between health behaviours and quality of life (defined in four dimensions), depending on the form of physical activity. The aim of the study was to obtain knowledge concerning the relationship between the intensity of health-related behaviours and the quality of life of individuals practicing karate, football, and physical recreation, in the context of promoting a health-oriented lifestyle. Material and Methods: The study covered 500 people, aged 18-50 years, practicing karate (K) football players (F) and physical recreation (PR). The standardized questionnaires: Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life), were used. Non-parametric statistics were applied. Results: Individuals practicing karate demonstrated a higher quality of life in the physical, psychological, and environmental dimensions, whereas football players reported a higher quality of life in the social dimension. Positive moderate correlations were found between quality of life in the physical domain and the intensity of preventive behaviours; in the psychological domain and HBI point score (HBIps) for people practicing karate. Among football players, moderate correlations were observed between: overall quality of life and (HBIps), positive mental attitude (PMA) and health practices; in the social domain and PMA. For people practicing physical recreation, moderate correlations were observed between the psychological and environmental domains and the HBIps (r = 0.426 and r = 0.428, respectively). In the psychological domain, for both karate practitioners and physical recreation, correlations were observed with category HBI (PMA) (r = 0.411 and r = 0.425, respectively). Conclusions: Moderate correlations between the intensity of health behaviours and the respondents' quality of life do not fully explain these relationships. Exploring the relationships between these factors in relation to motivation, perceived life values, and socio-demographic variables -particularly in the context of longitudinal studies - could provide significant evidence for promoting healthy lifestyles in society.
Background and Study Aim: Changes taking place in health systems, including the increasing life expectancy of the population, have for many decades forced researchers and analysts to take into account many factors when planning the organization and financing of health care. The cognitive aim of this paper is demand knowledge for hospital health services in medical specialties up to 2045 in Poland. The application goal is recommendations based on more complex approach to estimate future demand for health care services of a certain type that involves age-specific health cohorts and presumed macro demographic trends. Material and Methods: According to the position of the Polish Bioethics Commissions, the retrospective analysis of depersonalized and aggregated data does not constitute a medical experiment under current regulations and does not require an opinion of the Bioethics Commission. We used a more complex approach-Shift-Share Analysis (SSA) method. An extrapolation analysis of the demand for health services within hospital care in individual medical specialties was performed, taking into account demographic forecasts in individual age groups and data on the provision of medical services in Poland in 2015-2021, divided into medical specialties. The construction of the forecast was based on the concept of weighing the expected number of patients with appropriate correction factors that resulted from global change, age structure of patients and characteristics of medical specialties. Results: The health care system should expect the greatest decline in the number of patients in the specialties 'neonatology' and 'infectious diseases' (average annual rate-16.75% and-13.28%, respectively). An increase in the number of patients is forecast in the specialties 'pediatric oncology and hematology' and 'audiology' (average annual rate 5.39% and 5.13%, respectively). Conclusions: The projections presented provide a set of visions for the future of population health needs. Despite the high level of uncertainty regarding future forecasts, they provide a better assessment of the consequences of currently observed trends for health and health policy, as well as the likely impact of future trends, such as the aging of the population or the continuation of epidemiological changes.
Background and Study Aim: Hand-to-hand combat sports demand a high level of both physical and mental skills, as well as the ability to overcome oneself, requiring long-term effort for success. Psychological traits such as grit are increasingly recognized as key predictors of athletes' success, yet research focusing on hand-to-hand combat athletes remains scarce. Moreover, studies examining antecedent variables that predict grit are limited. The current study aims to validate a structural model that includes expectancy value, challenge, and deliberate practice to predict grit in hand-to-hand combat athletes. Material and Methods: Data were collected through surveys of 532 athletes participating in hand-to-hand combat as combat sports (i.e., judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling) in Korea and analysed via structural equation modelling. Additionally, bootstrapping and the phantom model were employed to test the multiple mediating effects of challenge and deliberate practices on the relationship between expectancy value and grit. Results: The results revealed that all eight direct paths and four indirect paths were statistically significant. Specifically, expectancy of success and task value, as subfactors of expectancy value, positively predicted challenge, deliberate practice, and grit, whereas challenge and deliberate practice were also positively related to the promotion of athletes' grit. Furthermore, the expectancy of success and task value indirectly influenced grit by mediating challenge and deliberate practices. Conclusions: These findings suggest that practitioners of hand-to-hand combat (combat sports athletes) who interpret the value of tasks and expectations of success positively are more likely to adopt a challenging and proactive training attitude, ultimately leading to persistent effort toward long-term goals.
