Reliability of Specific High-Intensity Interval Exercise Protocol for Judo Athletes.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the reliability of the high-intensity intermittent uchi-komi exercise protocol in judo athletes, considering the number of repetitions and rating of perceived exertion. METHODS: Twenty-three male judo athletes performed the high-intensity intermittent uchi-komi protocol across 3 visits (1 familiarization and 2 testing sessions). The protocol consisted of 12 sets of 20-second all-out hikidashi movements interspersed with 10-second passive recovery. Repetitions per set and rating of perceived exertion (Borg 6-20) were recorded. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and typical error of measurement. RESULTS: The main results indicated predominantly moderate reliability across sets (ICC = .53-.72), with good reliability observed in SET4 and SET8 (ICC = .76-.77) and poor reliability in SET1 and SET12 (ICC = .46). Total repetitions showed moderate reliability (ICC = .75), as did rating of perceived exertion (ICC = .66). Typical error of measurement ranged from 1.89 to 3.50 repetitions across sets. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that high-intensity intermittent uchi-komi exercise provides acceptable reliability for practical applications, particularly when total repetitions are considered, supporting its use in the monitoring and assessment of judo athletes.