Temporal Structure of Para Judo Combat: Influence of the New Sport Classes and Weight Categories in Elite Male Athletes

The aim was to analyze the impact of recent Para Judo rule modifications on the temporal structure of combat in elite male judo athletes with visual impairment, considering new sport classes (J1, J2) and weight categories. An observational study analyzed 205 matches from the 2022 International Blind Sports Federation Judo World Championships using the Observed Temporal System for Judo Combat v.2 instrument. Significant differences emerged between sport classes: J1 combats were less fragmented, with longer pauses, groundwork, displacement, and gripping times poststoppage. J2 combats were more fragmented, involving shorter, dynamic sequences. Heavier Para Judo athletes (-90 kg, +90 kg) showed longer standing sequences, pauses, and gripping durations, indicating deliberate recovery strategies. Across all weights, J1 Para Judo athletes experienced longer pauses, reflecting greater temporal demands from total blindness. Results validate the competitive separation of J1 and J2 and emphasize tailored training strategies according to sport class and weight category. Specific temporal structure models support individualized Para Judo training planning.