In search of muscular fitness and its relation to training experience and sports performance of athletes of modern combat sports such as mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ)

Background: Combat sports, including MMA and BJJ place very high and varied demands on athletes in terms of strength and strength-endurance training. The aim of the present study was to level of development motor fitness athletes combat sports and examine their relationship with training experience, and high sports performance. Methods: Thirty athletes were studied and compared between two groups: MMA (N=15) and BJJ (N=15). Somatic measurements were performed. Selected manifestations of the athlete’s potential in terms of strength and strength endurance were also measured, using selected tests from the International Physical Fitness Test (EUROFIT) battery, and relative strength and MAW indices were calculated. A coach ranking of athletes by sports achievement was developed. Next, the strength of the relationship of the effect of the aspects of strength and conditioning with training experience and sports performance was assessed. Results: The level of motor fitness in the groups was significantly different between the athletes of these sports in terms of strength and strength endurance abilities (p=0.006-0.038). A higher level of these elements of fitness was displayed by BJJ athletes. In both groups, significant correlations were found between the motor effect and the training experience (r=0.53-0.89) also sports result (r=0.53-0.76). Conclusions: The results allow for the initial diagnosis and interpretation of motor fitness competencies along with the profile of its key manifestations in MMA and BJJ, which promotes optimization of the quality of coaching control.