Nutrition in Combat Sports

19 Kickboxing 335
Photo courtesy of Andrew C. Villasis. Note the addition
of padding for the elbows and thoracoabdominal region per these rules.
Fig. 19.4 Amateur kickboxers, Thai rules (Photo courtesy of Andrew C. Villasis. Note the addition
of padding for the elbows and thoracoabdominal region per these rules)
19.4 Rules Related to Sports Medicine
A kickboxing match is typically divided into rounds of 2–4 min each with a rest of
1–2 min between each round. A Thai kickboxing match often consists of 3–5
rounds, while other styles of kickboxing may have more than 12 rounds per match.
A competitor seeks victory by (1) disabling his or her opponent via any permutation
of techniques, or (2) outscoring an opponent by landing blows more frequently and
decisively (Table 19.1 ).
19.5 Training and Physiology
Bioenergetics underlies physiology and should be considered when designing a
kickboxing training regimen. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) serves as an immediate
source of energy for muscle contraction and its replenishment is core to sustained
performance. [9] ATP is replenished through anaerobic and aerobic metabolism.
Anaerobic metabolism includes the phosphocreatine-based phosphagen system and
the lactic acid-producing anaerobic glycolysis system. The phosphagen system
is most active through the first 10–15 s of maximal-intensity exercise, whereas
anaerobic glycolysis predominates if the effort lasts greater than 10–15 s. For efforts