Research suggests that psychological stress due to competing against opponents of different skill levels affects exercise intensity during kendo gokaku-geiko. However, few studies have clarified the relationship between psychological stress measured using objective indices and exercise intensity. In this study, we measured psychological stress, exercise intensity, and physical activity in players during kendo gokaku-geiko with opponents of different skill levels using objective, non-invasive, simple measures.
Six male members of the university kendo team participated in this study. They performed kendo gokaku-geiko for 3 minutes with highly skilled, equivalently skilled, and non-highly skilled opponents. We measured psychological stress indices (salivary amylase activity and autonomic balance [LF/HF]), exercise intensity indices (heart rate [HR], peripheral oxygen saturation [SpO2], rate of perceived exertion [RPE]), and physical activity indices (number of steps and strikes) during keiko.
We observed an increasing tendency of salivary amylase activity, HR, RPE, and physical activity indices during keiko with highly, but not with non-highly, skilled opponents. On the other hand, we detected an increasing tendency of LF/HF with both types of opponents.
These results suggest that in keiko with highly skilled opponents, the participants experienced tension (i.e. a “fight-or-flight response”) caused by strong pressure and attacks from their opponents; thus, they increased their physical activity and exercise intensity and were likely to experience high stress. On the other hand, in keiko with non-highly skilled opponents, the participants experienced low stress due to a lack of exercise intensity and low physical activity.
