International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport

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Cardiorespiratory Responses and Energy

Contribution in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Exercise Sets

Josianne Rodrigues-Krause , Felipe Pereira da Silveira , Juliano Boufleur

Farinha , João Vargas Junior , Camila Marini , Emerson Barata Fragoso &
Alvaro Reischak-Oliveira

To cite this article: Josianne Rodrigues-Krause , Felipe Pereira da Silveira , Juliano Boufleur
Farinha , João Vargas Junior , Camila Marini , Emerson Barata Fragoso & Alvaro Reischak-Oliveira
(2020): Cardiorespiratory Responses and Energy Contribution in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Exercise Sets,
International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2020.1829429

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2020.1829429

Published online: 17 Oct 2020.

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT
https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2020.1829429

Cardiorespiratory Responses and Energy Contribution in

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Exercise Sets
Josianne Rodrigues-Krause, Felipe Pereira da Silveira, Juliano Boufleur Farinha,
João Vargas Junior, Camila Marini, Emerson Barata Fragoso and Alvaro Reischak-
Oliveira
Department of Physical Education, Physiotheraphy and Dance, School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy
and Dance, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

This study aimed to describe cardiorespiratory responses and Received 12 August 2020
energy contribution in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) sets, performed all- Accepted 24 September 2020
out, with different durations. Participants were ten male athletes KEYWORDS
(purple-black belt), aged 26.9 ± 5.8 yrs. They underwent maximal Combat sports; Brazilian Jiu-
oxygen consumption (V̇ O2MAX) and time-to-exhaustion tests. BJJ Jitsu; Oxygen Consumption;
sets were evaluated under different modes (armbar, takedown, Energy expenditure; Interval
guard pass) and durations (30, 60, 90s). V̇ O2 was continuously training
measured during exercise and recovery. BJJ sets were performed
at moderate-high aerobic intensities (62.3–87.7%V̇ O2MAX) at 60
and 90s, for all modes (p ≤ 0.05). V̇ O2PEAK (mL/kg−1/min−1) during
BJJ sets was elevated from 30 to 60s, as follows: armbar 24.6 ± 4.6
vs.35.5 ± 7.0; takedown 32.5 ± 4.4 vs. 43.9 ± 7.7; and guard pass
35.4 ± 8.3 vs. 45.9 ± 8.4. There was no difference between 60 and
90s. Mean values of V̇ O2 (V̇ O2AER) and V̇ O2TOTAL (V̇ O2AER+V̇ O2EPOC)
increased with the duration of the BJJ sets, in accordance with
increased total energy expenditure and aerobic contribution
(Kcal-AER). No differences were found for V̇ O2EPOC, and alactic con­
tribution (Kcal-ALAC) was not affected by either mode or duration.
In conclusion, augmenting the duration of BJJ sets increased exer­
cise intensity, V̇ O2TOTAL and energy expenditure, which was mainly
driven by increases in aerobic contribution.

1. Introduction
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a modality of combat sport characterised by intermittent and
acyclic movements (Øvretveit, 2018). It involves short duration and high-intensity
actions, which combine fight moves performed on the ground and in a standing position
(Andreato et al., 2016). The success of BJJ practitioners in Mixed Martial Arts events over
the last decades has led to an increased number of people looking for the modality, either
at the recreational or sportive level (Morghan, 2016). At the recreational level, the
benefits from an aerobic interval training type, may cover health and fitness benefits
for practitioners with a previous sedentary lifestyle (Hood et al., 2011). At the sportive
level, the conditioning has gained importance on competition preparation, in order to

CONTACT Josianne Rodrigues-Krause rodrigues.krause@ufrgs.br School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy

and Dance, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
© 2020 Cardiff Metropolitan University
2 J. RODRIGUES-KRAUSE ET AL.

delay muscle fatigue onset, support movement efficiency, reduce the incidence of inju­
ries, and improve overall performance (Jones & Ledford, 2012; Ribeiro, Silva, Dantas,
Menezes, Arruda, & Schwingel, 2015).
Specifically, BJJ combats present two phases, standing and ground combat. The
standing combat presents movements similar to judo and wrestling techniques, such as
takedown, hand, hip or foot throwing practicing. Standing combats represent only
a small portion of the time during a combat, but they play decisive roles. For combats
on the ground, athletes present two different styles of fighting, such as: the “guard
fighters”, who apply techniques with the back on the mats, using legs and arms to pull
the opponent; and the “passing guard fighters”, who keep a standing position, normally
kneeling or bending the torso to push the opponent to the mats (Andreato et al., 2016).
The duration of a BJJ match varies based on competition format for all ranks,
following organisation-specific rules. For example, combats may vary from 5 to 10 min
long, according to the level of the athletes (white to black belts) (International-Brazilian-
Jiu-Jitsu-Federation, 2015). Lactate responses (~14.2 mmol.L−1) indicate that BJJ com­
bats are performed at high exercise intensities, eliciting substantial glycolytic pathway
activation (Pereira et al., 2011). Following that, alactic anaerobic pathways play impor­
tant role on fast, explosive and decisive actions (Diaz-Lara et al., 2015). Finally, a well-
developed aerobic foundation is important for substrate re-synthesis between high-
intensity effort periods, delaying muscle fatigue onset and improving performance
(Andreato et al., 2016).
In fact, increased levels of aerobic and anaerobic conditioning have been reported to
optimise performance in other modalities with similar characteristics, such as judo
(Franchini et al., 2014; Franchini et al. 2011) and karate (Beneke et al., 2004; Chaábene
et al., 2015; Doria et al., 2009). Also, improvements in selected functional tests were
found after the insertion of aerobic interval training in the BJJ usual training routine
(Ribeiro, Silva, Dantas, Menezes, Arruda, Schwingel et al., 2015). In this context, an
increased maximal oxygen consumption (V̇ O2MAX) was associated with a reduced reli­
ance on anaerobic processes during sparring, suggesting that aerobic fitness may play
a role on the sustainability of BJJ matches (Øvretveit, 2018).
Directly investigating cardiorespiratory responses and energy contribution from
anaerobic or oxidative pathways during BJJ drills, could be a first step in understanding
the physiology underlying the intermittent nature of the modality. Knowing all-out
efforts of different modes and durations of specific BJJ drills, as well as their zones of
intensity in relation to the athletes’ V̇ O2MAX, may support its potential as an alternative
approach for aerobic high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols specific for BJJ
athletes.
However, the contribution of anaerobic or oxidative pathways, as well as energy
expenditure during and after BJJ sets have not been studied yet. Therefore, the aim of
this study was to describe acute cardiorespiratory responses and energy contribution of
selected BJJ exercise sets, performed all-out, with different durations. Additionally,
number of all-out repetitions of each BJJ set, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE)
were evaluated.
 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT 3

2. Methods
2.1. Subjects
Ten male BJJ athletes, aged in between 20 and 40 years old (mean age 26.9 ± 5.8 yrs),
volunteered for this study. Participants’ body mass was 78.1 ± 4.8 kg, muscle mass
51.1 ± 2.7 kg, and total fat mass, 23.8 ± 2.4 kg. They have practiced BJJ for
7.8 ± 2.5 yrs, currently training at advanced technical level. All of them were involved
in national and international competitions, and graded as purple, brown or black belt in
BJJ. They were instructed to keep their diet habits, as well as not to perform any unusual
exercise before the study assessments, which occurred at post-competition period. They
signed an informed consent form, previously approved by the local ethics committee.

2.2. Study Design

The experimental design of this study consisted of four sessions, including a preliminary
session of assessments, and specific sessions for the performance of BJJ exercises. The
three BJJ sets (armbar, takedown or guard pass) were randomly performed during the
three BJJ sessions of assessment, with 30 min break in between them. One single duration
(30, 60 or 90s) was randomly selected to be performed in each session. There was
a minimal interval of 48 hours between the sessions, and a maximum of two weeks
between the first and last test session. This experimental design enabled us to isolate the
BJJ sets and the selected duration of efforts, in order to avoid any carry-over effect on the
cardiorespiratory demands examination. All the experiments reported in the manuscript
were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration.

2.3. Experimental Procedures

2.3.1. Preliminary Session
In the first visit to the laboratory, the following assessments were performed: body
composition measurements, incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), and
TTE test.
Firstly, body composition was assessed using a five-component method, following the
standards of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)
(Marfell-Jones et al., 2006). Participants’ standing height was measured using
a stadiometer (1 mm resolution), with shoes off and head at the Frankfort horizontal
plane. Body mass was assessed using an Urano scale (100 g resolution). Skin folds were
measured using a scientific caliper (Cescorf). An anthropometric tape (Cescorf) was also
used for other measurements.
Secondly, V̇ O2MAX was assessed by an incremental CPET performed on a treadmill.
Oxygen consumption (V̇ O2) was measured breath-by-breath, by a portable open circuit
spirometry system (K5 Cosmed, Italy). The protocol of testing started with a warm-up
jogging at 8.0 km/h for 3 min, followed by increments of 1 km/h every minute until
exhaustion. There was a recovery period of 3 min walking at 5.0 km/h. Heart Rate (HR)
was measured continuously using wireless chest belt telemetry (K5 Wireless HR,
Cosmed, Italy). RPE was asked after each speed increment. Subjects were verbally
4 J. RODRIGUES-KRAUSE ET AL.

encouraged to perform at maximum effort during the test. The test ended if the
participant reached volitional fatigue, a respiratory exchange ratio ≥ 1.15, HR ≥ 95% of
age-predicted maximum HR (220–age), RPE ≥ 17 (Borg scale 6–20) and/or a tendency to
a plateau in V̇ O2 under systematic increases in workload (Howley et al., 1995).
A plateau in V̇ O2 was defined as any two 30-sec V̇ O2 values in which the second was
not higher than the first, provided increases in ventilation at maximal effort. Increases in
V̇ O2 must have been less than 2.0 mL/Kg−1/min−1, with continuous increases in exercise
intensity. V̇ O2MAX was considered the highest 30-s average V̇ O2 during the plateau. In
addition, increases in ventilation despite achievement of a plateau were observed, in
order to ensure that the subject had reached the respiratory compensation point caused
by metabolic acidosis. Maximal heart rate (HRMAX) was considered the highest HR value
of the last minute of the test (Dekerle et al., 2003; Edvardsen et al., 2014). Three
independent reviewers analysed the data.
Following that, a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) test was performed, using a supra-
maximal effort protocol, also performed on a treadmill. After sitting down in a chair
for 5 min, a 3 min warm-up was performed, walking or jogging at a speed corresponding
to 50% of the maximum speed (VMAX) of the participants. Then, the speed was drama­
tically increased to 110% of VMAX (110% VMAX) and should be maintained as long as
possible, until the participant reached exhaustion (Bertuzzi et al., 2016). The recovery was
assessed for 10 min, with the participant in a seated position, in order to analyse the
excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). For safety of the participants,
a climber chair system was used, allowing the subject to be suspended after finishing
the test. There was 30 min rest in between V̇ O2MAX and TTE tests.

2.3.2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Sessions

The following three visits to the laboratory were designated for the BJJ exercise sets
performance. The sessions started evaluating resting V̇ O2, with the participant seated in
a chair for 5 min. After that, a standardised warm-up was performed on a treadmill, at
a speed corresponding to 50% VMAX. Then, three BJJ exercise sets (drills) were per­
formed: armbar (from guard), takedown (double-leg) and guard pass (knee on belly).
They were selected in order to represent three different postures of BJJ combats, requir­
ing distinct technical skills: i) standing fight (takedown), ii) guard passing, and iii)
finalisation (armbar). They are representative of important actions in BJJ, and possibly
generalised to real-life settings. Each set was performed alternating right and left sides, as
many repetitions as possible (all-out). Participants were verbally encouraged to perform
up to their maximum effort. All sessions were video-recorded, in order to analyse the
number of repetitions performed for each BJJ set.
The three BJJ sets (armbar, takedown and guard pass) were randomly performed
during the three BJJ sessions of assessment, with 30 min break in between them. One
single duration (30, 60 or 90s) was randomly selected to be performed in each session.
There was 30 min break in between the BJJ sets (10 min with gases analyses for EPOC
measurements, 20 min without). There was a partner of similar body mass (<10%
difference comparing both partners) acting as the opponent for the performance of the
BJJ sets. The opponent was instructed to not offer any resistance to the moves performed
by the participant of the study. This meant to focus on the level of effort during the
 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT 5

selected BJJ technical skill, performed all-out, and under time intervals widely used for
HIIT protocols (Gibala & Jones, 2013; Gillen et al., 2014).
After the performance of each BJJ set, EPOC was evaluated during 10 min recovery, in
a seated position. V̇ O2 and HR were continuously measured throughout all the BJJ
sessions (K5 Cosmed, Italy). RPE was asked after each rest period between the BJJ sets.
An experienced instructor (black belt degree in BJJ) familiarised the participants with the
specific BJJ sets to be performed. See Figure 1 for the protocol of testing of the BJJ
sessions. Figure 2 describes in detail each BJJ set performed.
For each BJJ session, the following variables were analysed: V̇ O2PEAK: the highest value
of V̇ O2 attained during the performance of BJJ sets; V̇ O2AER: mean V̇ O2 values measured
during the BJJ sets; V̇ O2EPOC mean V̇ O2 measured during 10 min after the performance
of the BJJ sets; and V̇ O2TOTAL: the sum of V̇ O2AER and V̇ O2EPOC. HR was also measured
over the whole sessions.
To calculate total energy expenditure (T-Kcal), as well as the contribution of aerobic
(Kcal-AER) and alactic anaerobic (Kcal-ALAC) systems, the software for exercise phy­
siology GEDAE-Lab was used (Bertuzzi et al., 2016). Aerobic contribution (V̇ O2AER) was
calculated from the incremental area under the curve of the V̇ O2 during the BJJ sets
(subtracting V̇ O2 rest from V̇ O2 effort), using the trapezoidal method. Alactic contribu­
tion was calculated by measuring the fast component of V̇ O2EPOC, which was further
adjusted to a bi or mono-exponential curve (Artioli et al., 2012).

2.4. Statistical Analyses

A sample size of 10 subjects was previously calculated by G-Power software (version 3.1),
considering a 5% chance of type I error, 80% statistical power, and an effect size of 0.6.
Data analysis was performed using the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences

Figure 1. Protocol of testing for cardiorespiratory analysis of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sets. Pre-exercise
: seated rest and jogging warm-up on a treadmill. Exercising: random all-out performance of BJJ
(Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) sets (armbar, takedown or guard pass) for 30, 60 or 90 s. Post-exercise: 10 min
recovery. Oxygen consumption and heart rate were measured continuously the sessions. BBJ:. REP:
Rate of perceived exertion.
6 J. RODRIGUES-KRAUSE ET AL.

Figure 2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exercise sets (drills) performed all-out. A: Armbar: starting with the
participant of the study in supine position, with the legs around the partner’s waist. Partner had knees
on the floor, seating on heels. The participant performed a trunk rotation of 90°, simultaneously to
a hip escape, and passing one leg over the neck of the partner, side to side. B. Takedown: starting with
both fighters in a standing position, face to face, legs apart. The participant of the study (right side)
performs a quick squat, simultaneously placing his shoulder against to the partner’s hip (left side),
while griping his knees. Participant returns to the starting position and repeat the same to the other
side. C. Guard pass: starting with the participant of the study placing his hands on partners’ knees.
Partner in supine position, knees bent, feet on the floor. Participant push off the partner’s knees with
one hand (the other one on partner’s torso), thronging his legs to one side, and shifting to the other
side, by going with his knee towards to the partner’s belly. Participant returns to the starting position
and repeat the same to the other side. Final positions on the pictures refer to right and left sides of the
participant of the study (in black T-shirt picture A, and white in B and C).

18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). Data normality was verified by Shapiro-Wilk test.
Comparisons of the physiological measurements V̇ O2, HR and energy expenditure
were conducted through two separated One-Way ANOVA, with the factors mode
(armbar, takedown and guard pass) and duration (the 30, 60 or 90 s) of BJJ sets. When
an interaction was observed, Tukey post-hoc test was used, with a significance level of
95% (p ≤ 0.05). Results were described as mean and standard deviation (SD).

3. Results
All the 10 BJJ athletes completed the CPET and TTE tests. There were no drop outs
during the time of the study. No adverse events were reported. Data from CPET and TTE
tests are described in Table 1.
Cardiorespiratory responses to BJJ sets showed that V̇ O2 was affected by both, mode
and duration. V̇ O2PEAK was elevated from 30 to 60s in the three BJJ sets performed. There
 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT 7

Table 1. Cardiorespiratory responses from the incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (maximal
effort) and time to exhaustion test (supramaximal effort).
Parameter Mean ± SD
Maximal effort
VO2MAX (mL/kg/min) 56.7 ± 3.4
HRMAX (bpm) 185.1 ± 9.8
RERMAX (a.u) 1.14 ± 0.05
Test duration (min) 9.1 ± 1.25
VMMAX(Km/h) 17.5 ± 1.0
Supramaximal effort
110% VMAX (Km/h) 19.3 ± 1.1
Time to exhaustion (s) 126.4 ± 9.1
VO2PEAK 55.02 ± .35
VO2AER 7.02 ± 0.68
VO2EPOC 3.52 ± 0.75
VO2TOTAL 10.55 ± 0.8
HRMAX (bpm) 181.2 ± 8.6
RERMAX (a.u) 1.15 ± 0.08
V̇ O2MAX: maximal oxygen consumption. HRMAX: maximal heart rate. V̇ MAX: maximal velocity. V̇ O2PEAK: peak V̇ O2 value
attained in the time to exhaustion test. V̇ O2AER: mean V̇ O2 values measured during supra-maximal test. V̇ O2EPOC: mean
V̇ O2 during 6 min of recovery after the supra-maximal test. V̇ O2TOTAL: the sum of V̇ O2AER and V̇ O2EPOC.

was no difference comparing 60 with 90s for any set. Considering mode, V̇ O2PEAK during
armbar was lower than guard pass at 30, 60 and 90s; and lower than takedown at 30 and
90s. No differences were found in between takedown and guard pass at any duration.
Considering duration, V̇ O2PEAK at 60 and 90s was greater than 30s for all BJJ sets, with no
difference between 60 and 90s. In addition, the three BJJ sets performed during 60 and
90s reached moderate to high aerobic intensities. Please, see Table 2.
V̇ O2TOTAL and V̇ O2AER increased along with duration during the three BJJ sets,
according to increased total energy expenditure (Kcal-T) and aerobic contribution (Kcal-
AER). On the other hand, there was no difference on V̇ O2EPOC for either mode or
duration of the BJJ sets, and alactic contribution (Kcal-ALAC) was not affected. Please,
see Figure 3.
Number of all-out repetitions varied across mode and duration of BJJ sets. Takedown
was the set with the lowest number of repetitions in all durations, while armbar and
guard pass showed similar number of repetitions. Regarding index of performance,
armbar presented a drop in the number of reps/s at 60s and 90s, while takedown and
guard pass were similar. HR and RPE did not show any difference considering either
mode or duration of the BJJ sets. Please, see Table 2.

4. Discussion
The main finding of this study was that augmenting the duration of the BJJ sets increased
their total oxygen consumption, which was mainly driven by increases in aerobic con­
tribution. This elicits increases in total energy expenditure, along with increases in
aerobic contribution for BJJ sets of longer duration. However, there were no effects of
either mode or duration of BJJ sets on V̇ O2EPOC, and alactic contribution was not
affected. Also, V̇ O2TOTAL of BJJ sets performed in a stand position (takedown and
guard pass) was higher than the one performed on the ground (armbar).
8 J. RODRIGUES-KRAUSE ET AL.

Figure 3. Energy contribution during different modes (armbar, takedown and guard pass) and lenghs
(30, 60 and 90 s) of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sets performance. *Means different from 30 s. +Means different
from 60 s. #Different from Arm-Lock. T-Kcal: Total energy expenditure. Kcal-AER: aerobic contribution.
Kcal-ALAC: alactic anaerobic contribution.

Practical applications of characterising cardiorespiratory responses and energy con­

tributions in BJJ are mainly based in understanding which zones of intensity and peak
workloads specific BJJ exercises can attain. Knowing that BJJ drills can reach moderate-
vigorous cardiorespiratory responses to all-out efforts of different modes, indicate that
BJJ training can be modulated to reach moderate-high aerobic intensities. Following that,
HIIT protocols might be specially designed for BJJ athletes. Our results suggest that BJJ
drills, performed in a standing position, during 60–90s intervals, might be used as an
alternative approach for breaking possible plateaus in exercise intensity found in BJJ
training. Understanding aerobic and anaerobic contribution during BJJ performance,
might provide insights on the manipulation of different training variables that compose
HIIT protocols, such as exercise type, duration, intensity, number of repetitions, among
others (Buchheit & Laursen, 2013). Indeed, providing high-intensity cardiorespiratory
stimulus, under a skill-based manner, at regular bases, positively impacts athletes’
Table 2. Cardiorespiratory responses of different modes and lengths of BJJ sets (n=10). Number of repetitions (all-out), index of performance and rate of perceived
exertion are also described. Results in mean ± SD.
Mode Length % V̇ O2PEAK % V̇ O2MAX V̇ O2AER V̇ O2EPOC % V̇ O2EPOC V̇ O2TOTAL HR Reps IP RPE
(mL/kg/min) (LO2) (LO2) (LO2) (bpm) (Reps/s)
Armbar 30 s 24.6 ± 4.6 43.4% 0.69 ± 0.15 1.56 ± 0.37 44% 2.34 ± 0.48 131 ± 21 26 ± 3 0.86 15 (9 - 15)
60 s 35.5 ± 7.0* 62.6% 2.16 ± 0.46* 1.84 ± 0.69 52% 4.00 ± 0.64* 153 ± 18 49 ± 6 0.82# 15 (10 - 18)
90 s 36.0 ± 5.8* 63.5% 3.54 ± 0.87*+ 1.60 ± 0.72 45% 5.13 ± 0.99*+ 145 ± 27 68 ± 8 0.75+ 15 (13 - 19)
Takedown 30 s 32.6 ± 4.6# 57.5% 1.03 ± 0.19# 2.16 ± 0.72 61% 3.21 ± 0.76# 146 ± 11 19 ± 3 0.64* 11 (10 - 17)
60 s 43.8 ± 8.2* 77.2% 2.74 ± 0.78* 2.70 ± 0.88# 77% 5.44 ± 1.49*# 57 ± 12 33 ± 3 0.56*# 17 (10 - 20)
90 s 47.0 ± 5.7*# 82.9% 4.59 ± 0.63*+ # 2.48 ± 1.06 70% 7.06 ± 1.25*+# 159 ± 14 51 ± 4 0.57* 15 (15 - 20)
Guard pass 30s v34.7 ± 8.4# 61.2% 1.06 ± 0.38# 2.05 ± 0.66 58% 3.11 ± 0.61# 136 ± 14 26 ± 5 0.87 13 (9 - 19)
60 s 45.2 ± 8.6*# 79.7% 3.10 ± 0.62*# 2.29 ± 1.18 65% 5.40 ± 1.08*# 153 ± 18 47 ± 6 0.78# 13 (11 - 19)
90 s 49.7 ± 6.1*# 87.7% 4.94 ± 0.85*+# 2.42 ± 1.26 69% 7.36 ± 1.37*+# 155 ± 17 68 ± 11 0.77 16 (15 - 20)
V*Mean higher than 30s in the same mode of BJJ set. +Means higher than 60s in the same mode of BJJ set. #Means higher than AB in the same length of BJJ set. V̇ O2PEAK: peak oxygen
consumption attained during BJJ sets performance. % V̇ O2MAX: V̇ O2PEAK expressed as percentage of maximum oxygen uptake. V̇ O2AER: mean V̇ O2 values measured during the BJJ sets (aerobic
contribution). EPOC: Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. V̇ O2EPOC: mean V̇ O2 during 6 min of recovery after the BJJ sets (alactic anaerobic contribution). % V̇ O2EPOC: percentage of
V̇ O2EPOC from the supra-maximal test. V̇ O2TOTAL: the sum of V̇ O2AER and V̇ O2EPOC. HR: heart rate. Reps: number of repetitions. IP (Reps/s): index of performance (repetitions/second). RPE: rating of
perceived exertion, Borg scale 6 -20, values in mode (minimum - maximum).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT
9
10 J. RODRIGUES-KRAUSE ET AL.

V̇ O2MAX by eliciting both, maximal cardiovascular and peripheral adaptations (Buchheit

& Laursen, 2013).
It is known that the aerobic system plays an important role in optimising performance
of all-out efforts of short duration, with different all-out efforts showing aerobic con­
tribution of 20–30% during efforts of 30s, 40–50% for 60s, and 60% for 90s (Gastin,
2001). According to that, we found increments in aerobic contribution of the three BJJ
sets performed at 60 and 90s, when compared with 30s. This may be attributed to higher
intensities attained with this duration of exercise performance, such as guard pass set,
performed at 61.2, 79.7 and 87.7% V̇ O2MAX for 30, 60 and 90s, respectively. Actually,
moderate to high exercise intensities is one of the triggers for increases in oxidative
enzymes activity and mitochondrial biogenesis as a result of aerobic interval training
protocols (Billat, 2001), mainly by maximising the stress on the systems of transport and
utilisation of O2 (Buchheit & Laursen, 2013). Following that, total energy contribution
was also found elevated with increasing duration of all BJJ sets, along with increases in
aerobic contribution.
On the other hand, alactic contribution was not affected, and there was no difference on
̇VO2EPOC with increasing duration of the BJJ sets. In addition, relative index of performance
was superior at 30s, comparing with 60 and 90s, suggesting that the anaerobic component
of 30s efforts may be greater than 60 and 90s. In fact, 30s of maximum effort during the
performance of BJJ sets, generated approximately 44 to 58% of V̇ O2EPOC obtained from
a supra-maximal effort test (110% VMAX). This may represent a relevant contribution for
the V̇ O2EPOC, considering the shorter duration of the BJJ sets (30, 60 or 90s) in comparison
with the supra-maximal protocol (~120s). However, it should be considered that the rapid
component of V̇ O2EPOC can overestimate anaerobic contribution (Bangsbo et al., 1990),
and that the absence of lactate responses limits our analysis.
Nonetheless, at our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating cardiorespiratory
responses and energy contribution of different types of selected BJJ sets, considering all-
out efforts with different durations. Increased aerobic contribution along with the
duration of the BJJ sets suggests that 60 to 90s all-out specific efforts may be used for
HIIT, in order to improve athletes’ V̇ O2MAX (Gastin, 2001). This is of relevance in
a modality that is intermittent in nature, with time motion analysis showing effort/
pause ratios during matches of 6:1 (2–5 min combats) up to 13:1 (10–12 min combats),
under high lactate concentrations (~10 mmol.L−1), and moderate-to-high contribution
of glycolytic pathways (Andreato et al., 2016). Indeed, there is evidence that both aerobic
and anaerobic performances are enhanced by HIIT, from people with very low levels of
fitness to highly trained ones (Gibala & Jones, 2013; Gillen et al., 2014).
The role of exercise intensity in mediating physiological adaptations to aerobic train­
ing relays on both, physiological adaptations from moderate-intensity continuous train­
ing, and also on specific cardiovascular and integrative adaptations to high exercise
intensities (MacInnis & Gibala, 2017). In relation to the former, there are increases in
peripheral capillary density and mitochondrial content, improving skeletal muscle oxi­
dative capacity (maximising activity of citrate synthase, b-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydro­
genase, and protein content of cytochrome oxidase-4, for example) (Gillen et al., 2014).
Particularly, high exercise intensities induce to increases in calcium release, greater ATP
turnover and use of carbohydrates for fuel. The consequent accumulation of metabolites
(H+ ions and free radicals), activates the gene expression for PGC-1α (a transcriptional
 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT 11

factor for genes encoding mitochondrial proteins), resulting in higher mitochondrial

protein synthesis and content (MacInnis & Gibala, 2017).
Following that, working at around the anaerobic threshold improves maximum
cardiac output, maximum stroke volume and blood volume, resulting in increases in
V̇ O2MAX (MacInnis & Gibala, 2017). Indeed, HIIT increases cardiovascular work, anae­
robic glycolytic energy contribution, acute neuromuscular load and musculoskeletal
strain, which results in longer work time at V̇ O2MAX, as well as augmented work capacity
at the anaerobic threshold (Buchheit & Laursen, 2013). At the whole-body level, V̇ O2MAX
is generally more increased by HIIT than moderate intensity continuous training for
a given training volume (MacInnis & Gibala, 2017). This may be of interest of athletes
who desire to optimise the development of technique and conditioning simultaneously.
Increases in V̇ O2MAX result in a greater aerobic reserve, which allows the athletes to relay
longer on oxidative pathways for energy contribution during high-intensity work
(Buchheit & Laursen, 2013). Therefore, muscle fatigue onset is delayed, specially by
improved lactate and metabolic acidosis buffering, resulting in optimised sports perfor­
mance (Buchheit & Laursen, 2013).
Beyond that, BJJ-specific endurance can be, at least in part, attributed to work
economy (Øvretveit, 2018). For example, high-level athletes might rely less on prolonged
isometric contractions during sparring, improving local blood flow and performing
techniques at a lower energy cost (Øvretveit, 2018). However, it seems that BJJ training
has a limited effect on athletes V̇ O2MAX, and consequent-augmented level of reliance on
anaerobic pathways during consecutive sparring (Øvretveit, 2018). Indeed, traditional
BJJ training routines were not as effective as HIIT protocols in improving athletes’
V̇ O2MAX, as well as other performance-related variables, such as BJJ specific speed and
endurance (Ribeiro, Silva, Dantas, Menezes, Arruda, & Schwingel, 2015). Our data
showed increased aerobic contribution during the performance of all out BJJ drills
from 60 to 90s, which may be an alternative for breaking possible plateaus in exercise
intensity found in BJJ training.
Particularly, takedown and guard pass reached high aerobic intensities, and presented
higher V̇ O2TOTAL than armbar, which may be due to the standing vs. ground (supine)
positions of the exercise performance. Similarly, combat standing activities from karate
(Doria et al., 2009) seem to lead to higher aerobic demands (~49 mL/kg/min) than judo falls
practice (~30 mL/kg/min) (Franchini et al., 2014). In point of fact, large muscle groups
recruitment during physical effort can enhance total energy expenditure, mainly due to
increases in V̇ O2 and EPOC of greater magnitude (Farinatti & Castinheiras Neto, 2011).
Notwithstanding, non-sport-specific training approaches have been recently high­
lighted, in order to isolate the physical component, rather than the technical and tactical
aspects (Øvretve, 2020). It is suggested that a favourable shift in the interaction between
energy systems during BJJ combats may be a result of training programmes including
both; non-sport-specific aerobic conditioning (for eliciting improvements in V̇ O2MAX),
and sport-specific training (to elicit anaerobic pathways). In another words, the devel­
opment of general endurance may impact more significantly metabolite accumulation,
exercise tolerance, and recovery times between matches (Øvretve, 2020); whereas com­
bining the use of specific gestures of the sport in HIIT protocols may result in more
efficient technical performances, especially considering decisive moments of the fights
(Ribeiro, Silva, Dantas, Menezes, Arruda, & Schwingel, 2015).
12 J. RODRIGUES-KRAUSE ET AL.

Regarding HR and RPE, they seem not to reflect the V̇ O2 responses to either mode or
duration of BJJ sets, widely varying across the participants. Although these are commonly
used ways of monitoring training intensity, in the case of combat sports, they could be
influenced by the intermittent and acyclic characteristics of the moves, as shown for
dancing (Rodrigues-Krause et al., 2015) and team sports (Schneider et al., 2018). In the
BJJ context, there is a number of aspects which underlie the fact that HR is not an
accurate representation of V̇ O2, as follows (Øvretveit, 2018): i) HR is elevated when there
is significant participation of the arms in the motor actions, ii) numerous isometric
muscle contractions lead to transient increases in blood pressure and consequently HR,
and iii) elevated stress hormone responses in both, simulated and official BJJ competi­
tion, lead to increases in HR. Thus, HR responses to BJJ may be overestimated, which is
supported by a relative higher HR than RPE during BJJ sparring (Øvretveit, 2018).
Considering that, RPE might be a more reliable marker of exercise intensity for BJJ
performance, possibly reflecting cumulative work above the anaerobic threshold
(Øvretveit, 2018). However, when analysing RPE responses, the athletes’ reference of
combat style (standing/ground), as well as self tolerance to physical effort should be
considered. We suggest assessing the number of repetitions of target BJJ drills, as a way to
detect improvements on physical fitness and associated performance of BJJ athletes.
The limitations of this study rely mainly on the fact that the BJJ sets assessed might not
cover the variety of actions that compose a BJJ combat, which is not predictable in nature.
Following that, the lack of correlations in between the laboratory measurements and
appropriate measure in naturalistic practice or in everyday life, limit the ecological
validity of the study. Additionally, the absence of lactate responses limits the analysis
of anaerobic contribution.
As future perspectives, we suggest to evaluate cardiorespiratory and lactate responses to
consecutive BJJ drills, performed with different durations and recovery times. It would
help to better understand aerobic and anaerobic contribution during BJJ performance.
After that, we suggest investigating the long-term effects of HIIT (traditional vs. skill-based
BJJ protocols) on athletes’ V̇ O2MAX and overall markers of performance. Also, real-life
setting analysis should be performed, for further association with laboratory measure­
ments. Lastly, verifying cardiorespiratory responses to BJJ in athletes and practitioners of
different levels would be relevant, using BJJ as an alternative form of exercise intervention
to increase levels of physical activity, overall physical fitness and health-related benefits.

5. Conclusions
BJJ sets performed during 60 and 90s reached moderate to high aerobic intensities.
Augmenting the duration of the BJJ sets increased their total oxygen consumption and
energy expenditure, which was mainly driven by the increases in aerobic contribution.
There was no difference on V̇ O2EPOC or alactic contribution, considering either type or
duration of BJJ sets. Also, V̇ O2TOTAL of takedown and guard pass, performed in
a standing position, was higher than armbar, performed on the ground, attaining high
aerobic intensities.
 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN SPORT 13

Acknowledgments
We thank the School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance (ESEFID), the Postgraduate
Programme in Human Movement Sciences (PPGCMH), and the Laboratory of Research in
Exercise (LAPEX), from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre/RS-
Brazil. We thank CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil)
for supporting J.R-K and J.B.F fellowships; and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento
Científico e Tecnológico) for supporting A.R-O research productive fellowship.

Disclosure statement
The authors have no conflict of interest.

Funding
This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
[Research Productive Fellowship]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
[Postdoc Fellowship]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [PhD
scholarship support].

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