Abstract

Objective: To investigate the associations of anthropometric and kinematic variables with temporal efficiency in the harai-goshi and uchi-mata techniques in elite judokas, and to compare performance between sexes.Methods: Forty elite judokas (12 women, 28 men) performed three maximal-speed repetitions of each technique in a motion capture. Kinematic variables (time, linear and angular velocities and accelerations of the foot, knee, and hip) were evaluated across the approach, turning, and throw phases. Anthropometric measures included body mass, height, body mass index (BMI), and lower-limb length. Two-way mixed ANOVA compared techniques and sexes, while Random Forest and multiple linear regression identified variables associated with total execution time.Results: Harai-goshi was performed faster than uchi-mata in both men (0.9 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2 s) and women (0.8 ± 0.2 vs. 1.2 ± 0.3 s; p ≤ 0.004). Men showed higher foot velocities and accelerations in specific phases (p ≤ 0.04), with no sex-by-technique interaction. Kinematic variables consistently showed stronger associations with execution time than anthropometric variables. For uchi-mata, hip angular velocity during the throw phase was the strongest predictor, whereas for harai-goshi, BMI, hip angular velocity during the turning phase, and foot linear velocity during the approach were most important.Conclusions: Temporal efficiency in elite judo techniques was more strongly associated with kinematic than anthropometric variables. Harai-goshi was executed faster than uchi-mata, and the variables associated with execution time differed between techniques, highlighting the importance of optimizing movement velocity, coordination, and timing to improve technical performance.