Ankur Jyoti Phukon1, Krishnendu Dhar1
1Tripura University, Department of Physical Education, Agartala, India
A Two-Year Longitudinal Observation of Somatotype Changes among Youth Judo Practitioners
Sport Mont 2026, 24(3), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.261003
Abstract
This prime purpose of the study was to examine longitudinal changes in anthropometric characteristics among youth judo athletes during a controlled and systematic training period. Ninety-three male judo athletes (baseline mean age 12.0±0.32 years; 14.0±0.32 years at final follow-up) were assessed every six months over two years. Anthropomet- ric measurements followed International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) standards. Fat- free mass (FFM) and somatotype components (endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy) were calculated using the Heath-Carter method. Linear mixed-effects models showed significant Phase effects for mid-calf skinfold (p<0.001), arm girth (p=0.003), calf girth (p=0.012), biepicondylar humerus breadth (p=0.035), biepicondylar femur breadth (p<0.001) and FFM (p<0.001). Estimated marginal means showed progressive increases in girths, skeletal breadths and FFM across Phases (FFM: 38.05 to 49.96 kg; arm girth: 23.9 to 28.9 cm; femur breadth: 6.68 to 7.76 cm), while biceps, triceps, subscapular and supra-spinale skinfolds remained unchanged (all p>0.05). Over 24 months, youth judo athletes demonstrated increased lean mass and structural growth with stable subcutaneous fat, indicating healthy maturation for young judo athletes in Northeast India.
Keywords
kinanthopometry, combat sports, athlete development, linear mixed-effect model, youth sports
View full article
(PDF – 474KB)
References
Alahmadi, M. (2021). Physiological profiles of Saudi elite judo athletes. The International Scientific Journal of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, 9(1), 62–68. https://doi.org/10.21608/isjpes.2021.55110.1034
Branco, B. H. M., Marcondes, V. A., De Paula Ramos, S., Badilla, P. V., & Andreato, L. V. (2022). Effects of supplementary strength program on generic and specific physical fitness in cadet judo athletes. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 36(10), 2816–2823. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003983
Buśko, K., Pastuszak, A., & Kalka, E. (2017). Body composition and somatotype of judo athletes and untrained male students as a reference group for comparison in sport. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 9(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2017-0002
Busko, K., Pastuszak, A. W., & Kalka, E. (2017). Body composition and somatotype of judo athletes and untrained male students as a reference group for comparison in sport. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 9(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2017-0002
Casals, C., Escobar-Molina, R., Barranco‐Ruiz, Y., & Huertas, J. R. (2016). Special judo fitness test level and anthropometric profile of elite female cadet judokas. Revista De Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 11(2s). https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v11i2s.4162
Cordova, A., Villa, G., Sureda, A., Rodriguez-Marroyo, J. A., Martínez-Castañeda, R., & Sánchez-Collado, M. P. (2013). Energy consumption, body composition and physical activity levels in 11- to 13-year-old Spanish children. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 63(3), 223–228. https://doi.org/10.1159/000348673
De Moraes Ferrari, G. L., Oliveira, L. C., Araujo, T. L., Matsudo, V., Barreira, T. V., Tudor-Locke, C., & Katzmarzyk, P. (2015a). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior: Independent associations with body composition variables in Brazilian children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 27(3), 380–389. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2014-0150
De Moraes Ferrari, G. L., Oliveira, L. C., Araujo, T. L., Matsudo, V., Barreira, T. V., Tudor-Locke, C., & Katzmarzyk, P. (2015b). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior: Independent associations with body composition variables in Brazilian children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 27(3), 380–389. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2014-0150
Demirci, Ö. F., Ceylan, B., & Balci, S. S. (2023). The relationship between judo specific test performances and physical fitness in prepubescent male judo athletes. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 18(1), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v18i1.7400
Detanico, D., Kons, R. L., Fukuda, D. H., & Teixeira, A. S. (2020a). Physical performance in young judo athletes: Influence of somatic maturation, growth, and training experience. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 91(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2019.1679334
Detanico, D., Kons, R. L., Fukuda, D. H., & Teixeira, A. S. (2020b). Physical performance in young judo athletes: Influence of somatic maturation, growth, and training experience. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 91(3), 425–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2019.1679334
Drapsin, M., Bojanic, D., Ljubojevic, M., Sadri, F., Jaksic, D., Trivic, T., & Drid, P. (2020a). Somatotype profiles of male and female Montenegrin judokas. International Journal of Morphology, 38(5), 1244–1249. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022020000501244
Fukuda, D. H., Beyer, K. S., Boone, C. H., Wang, R., La Monica, M. B., Wells, A. J., … Stout, J. R. (2018). Developmental associations with muscle morphology, physical performance, and asymmetry in youth judo athletes. Sport Sciences for Health, 14(3), 555–562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-018-0460-3
Giudicelli, B. B., Luz, L. G. O., Sogut, M., Massart, A. G., Júnior, A. C., & Figueiredo, A. J. (2020a). Bio-banding in judo: The mediation role of anthropometric variables on the maturation effect. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010361
Giudicelli, B. B., Luz, L. G. O., Sogut, M., Massart, A. G., Júnior, A. C., & Figueiredo, A. J. (2020b). Bio-banding in judo: The mediation role of anthropometric variables on the maturation effect. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010361
Giudicelli, B. B., Luz, L. G. O., Sogut, M., Sarmento, H., Massart, A. G., Júnior, A. C., … Figueiredo, A. J. (2021). Chronological age, somatic maturation and anthropometric measures: Association with physical performance of young male judo athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6410. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126410
Hamzaoui, H., Messalti, L., & Zerf, M. (2022). Weight categories and their relations with somatotypes of national-level male cadet judokas. Theory and Practice of Physical Culture and Sports, 1(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.31470/2786-6424-2022-1(1)-05-10
Katralli, J., & Goudar, S. S. (2012). Anthropometric profile and special judo fitness levels of Indian judo players. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34710
Kelley, G. A., Kelley, K. S., & Pate, R. R. (2015). Exercise and BMI in overweight and obese children and adolescents: A systematic review and trial sequential meta-analysis. BioMed Research International, 2015, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/704539
Kons, R. L., Dal Pupo, J., Ache-Dias, J., Garcia, T., Rodrigues Da Silva, R., Katicips, L. F. G., & Detanico, D. (2018). Effect of official judo matches on handgrip strength and perceptual responses. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 14(1), 93–99. https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.1835156.578
Noh, J.-W., Kim, J.-H., & Kim, J. (2014). Somatotype analysis of elite judo athletes compared with nonathletes for health science research. Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences, 6(2), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-014-0193-x
Phukon, A. J., Farooque, S., & Dhar, K. (2023). Somatotypes of East-Zone Indian Inter-University Kho-Kho players. Physical Education Theory and Methodology, 23(6), 925–931. https://doi.org/10.17309/tmfv.2023.6.15
Prieske, O., Chaabene, H., Gäbler, M., Herz, M., Helm, N., Markov, A., & Granacher, U. (2020a). Seasonal changes in anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness and the relationships with sporting success in young sub-elite judo athletes: An exploratory study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197169
Prieske, O., Chaabene, H., Gäbler, M., Herz, M., Helm, N., Markov, A., & Granacher, U. (2020b). Seasonal changes in anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness and the relationships with sporting success in young sub-elite judo athletes: An exploratory study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197169
Roklicer, R., Atanasov, D., Sadri, F., Jahic, D., Bojanic, D., Ljubojevic, M., … Drid, P. (2020). Somatotype of male and female judokas according to weight categories. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 12(1), 34–40. https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2020-0005
Sterkowicz-Przybycień, K., Błach, W., & Żarów, R. (2012). Somatotype components in judoists. Journal of Combat Sports and Martial Arts, 3(2), 73–78. https://doi.org/10.5604/20815735.1047651
Torres-Luque, G., Hernandez-Garcia, R., Garatachea, N., & Nikolaidis, P. T. (2015). Anthropometric characteristics and neuromuscular function in young judo athletes by sex, age and weight category. Sport Sciences for Health, 11(1), 117–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-015-0218-0
Uchoa, F., De Souza, A., & De Freitas, V. H. (2020). Effect of uchi-komi prescribed as high-intensity interval training on judo athletes. Revista Andaluza de Medicina Del Deporte, 14(4), 228–232. https://doi.org/10.33155/j.ramd.2020.03.009