Physiological responses/energy cost during muaythai...

Thought I'd share a recent publication AXers may find interesting.

Muay Thai is a martial art that requires complex skills and tactical excellence for success. However, the energy demand during a Muay Thai competition has never been studied. This study was devised to obtain an understanding of the physiological capacities underlying Muay Thai performance. To that end, the aerobic energy expenditure and the recruitment of anaerobic metabolism were assessed in 10 male athletes during a simulation match of Muay Thai. Subjects were studied while wearing a portable gas analyzer, which was able to provide data on oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, and heart rate (HR). The excess of CO2 production (CO2 excess) was also measured to obtain an index of anaerobic glycolysis. During the match, group energy expenditure was, on average (mean +/- standard error of the mean), 10.75 +/- 1.58 kcal.min-1, corresponding to 9.39 +/- 1.38 metabolic equivalents. Oxygen uptake and HRs were always above the level of the anaerobic threshold assessed in a preliminary incremental test. CO2 excess showed an abrupt increase in the first round, and reached a value of 636 +/- 66.5 mL.min-1. This parameter then gradually decreased throughout the simulation match. These data suggest that Muay Thai is a physically demanding activity with great involvement of both the aerobic metabolism and anaerobic glycolysis. In particular, it appears that, after an initial burst of anaerobic glycolysis, there was a progressive increase in the aerobic energy supply. Thus, training protocols should include exercises that train both aerobic and anaerobic energetic pathways.

Crisafulli A, Vitelli S, Cappai I, Milia R, Tocco F, Melis F, Concu A.

Its good to see a study like this done but they wernt real fights.if they were iam sure the NRG loss would be alot more
I think a thaiboxing match is nearly all anaerobic because at the most 5 BY 3mins with 2mins rest.boxing or kickboxing might go more in2 aerobic with the likes of 10 + 12 rounds.
Anaerobic training will also make you faster,stronger,sharper,more powerful + aswel as letting you know what it feels like to have ur heart rate through the roof + ur lungs about to burst.It can be scary if you havnt trained much like this + in a fight its all new to you

My opinion..

Energy expenditure is movement and muscle specific. An elite runner will tire on a bike and an elite biker cannot keep up with a runner cardio wise.

Doing 10 squats, then a hand peddle bike, then run, then something else without a break works the different energy systems in the muscles used. Its not all about breathing.

There is also a stop and go element. Explode, rest, explode, rest... at least to a degree. Very different than jogging or running for 3 minutes.

I agree with mugger that there is an anaerobic component. That will barely get trained if one trains aerobically... (yes they all blend together..)

Kicking, then punching, then moving, then punch and clinch... are all using the body differently and coming back more to anaerobic then if it was a steady state jog or run...

Over all the closer you can simulate to a fight in terms of what you are doing, how long and how many rounds etc the closer you come to training the correct energy system combination... imo