Body symmetry/asymmetry in youth judokas in the under 73 kg category

Background. The anthropometric status of judokas is most frequently measured in samples containing judokas in all weight categories. It is therefore essential to undertake research into specific weight categories. Problem and aim. This study seeks to examine the status of body symmetry in youth judokas in the under 73 kg category. Methods. A group of Slovenian youth judokas (n=10, age: 17.28 ± 1.46 years; height: 177.53 ± 3.71 cm; weight: 73.86 ± 3.01 kg) were recruited for this study. 3D anthropometric measurement of the judokas' bodies was performed by the NX-16 ([TC]2, 3D body scanner Cary, North Carolina). Using software, we extracted values for 15 paired variables. To determine the differences in symmetries we used a paired T-Test with statistical significance set at p = 0.05. Results. In five variables we found statistically significant differences between right and left body pairs. Those were elbow girth t(9)=4.08, p = 0.003, forearm girth t(9)=2.84, p = 0.019, thigh girth t(9)=3.87, p = 0.004, mid-thigh girth t(9)=5.81, p = 0.000 and calf girth t(9)=2.45, p = 0.037. Conclusions. It is of great importance for right hand-stance dominant judokas to train their nage waza - throwing techniques - bilaterally to achieve increased technical-tactical solutions in a judo bout and also to develop their morphological characteristics in a symmetrical direction. Those factors will help reduce the dropout rate and will contribute to the systematic and healthy development of youth athletes into competitive senior judokas.