Scientists Discover the Secrets of Martial Arts

Energy expended by the martial arts expert now can be analyzed through science. The trick, the researchers used a tool that resembles a gas mask combined with a special jacket.

Martial arts such as karate, judo, and taekwondo have been popular for years. However, scientists have only been able to learn the sport in a predictable and easily be reconstructed in the laboratory. Now, technological advances have helped them in order to study the unique sports such as judo.

Live Science proclaimed, every sport needs three energy systems. The first is the aerobic metabolism that uses oxygen to convert nutrients into energy. Second, when in need of more intensive energy boost, lactic anaerobic metabolism of glucose and produce energy leaving lactic acid.

Third, for a very short burst of energy, alactic anaerobic metabolism without oxygen and produce energy without producing lactic acid.

In order to know the relative contribution of each energy system in judo, judo practitioners scientists asked to wear a gas analyzer tool poetabel (his form similar to the gas mask), and a special jacket.

The tool helps the scientists also noted how much oxygen is consumed before and after exercise, and lactic acid content before and after exercise.

In one trial, judoka throws made three different forms for five minutes. The scientists found that some of the throws require high aerobic activity, such as on a sheet shoulder (seoi-nage). While others require anaerobic activity, such as the sweep of the hip (harai-Goshi).

"Knowing the physical demands of each exercise and judo techniques can improve the effectiveness of training athletes," said Emerson Franchini, sports scientist at the University of Sao Paolo.

"We are also focusing on the recovery process on the sidelines of the game. In fighting sports, athletes normally compete on the same day. Recovery on the sidelines of the two games has important implications for performance," he added.