Abstract
Background: Kickboxing is a high-intensity, intermittent combat sport, which is characterized by short-term complex abilities and tactical key movements. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the factors related to variability in potential biochemical parameters and competition behavior of high-level kickboxing athletes. Methods: Blood samples of athletes, which were obtained pre- and post-maximal competition applied in accordance with the period, were investigated. In the study, a total of 50 athletes, which consisted of 39 male and 11 female amateur athletes with a mean age of 20.08 ± 6.33. Results: Significant differences were determined in the Body Mass Index (BMI) values between females and males. It was determined that athletes’ Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Total Oxidant Level (TOL) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) values were significantly increased pre- and post-competition while it was determined that Total Antioxidant Level (TAL) were significantly decreased (p<0.05). According to the findings, it was observed that there were statistically significant differences between serum antioxidant, oxidant and liver enzymes of amateur level kickboxing athletes pre- and post-competition. Conclusion: In conclusion, considering the effects of effects of strikes received on the chest area and the effects of the liver, which is located in the intersection of all metabolic pathways, on muscle, increases in liver enzymes is an ordinary situation. It was finally observed that the strikes received caused increases in liver enzyme levels while decreased TAL and increased TOL levels were encountered based on antioxidant enzyme levels spent for removing the free radicals formed as a result of heavy exercise.
 
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Highlights
Kickboxing is a combat sport, which is combined from Karate, Thai Boxing and Boxing sports, usually practiced with an aim of defense, prioritizing kicks and punches, and based on certain rules [1, 2]
While significant increases were observed in AST, Alanine Transaminase (ALT), TOC, MDA levels post-competition, significant decreases were observed in Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) levels
Physical activity and exercise habits provide many benefits such as preventing obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and some certain chronic diseases and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In addition to these beneficial effects of exercise, it was stated that especially during training and matches of combat sports such as kickboxing, depending on the strikes received on head and neck areas and body, levels of several biochemical damage indicators were increased [17] and acute or intense physical exercise caused increases in reactive oxygen species, resulting in cell damage in tissues [18]
Summary
Kickboxing is a combat sport, which is combined from Karate, Thai Boxing and Boxing sports, usually practiced with an aim of defense, prioritizing kicks and punches, and based on certain rules [1, 2]. In parallel with the increased amount of oxygen with the exercise, reactive oxygen species in organisms are expected to increase as well [8]. These products, which emerge as a natural result of physiological activities in humans and animals [9], are free radicals, which are defined as molecules or molecular particles that contain one or more than one unpaired electron in bonds [7, 10]. There are defense mechanisms, which are called the antioxidant defense system, to prevent the formation of reactive oxygen species and the damages caused by these. The duty of the antioxidant effect mechanisms is to prevent the formation of free radicals and the neutralization of the free radicals formed [10]
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