Judo specific fitness test performance variation from morning to evening: specific warm-ups impacts performance and its diurnal amplitude in female judokas

BACKGROUND: A number of specific tests are used to standardize competition performance. Specific Judo fitness test (SJFT) can be applied by considering the start of the competition qualifiers in the morning and the continuation of the final competitions in the evening. The improvement of test performances can be achieved with warm-up for elevating heart rate (HR) and muscle temperature such as raise, activate, mobilise, potentiate (RAMP) protocols. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different warm-up protocols on SJFT at different times of the day in female judokas. METHODS: Ten volunteer women participated in this study, who regularly participated in judo training for more than 5 years and actively competed in international competitions. Judokas completed SJFT, either after no warm-up, or RAMP protocols like specific warm-up (SWU), and dynamic warm-up for two times a day in the morning: 09:00–10:00 and in the evening: 16:00–17:00, with at least 2 days between test sessions. The following variables were recorded: throws performed during series A, B, and C; the total number of throws; HR immediately and 1 min after the test, and test index after different warm-ups. RESULTS: When analyzed evening compared to the morning without discriminating three warm-up protocols, evening results statistically significant number of total throws performed during series A, B, and C, the total number of throws; HR immediately and 1 min after the test, and test index than morning results (p < 0.01). Moreover, RAMP protocols interaction with time have demonstrated an impact on SJFT for index [F((2)) = 4.15, p = 0.024, η(p)(2): 0.19] and changes after 1 min HR [F((1.370)=) 7.16, p = 0.008, η(p)(2): 0.29]. HR after 1 min and test index results were statistically significant in favor of SWU (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, SJFT performance showed diurnal variation and judo performances of the judokas can be affected more positively in the evening hours especially after RAMP protocols. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13102-022-00484-4.