Influence of hypercapnic hypoxia on functional and special physical fitness in young judokas

Aim was to assess the efficiency of Karbonik respiratory trainer developed by professor Kulikov in 15-16-year-old judokas’ training. Materials and Methods. The study involved two groups of first- and second-category judokas. Each group included 10 athletes of approximately the same physical fitness level. Training of the experimental group used hypoxic hypercapnic gas mixture formed by the above mentioned respiratory trainer. Response of the functional systems to the training program was assessed based on the changes in hypoxic index, timed inspiratory and expiratory capacities, lung capacity, and heart rate; as well as tests reflecting the levels of special physical fitness and sport performance. Results. It was revealed that regular respiratory training via additional volume of dead air breath provided by Karbonik respiratory trainer system contributed to adaptation of a young judoka’s body to hypoxia and hypercapnia, which, in its turn, resulted in improvement of special physical fitness and sport performance. Conclusion. The respiratory trainer due to additional dead space volume creates the conditions of moderate hypoxia and hypercapnia which have a combined positive effect on the increase of special physical fitness and sport performance in young judokas.