Combat sports matches elicit high cardiovascular demand, with heart rate intensity varying from 83% to 100% of maximal heart rate across disciplines like judo, taekwondo, karate, and Muay Thai.
What is the heart rate response and cardiovascular demand during combat sports matches?
Combat sports matches elicit high cardiovascular demand, with heart rates reaching 83-100% of maximum, making heart rate monitoring a useful tool for assessing exercise intensity in these athletes.
The aims of the present short review were to (i) summarise data relating to the heart rate (HR) response to combat sports matches according to many factors and (ii) determine the cardiovascular demand and intensity of combat sports matches. The present review shows that HR increased significantly across rounds during male taekwondo, boxing and kickboxing matches. HR and maximal heart rate (HRmax) increased significantly across successive karate and judo combat matches in young men and boy athletes. It has also been shown that there are no significant differences between winners and losers and males and females in HR response during official and simulated striking combat sports matches. Furthermore, combat HR intensity as a percentage of HRmax varied from 90% to 94%, from 86% to 100%, from 83% to 94%, and approximately 95% during judo, taekwondo, karate and Muay Thai matches, respectively. Coaches, sports scientists and athletes can also use HR to (i) assess athletes’ cardiovascular demand and (ii) monitor exercise intensity during combat sports matches.
Slimani et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Combat sports athletes. Combat sports matches was evaluated on Heart rate response and cardiovascular demand. Combat sports matches elicit high cardiovascular demand, with heart rate intensity varying from 83% to 100% of maximal heart rate across disciplines like judo, taekwondo, karate, and Muay Thai.