Relationship between physical fitness, attacks and effectiveness in short- and long-duration judo matches

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical performance and attack attempts and effectiveness in official judo matches with different durations. Thirty-eight judo athletes participated in this study and performed the countermovement jump (CMJ), handgrip strength test (HGS), Judogi Grip Strength Test (JGST) and Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT). Official matches were filmed for technical-tactical analysis. The key results showed that male athletes exhibited higher performance in the CMJ and HGS than the female group (p < 0.05). The number of attacks was correlated with the HGS (r = 0.41) and effectiveness was correlated with JGST (r = 0.34, r = 0.43) in matches lasting shorter than 2 min (male group). In longer matches, valid combat time was positively correlated with the throws in the SJFT in the male group (r = 0.46) and negatively correlated in the female group (r = -0.62). We concluded that the number of attacks, valid combat time and effectiveness showed particularities between male and female groups in short- and long-duration judo matches. HGS for males and an anaerobic capacity indicator for females were important in shorter matches, whereas in longer matches, anaerobic capacity was relevant only for males.