Michele Andrade de Brito

Objective: To examine the association between first scoring-event acquisition and subsequent victory in female Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), accounting for paired opponents and repeated tournament appearances. Methods: This secondary analysis included 211 bouts from the 2020 IBJJF Pan American Championship, representing 286 unique athletes. First scoring was defined as the first positive point-scoring action recorded during the bout; scoreless bouts, including those decided solely by advantages, were excluded from the primary analysis. Conditional logistic regression stratified by bout estimated the primary association, with a paired-comparison mixed-effects model used as a sensitivity analysis for repeated athlete appearances. Technique conversion was compared by chi-square, and timing by Kruskal–-Wallis with Dunn–-Holm post hoc tests. Results: An identifiable first- scoring event occurred in 180/211 bouts (85.3%). The first-scoring athlete won 157/180 bouts (87.2%; 95% CI 81.6–91.3%). First scoring was associated with higher odds of victory (conditional OR = 6.83, 95% CI 4.41–10.57; p < 0.001). Guard passes resulted in 57/61 wins (93.4%), sweeps in 57/66 (86.4%), and takedowns in 35/45 (77.8%). Technique conversion did not reach statistical significance (χ² = 5.49, df = 2, p = 0.064; Cramer’s V = 0.179). Timing differed among techniques (H = 40.23, p < 0.001), with takedowns occurring earliest (median 15 s; IQR 10–41). Conclusions: First scoring was strongly associated with subsequent victory in female BJJ, although causality cannot be inferred from this observational design. Technique-specific conversion showed an exploratory pattern, and takedowns occurred earlier than ground-based scoring actions.

Objective: To investigate the effects of short-term ginger supplementation on physical performance, perceived exertion, and neuromuscular fatigue in CrossFit^® practitioners. Methods: Thirty-two CrossFit^® practitioners were randomly assigned to a Ginger group (n = 17) or a Placebo group (n = 15) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants consumed 2 g·day⁻¹ of ginger or placebo for 9 days. Performance was assessed using a 10 min As Many Repetitions As Possible (AMRAP) test. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and countermovement jump (CMJ) variables were evaluated before and after exercise. Results: Ginger supplementation significantly improved AMRAP performance compared with placebo (241.6 ± 18.2 vs. 225.9 ± 17.5 repetitions; F_1,29 = 5.95, p = 0.021, ηp² = 0.17). Participants in the Ginger group also reported lower RPE values (F_1,29 = 24.11, p ≤ 0.001, ηp² = 0.45). Regarding neuromuscular fatigue, ginger attenuated the decline in CMJ peak force following exercise (F_1,29 = 6.62, p = 0.015, ηp² = 0.18). No significant between-group differences were found for peak power and center of mass displacement. Conclusions: Short-term ginger supplementation improved AMRAP performance, reduced perceived exertion, and attenuated the decline in peak force following exercise in CrossFit^® practitioners. These findings suggest that ginger supplementation may have potential as a natural ergogenic strategy for high-intensity functional exercise; however, further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these effects.

This systematic review investigated the direct association between biomarkers and cognitive performance in adult athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts. Searches in the APA PsycNet, PubMed, Google Scholar, CAPES, and BVSalud databases (11 April 2026) evaluated adult athletes (≥18 years) who used standardized neuropsychological tests and analyzed the association between biomarkers and cognition. Two reviewers performed selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Certainty of evidence was assessed using an adapted GRADE framework. A total of 10,480 records were identified. After removal of 697 duplicate records, they underwent screening and eligibility assessment, resulting in the inclusion of 10 studies. They showed low risk of bias, but sample imprecision reduced the certainty of evidence in 50% of cases. The cognitive domains assessed were memory, attention, processing speed, reaction time, and executive functions. Axonal biomarkers (70% of studies), inflammatory (40%), and synaptic biomarkers (10%). Eighty percent of the studies found a relationship between biological alterations and cognition. The most promising biomarkers associated with cognitive deficits are NfL and GFAP, but due to high methodological heterogeneity, imprecision of estimates (GRADE), and biases, the conclusions are provisional. Caution is recommended in clinical application until prospective studies with larger samples and active control groups confirm the findings.

Background: This study examines the long-term cognitive consequences of repetitive head impact on executive functions in mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters over two years. Methods: Neuropsychological tests assessed executive functions in two groups: competitive (CG; n = 26) and recreational groups (RG; n = 26). Results: A significant interaction between time and group was observed. The CG experienced greater declines in Mental Processing Speed (MPS) after 1 year [4.6 s (3.1; 6.1); p ≤ 0.001] and 2 years [14.6 s (5.1; 24.0); p = 0.003]. Inhibitory control (IC) also declined after 1 year [4.7 a.u. (3.0; 6.2); p ≤ 0.001] and 2 years [10.0 a.u. (11.6; 11.4); p ≤ 0.001]. Cognitive flexibility (CF) showed a pronounced reduction after 1 year [4.8 a.u. (3.0; 6.7); p ≤ 0.001] and 2 years [7.5 a.u. (5.9; 9.1); p ≤ 0.001]. Automatic (AP) and controlled processes (CP), as well as direct (DM) and indirect memory (IM), also showed significant impairments in CG. Conclusions: These findings highlight the detrimental effects of MMA competitions on cognitive function, emphasizing the need for monitoring and interventions to preserve fighters’ health and performance.

Introduction: Combat sport athletes are more likely to suffer concussions because one of the goals is to knock out an opponent and apply blows during the fight. Objective: To analyze the mechanisms of concussion specific to combat sports and identify the most prevalent signs and symptoms that affect athletes after concussion. Methods: The PRISMA protocol was applied, searches were performed in electronic databases using the descriptors: Athletes, Fighting, Martial Arts, Combat Sports, Concussion, Brain Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury, Physical Symptoms and Motivational Symptoms. The identification and peer selection process were performed using the Rayyan software. We then extracted the articles which met the eligibility criteria for qualitative analysis, using the Risk of Bias Used for Surveys tool. Results: A total of 912 articles were identified, 90 duplicates and 81 bibliographic reviews, leaving 65 articles for reading the abstracts. Of these, 46 were excluded according to the eligibility criteria, including 19 articles. Regarding exposure to concussion, 70.2% were related to the number of fights performed and 29.8% fighters. The sports modalities were 45.5% MMA, 18.2% boxing, 9.1% taekwondo, 9.1% karate and 9.1% kickboxing. The injuries found were divided into 27.2% traumatic brain injury and 72.8% concussion. According to the signs and symptoms identified, 55.2% were physical and 44.8% motivational. Conclusion: The frequency of fights is a determining factor for the incidence of concussions in combat sport athletes and the post-concussion symptoms showed significant physical and motivational manifestations, which represent barriers to the technical-tactical development of athletes.

This study investigates the acute effects of CrossFit training on cognition and physiological parameters across different performance stages. We focused on evaluating the impact of such training on both the mental and physical performance of athletes classified as Elite, Advanced, and Beginners. The objective was to explore how CrossFit, known for its high-intensity and varied functional movements, influences cognitive functions and physiological responses in athletes of varying expertise. By comparing these groups both before and after the Workout of the Day (WOD), we aimed to understand the relationship between CrossFit training intensity and cognitive and physiological changes. Methodologically, our approach involved categorizing our sample into three groups: Elite (n=7), Advanced (n=10), and Beginners (n=15). We conducted comprehensive assessments of each participant's cognitive and physiological parameters pre- and post-WOD. The results revealed notable differences in performance time, with Elite athletes showing significantly quicker times compared to Advanced and Beginners. Cognitive functions, particularly executive functions like reading, counting, choice-making, shifting, inhibition, and flexibility, also varied significantly across the groups. Physiological measurements, including lactate stages and heart rate, further highlighted these differences. Remarkably, Elite athletes exhibited a 13.1 mmol average lactate level, lower than their counterparts, and a higher average heart rate of 188.0 bpm. In terms of cognitive functions, differences were observed in various executive tasks, showcasing the nuanced impact of high-intensity exercise on cognitive abilities. In conclusion, our study provides compelling evidence that high-intensity CrossFit training positively influences executive functions. These findings are quantified through substantial variations in performance times, executive function tasks, lactate stages, and heart rates, offering critical insights into the multidimensional benefits of CrossFit training across different competitive stages.

The present study related to boxing athletes' mental toughness and physical fitness performances with Big Five Factors. For this, the sample was composed of eleven recreational boxers who competed at the state level and were regularly training (technical and tactical) 4 times a week during the evaluation period. The 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI) measures the Big Five dimensions of Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, and Extraversion and the 14-item Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) were applied with Strength, Power, and Endurance Tests, Pearson and Spearman's correlations were used to verify the association between BFI, physical and mental tests, respectively, p≤.05. Our results demonstrated that significant and strong correlation between agreeableness factor and sit-ups test, with 40.85±12.36 freq./min (r=.72, p=.02) and, in SMTQ, a strong correlation between Neuroticism and Control [10(9;12) score, r=.76, p≤0.01], Constancy [10(9;12) score, r=.84, p≤0.01] and Total SMQT [37(34;37) score, r=.84, p≤0.01]. In conclusion, these results suggest that Neuroticism factors are associated with mental toughness, while the agreeableness factor is related to muscular endurance capability. Mental toughness and endurance results are associated with boxers' personalities whose drive motivates them relentlessly towards success and promotes thriving in boxing training environments or during championships.

Present study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of cross training benchmarck on the physiological parameters associated with mental abilities according to performance. Thirty-two practitioners were divided according to their performance, Elite Group (n = 07) Advanced Group (n = 10) and Beginner group (n = 15). This research compares groups and pre-WOD and post-WOD. Result showed significance concerning the performance in WOD Fran (E: 177.1±29.8s <A: 314.3±46.8s and I: 538.2±102.1s), total robustness (A: 50.20±5.24 ˃ E: 43.86±7.47 and I: 43.47±5.81) and control (A: 22.20±3.36 ˃ E: 20.14±3.93 and 19.07±3.65), lactate (E: 13.1±1.8mmol <A: 15.1±3.2mmol and I: 16.1±3.7mmol), heart rate (E : 188.0±6.6bpm ˃ A: 174.1±16.1bpm and I: 185.1±8.9bpm), systolic blood pressure (E: 149.7±11.5mmHg <A: 151.0±9.2mmHg and I: 152.5±8.1mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (E: 73.4±6.2mmHg ˃ A: 72.8±9.6mmHg and I: 69.3±7.1mmHg). Significant correlations in the Elite group in lactate and appearance and systolic blood pressure and choice. Advanced Group significant correlations in WOD time and extroversion, lactate and confidence and heart rate and reading. Beginner Group significant correlations in WOD time and Achievement, lactate and constancy and lactate and flexibility. Present study concluded that about mental abilities, Advanced level athletes showed greater total strength than athletes from Elite and Beginner groups.

This study aimed to determine the impact of a soccer game on the creatine kinase (Ck) response and recovery and the specific Global Positioning System (GPS)-accelerometry-derived performance analysis during matches and comparing playing positions. A sample composed of 118 observations of 24 professional soccer teams of the Brazil League Serie A was recruited and classified according to playing positions, i.e., Left/Right Defenders (D = 30, age: 25.2 ± 5.8 years, height: 187 ± 5.5 cm, weight: 80 ± 5.8 kg), Offensive Midfielders (OM = 44, age: 25.1 ± 0.2 years, height: 177 ± 0.3 cm, weight: 73 ± 1.2 kg), Forwards (F = 9, age: 25.1 ± 0.2 years, height: 176.9 ± 4.3 cm, weight: 74.5 ± 2.1 kg), Left/Right Wingers (M = 23, age: 24.5 ± 0.5 years, height: 175 ± 1.1 cm, weight: 74 ± 4.4 kg), and Strikers (S = 12, age: 28 ± 0.2 years, height: 184 ± 1.0 cm, weight: 80 ± 1.4 kg). Blood Ck concentration was measured pre-, immediately post-, and 24 h postgame, and the GPS-accelerometry parameters were assessed during games. Findings demonstrated that Ck concentrations were higher at all postgame moments when compared with pregame, with incomplete recovery markers being identified up to 24 h after the game (range: 402–835 U/L). Moreover, Midfielders (108.6 ± 5.6 m/min) and Forwards (109.1 ± 8.3 m/min) had a higher relative distance vs. other positions (100.9 ± 10.1 m/min). Strikers [8.2 (8.1, 9.05) load/min] and Defenders [8.45 (8, 8.8) load/min] demonstrated lower load/min than Wingers [9.5 (9.2, 9.8) load/min], Midfielders [10.6 (9.9, 11.67) load/min], and Forwards [11 (10.65, 11, 15) load/min]. These results could be used to adopt specific training programs and recovery strategies after match according to the playing positions.