Kreso Skugor1,2, Valdemar Stajer3, Nenad Zugaj4, Barbara Gilic2, Hrvoje Karnincic2
1Wrestling Club Split, Split, Croatia
2University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology, Split, Croatia
3University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, Novi Sad, Serbia
4University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Generic and Specific Fitness Profile of Elite Youth Greco-Roman Wrestlers; Differences According to Quality and Weight Category
Sport Mont 2023, 21(1), 23-30 | DOI: 10.26773/smj.230204
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the validity of the Specific Wrestling Fitness Test (SWFT), correlating it with generic anaerobic tests in elite youth wrestlers and determining whether wrestlers differ according to quality and weight categories in all tests. The research included 23 advanced-level Greco-Roman wrestlers (aged 16-19 years) who were divided into two quality categories (National team members and Non-team members) and two weight categories (lighter and heavier). Variables included anthropometric characteristics, generic fitness tests, and SWFT. Results evidenced that only vertical jump height was associated with SWFT (Pearson’s R=0.48, p<0.05). Team members had higher results in the vertical jump height (p=0.02, moderate ES), while wrestlers from the heavier category had higher body mass (p=0.001, large ES) and body height (p=0.01, large ES) than lighter wrestlers. Moreover, wrestlers did not differ in the SWFT according to quality and weight categories. SWFT was not associated with generic fitness tests, possibly because of its high specificity. Furthermore, team members and non-team members did not differ in the SWFT, which could be explained by the fact that only advanced-level wrestlers were included in this study. Thus, future studies should include lower-quality wrestlers and different testing protocols.
Keywords
combat sports, physical capacities, selection, youth athletes
View full article
(PDF – 275KB)
References
Chaabene, H., Negra, Y., Bouguezzi, R., Capranica, L., Franchini, E., Prieske, O., Hbacha, H., & Granacher, U. (2018). Tests for the Assessment of Sport-Specific Performance in Olympic Combat Sports: A Systematic Review With Practical Recommendations. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 386. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00386
Chaabene, H., Negra, Y., Bouguezzi, R., Mkaouer, B., Franchini, E., Julio, U., & Hachana, Y. (2017). Physical and Physiological Attributes of Wrestlers: An Update. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(5), 1411-1442. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001738
Cieśliński, I., Gierczuk, D., & Sadowski, J. (2021). Identification of success factors in elite wrestlers-An exploratory study. PLoS One, 16(3), e0247565. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247565
Cohen, J. (2013). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Routledge, London, UK.
Drid, P., Trivić, T., & Tabakov, S. (2012). Special judo fitness test-a review. Serbian Journal of Sports Sciences, 6 (4), 117-125.
García-Pallarés, J., López-Gullón, J. M., Muriel, X., Díaz, A., & Izquierdo, M. (2011). Physical fitness factors to predict male Olympic wrestling performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111(8), 1747-1758. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1809-8
Hesari, A. F., Mirzaei, B., Ortakand, S. M., Rabienejad, A., & Nikolaïdis, P. (2014). Relationship between aerobic and anaerobic power, and Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) in elite Iranian male judokas. Apunts. Medicina de l'Esport, 49(181), 25-29.
Horswill, C. A. (1992). Applied physiology of amateur wrestling. Sports Medicine, 14(2), 114-143. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199214020-00004
Horswill, C. A., Scott, J. R., & Galea, P. (1989). Comparison of maximum aerobic power, maximum anaerobic power, and skinfold thickness of elite and nonelite junior wrestlers. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 10(3), 165-168. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1024894
Izquierdo, M., Häkkinen, K., Gonzalez-Badillo, J. J., Ibáñez, J., & Gorostiaga, E. M. (2002). Effects of long-term training specificity on maximal strength and power of the upper and lower extremities in athletes from different sports. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 87(3), 264-271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-002-0628-y
Karnincic, H., Curby, D., & Cavala, M. (2015). Factors of success in advanced level wrestling; reliability and validity of several diagnostic methods. Journal of Combat Sports and Martial Arts, 6(2), 77-83.
Karnincic, H., Krstulovic, S., & Baic, M. (2013). The influence of body weight on chosen physiological parameters in wrestling. Journal of Human Kinetics, 37, 119-127. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2013-0032
Kell, R. (1997). The use of interval training to condition for wrestling. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 19(5), 62-64.
Markovic, M., Dopsaj, M., Kasum, G., Zaric, I., Toskic, L. (2017). Reliability of the two new specific wrestling tests: performance, metabolic and cardiac indicators. Archives of Budo, 13, 409-420.
Markovic, M., Kukic, F., Dopsaj, M., Kasum, G., Toskic, L., & Zaric, I. (2021). Validity of a Novel Specific Wrestling Fitness Test. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35 (Suppl 2), S51-s57. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000003538
Markovic, M. R., Kasum, G., Dopsaj, M., Toskic, L., & Zaric, I. (2018). Various competitive level wrestlers' preparedness assessed by the application of the field test. Physical Culture, 72 (2), 170-180.
Markovic, M., Toskic, L., Kukic, F., Zaric, I., & Dopsaj, M. (2022). Sensitivity of Field Tests for Assessment of Wrestlers Specific Fitness. Journal of Human Kinetics, 83 (1), 267-276. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2022-0069
Melki, H., Bouzid, M. S., & Fadhloun, M. (2019). Correlation between Morphological and Functional Variables during a Specific Wrestling Test for Tunisian Cadet Greco-Roman Wrestlers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 19, 1282.
Mikulic, P., Emersic, D., & Markovic, G. (2010). Reliability and discriminative ability of a modified Wingate rowing test in 12- to 18-year-old rowers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28 (13), 1409-1414. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.513012
Nilsson, J., Csergö, S., Gullstrand, L., Tveit, P., & Refsnes, P. E. (2002). Work-time profile, blood lactate concentration and rating of perceived exertion in the 1998 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championship. Journal of Sports Sciences, 20(11), 939-945. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404102320761822
Paulo Lopes-Silva, J., Panissa, V. L. G., Julio, U. F., & Franchini, E. (2021). Influence of Physical Fitness on Special Judo Fitness Test Performance: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(6), 1732-1738. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000002948
Ulupınar, S., Özbay, S., Gençoğlu, C., & İnce, İ. (2021). Performance Differences Between Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestlers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(11), 3270-3279. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004129