Predominance of techniques analysis used in the final rounds of judo international competitions scoring for the Olympic ranking: A biomechanical approach

Judo is an Olympic combat sport that is divided into male and female weight categories. Each weight category implies significant differences in technical and strategic dimensions, as well as physiological, performance, and body composition among competitors. This individual variability can widely mark options and predominance of biomechanical actions inherent to its own movements. This study aimed to determine the technical actions predominance used by judokas in the international competitions final stages scoring for the Olympic ranking. We observed 285 judo matches, in several weight categories for men and women, played in the final stages of six scoring international competitions for the Olympic ranking in Tokyo 2021. An observation system was used according to the biomechanical classification of judo techniques proposed by Sacripanti. In Nage-Waza combat, there was a predominance of lever techniques over couple techniques. In Ne-Waza there was a predominance of pressure techniques, followed by venous breathing block and dislocation of the elbow joint. There were also differences between genders and significant associations by weight category in the technical options in combat, as well as according to the combat phase. Keywords: Judo, Biomechanics, Lever techniques, Couple techniques, Competitive performance analysis.