LAUSR

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to analyse pacing in judo matches, considering differences related to match duration, sex and weight category. Time-motion measures of 1960 judo matches from the 2017 Judo World Tour (World Championship, World Masters, Grand Slam, and Grand Prix) were analysed. The sum of high-intensity actions (attack, feints, grip dispute and groundwork combat) were divided by low-intensity actions (pause and displacement without contact) to estimate the pacing of judo combat. Matches lasting 1-min, 2-min, 3-min, 4-min and extra-time were analysed. Comparisons between sex, weight category and match durations were conducted using three-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey test. The effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d. The high-intensity to low-intensity effort ratio was higher in 1-min matches compared to all other durations, and was lower in extra-time matches compared to 2- and 3-min matches. Furthermore, in 1-min matches, the high-intensity to low-intensity effort ratio was higher in female compared to male matches, and higher in heavier compared to lighter categories. In conclusion, 1-min judo matches are more intense than longer ones; in 1-min judo matches, females compete at a higher intensity compared to males, and heavier athletes compete at higher pace compared to lighter ones.