PHYSIOLOGICAL, PERFORMANCE, AND NUTRITIONAL PROFILE OF THE BRAZILIAN OLYMPIC WUSHU (KUNG-FU) TEAM

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to determine physiological, nutritional, and performance profiles of elite Olympic Wushu (kung-fu) athletes. Ten men and four women elite athletes took part in the study. They completed the following tests: body composition, nutritional assessment, upper-body Wingate Test, vertical jump, lumbar isometric strength, and flexibility. Blood lactate was determined at rest and after the Wingate Test. Blood lactate was also determined during a training session (combat and Taolu training). We found low body fat (men: 9.5 ± 6.3%; women: 18.0 ± 4.8%), high flexibility (sit-and-reach-men: 45.5 ± 6.1 cm; women: 44.0 ± 6.3 cm), high leg power (vertical jump-men: 37.7 ± 8.4 cm; women: 32.3 ± 1.1 cm), high lumbar isometric strength (men: 159 ± 13 cm; women: 94 ± 6 cm), moderate arm mean and peak power (Wingate Test-men: 4.1 ± 0.4 and 5.8 ± 0.5 W*kg^sup -1^, respectively; women: 2.5 ± 0.3 and 3.4 ± 0.3 W*kg^sup -1^, respectively), and elevated blood lactate after the Wingate Test (men: 10.8 ± 2.0 mmol*L^sup -1^; women: 10.2 ± 2.0 mmol*L^sup -1^) and during training (combat: 12.0 ± 1.8 mmol*L^sup -1^; Taolu: 7.7 ± 3.3 mmol*L^sup -1^). Men athletes consume a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, whereas women consume a moderate, high-carbohydrate diet. Energy consumption was markedly variable. In conclusion, Olympic Wushu seems to be a highly anaerobic-dependent combat sport. Low body fat, high flexibility, leg anaerobic power, isometric strength, and moderately high arm anaerobic power seem to be important for successful competitive performance. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]