Improving the development of special endurance in hand-to-hand combat athletes

Abstract

The development and improvement of special physical fitness is a key factor in athletic success. Therefore, the search for new tools and methods to improve specialized motor skills in martial arts remains a relevant area in training. Purpose. To develop and evaluate a set of specialized preparatory physical exercises aimed at enhancing special endurance in 17–18-year-old hand-to-hand combat athletes at the stage of sports improvement. Materials and methods. The project involved 28 hand-to-hand combat athletes aged 17–18 years at the stage of sports improvement, each training for 16 h (8 sessions) per week. The control group (CG, n = 14) and the experimental group (EG, n = 14) followed the standard physical training program outlined by the Federal Standard for this sport. In addition, EG athletes trained for 4 sessions (8 h) per week using the specialized exercise sets we developed to improve special endurance. The proposed exercises closely replicated competitive motor actions in terms of structure, intensity, and coordination. At the beginning and end of the experiment, the Harvard Step Test Index and the level of special motor skills were assessed using a method designed to evaluate the special endurance of martial artists. Additionally, strength endurance was evaluated using push-ups (arm flexion and extension in the prone position) and pull-ups from a high bar hang. Coordination endurance was measured with the 5 × 10 m shuttle run (s), general endurance assessed by the 3000 m run (m/s), and speed endurance determined through the 30-s jump rope test. Results. At the end of the research project, athletes in the EG demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in physical performance indicators, as well as in general and special physical fitness, compared to the CG. EG athletes also showed more effective adaptation of the cardiorespiratory system to physical exertion, as indicated by a faster heart rate recovery during rest after the tests. Urgent recovery was 1.87 times faster in the speed component, 1.6 times faster in the strength component, and 1.69 times faster in the complex test compared to the CG. The high effectiveness of the proposed special preparatory exercise set for hand-to-hand combat athletes is further confirmed by the excellent performance of the athletes in amateur sports fights. Conclusions. The proposed set of physical exercises can be recommended for inclusion in the training process of 17–18-year-old hand-to-hand combat athletes at the stage of their athletic development.