Eduard Yeromenko - Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training. Conditions for the Development of Motor and Autonomic Functions in Combat Horting Athletes Across All Stages of Life
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Excerpt from the Research Program of Professor Eduard Yeromenko
Professor, Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training,
Faculty of Training, Retraining and Advanced Qualification of Tax Police Officers, University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Academic and Professional Qualifications: PhD in Pedagogical Sciences; Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine; International Class Master of Sports of Ukraine; Honored Coach of Ukraine; Founder of Horting; President, World Horting Federation.
Professional Fellowships and Memberships: Fellow, European Scientific Society of Ukraine (UESU) — since 2017; Fellow, International Union of Martial Arts (IUMA) — since 2013; Professional Member, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM); Professional Member, National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); Individual Member, International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP)
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| Title of the scientific article: | Conditions for the Development of Motor and Autonomic Functions in Combat Horting Athletes Across All Stages of Life |
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Bibliographic Information
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| Title of the Publishing Source: |
Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Faculty of Training, Retraining and Advanced Qualification of Tax Police Officers, Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training
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| Yeromenko, E. (2021). Conditions for the Development of Motor and Autonomic Functions in Combat Horting Athletes Across All Stages of Life. In Combat Horting and the Activities of Law Enforcement Agencies of Ukraine: Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference (January 4–5, 2021, Irpin, Ukraine, pp. 837–856). Irpin: University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine. | |
| Author/Authors and Affiliations | |
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Eduard Yeromenko
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Eduard Yeromenko
Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training, Faculty of Training, Retraining and Advanced Qualification of Tax Police Officers, University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine; PhD in Pedagogical Sciences; President of the National Federation of Combat Horting of Ukraine; Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine; Honored Coach of Ukraine; International Class Master of Sports of Ukraine; Major of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Combat Veteran.
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| Abstract / Brief Description: |
Yeromenko Eduard
This scientific article examines the key conditions for the development of the motor and autonomic functions of the body in combat horting athletes throughout the lifespan. It explores the role of combat horting in promoting a culture of health, healthy lifestyle habits, and the physical, moral, and patriotic education of schoolchildren, university students, and adults in accordance with the demands of contemporary society.
The study formulates fundamental concepts related to combat horting, identifies the basic principles of personality development through this martial art, and demonstrates their interrelationship within a comprehensive educational system. Priority directions for implementing these principles in educational and sports practice are defined. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the research are presented, and the need to improve the physical education system for schoolchildren and university students within the framework of the national concept of patriotic education is substantiated.
The article demonstrates the effectiveness of introducing a methodological system of combat horting into the educational process that promotes the conscious development of physical culture, health-related values, and national-patriotic ideals among athletes. Moral education is considered an integral component of this system, combining universal ethical principles with national cultural values.
Particular attention is given to the physiological mechanisms of adaptation to physical exercise. Systematic combat horting training stimulates the production of metabolites and hormones and enhances adaptive protein synthesis, thereby increasing the functional capacity of cellular structures. These processes facilitate the transition from short-term physiological responses to stable long-term adaptation. As athletes continue systematic training, the body develops increased resistance through the adaptation of central regulatory mechanisms and peripheral cellular structures, resulting in expanded functional reserves and improved adaptive capacity.
The study also analyzes the principal character traits and health habits cultivated through combat horting and describes the conditions necessary for the lifelong development of motor and autonomic body functions in combat horting athletes.
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| Keywords: | combat horting; motor function; autonomic nervous system; physical culture; healthy lifestyle; health education; lifelong athlete development; national-patriotic education. |
| Year of Publication: | 2021 |
| Bibliographic Identifiers; DOI (Digital Object Identifier); UDC (Universal Decimal Classification): |
UDC Classification: 339.543:316.48(477)ООС(06)
Library Bibliographic Classification (LBC): 67.9(4Укр)301.143.1я431 Publication code: Є80 |
| Educational Description of the Scientific Article | The following text provides an English-language description of the article's main concepts, methodology, findings, and practical applications for coaches, athletes, and physical education professionals. It is intended as an informative summary rather than a literal translation of the original publication: |
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Recommended for publication by the Scientific and Methodological Board of the National Federation of Combat Horting of Ukraine
(Minutes No. 8 dated January 9, 2021). Conference Scientific Supervisor:
Pashko P. V. – Rector of the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine. Conference Organizing Committee
Chairman of the Organizing Committee:
Chmeliuk V. V. – Candidate of Legal Sciences, Vice-Rector for Training of Tax Police Personnel – Dean of the Faculty of Training, Retraining and Advanced Qualification of Tax Police Officers of the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Colonel of the Tax Police, participant in combat operations. Chairman of the Scientific and Methodological Council of the Organizing Committee:
Yeromenko E. A. – Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training of the Faculty of Training, Retraining and Advanced Qualification of Tax Police Officers of the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, President of the National Federation of Combat Horting of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine, Honored Coach of Ukraine, Master of Sports of Ukraine of International Class, Major of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, participant in combat operations. Deputy Chairmen of the Organizing Committee:
Hryshchuk V. L. – Candidate of Legal Sciences, Head of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training, Lieutenant Colonel of the Tax Police, participant in combat operations. Bukhtiiarov O. A. – Candidate of Legal Sciences, Deputy Head of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training, participant in combat operations.
Members of the Organizing Committee:
Paranytsia S. P. – Candidate of Legal Sciences, Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training, participant in combat operations. Antonenko S. A. – Candidate of Sciences in Physical Education and Sports, Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training of the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.
Badyora S. M. – Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training of the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.
Harbovskyi L. A. – Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Special Disciplines and Organization of Professional Training of the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.
Relevance of the Scientific Research
Culture of the Combat Horting Athlete in Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle Habits
The culture of a combat horting athlete, expressed through adherence to healthy lifestyle habits, serves as a fundamental principle in the physical education and holistic development of the individual. It is characterized by a system of health-promoting behaviors and guiding principles that support physical well-being, psychological resilience, and long-term athletic performance.
One of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining an appropriate sleep regimen. Adequate sleep is essential for preserving the normal functioning of the nervous system and the body as a whole. Physiologically, sleep represents a restorative inhibitory process that protects the nervous system from excessive stress and fatigue. To provide optimal recovery, sleep should be both sufficient in duration and of high quality [1–11; 19–32].
Individuals who experience chronic sleep deprivation often awaken feeling fatigued, irritable, emotionally unstable, and, in some cases, with headaches or other symptoms of insufficient recovery. Because physiological characteristics differ among individuals, there is no universal sleep duration that is appropriate for everyone. Nevertheless, the average healthy adult requires approximately eight hours of sleep per night to maintain optimal physical and cognitive functioning.
Despite the well-established importance of sleep, many people continue to regard it as expendable time that can be sacrificed for work, study, or other daily activities. Such an approach is particularly detrimental for athletes. Systematic sleep deprivation disrupts normal nervous system function, reduces physical and mental performance, accelerates the onset of fatigue, impairs concentration, and increases emotional instability and irritability. Over time, insufficient sleep negatively affects recovery processes, adaptive capacity, athletic performance, and overall health, thereby limiting an athlete's ability to achieve long-term success in both training and competition.
Main Body
Creating conditions for healthy, restorative, and uninterrupted sleep is an essential component of maintaining overall health and optimizing athletic performance. To promote high-quality sleep, mentally demanding activities should be discontinued approximately 1–1.5 hours before bedtime. Evening meals should be consumed at least two hours before sleep to allow sufficient time for digestion. Sleeping in a well-ventilated room is strongly recommended, and athletes are encouraged to develop the habit of sleeping with an open window or partially open ventilation whenever environmental conditions permit.
Sleepwear should be loose-fitting and should not restrict blood circulation. Sleeping in everyday clothing is discouraged, as is covering the head with a blanket or sleeping face down, both of which may interfere with normal respiration. Maintaining a consistent bedtime each night facilitates faster sleep onset and supports the body's natural circadian rhythm. Failure to observe these basic principles of sleep hygiene may result in shallow, fragmented sleep, eventually contributing to insomnia and disturbances of nervous system function [12].
Sleep represents the most complete and indispensable form of daily recovery. For combat horting athletes, 7.5–8 hours of uninterrupted nocturnal sleep should be regarded as the standard physiological requirement. Time allocated for sleep should never be considered a reserve that can routinely be sacrificed for other activities. Chronic sleep restriction negatively affects cognitive performance, emotional stability, and overall mental efficiency. Irregular sleep patterns may contribute to insomnia and various disorders of the nervous system.
Intensive intellectual work should be completed well before bedtime because sustained cognitive activity maintains excitation within the cerebral cortex, delaying physiological relaxation. Neural activity often remains elevated even after mental work has ceased. Consequently, engaging in demanding cognitive tasks immediately before sleep makes falling asleep more difficult, increases the likelihood of emotionally charged dreams, and contributes to fatigue, reduced alertness, and poor well-being upon awakening. Proper ventilation of the sleeping environment—or preferably sleeping with an open window—further contributes to restorative sleep.
Individual sleep requirements vary considerably. Some individuals maintain excellent health and performance with 5–6 hours of sleep. Such individuals are typically energetic, resilient, and capable of overcoming stressful situations without prolonged emotional distress. Others require nine hours or more, particularly those characterized by greater emotional sensitivity. The most common sleep disorder, characterized by insufficient quantity and poor quality of sleep, is insomnia. In many cases, temporary insomnia develops because of emotional stress, anxiety, or unresolved personal concerns. This condition, often referred to as situational insomnia, generally resolves once the underlying stressor disappears.
However, in some individuals, even after the original source of stress has been eliminated, excessive concern about the inability to fall asleep may persist. This anxiety itself becomes a contributing factor, leading to chronic insomnia associated with the fear of sleeplessness. Long-term or inappropriate use of sedatives and hypnotic medications may also produce persistent sleep disturbances by disrupting the physiological architecture of sleep and altering its normal stages.
Physical Activity and Muscular Function
Regular muscular activity constitutes an indispensable condition for the development of both motor and autonomic functions throughout the human lifespan. Its biological significance is so fundamental that movement itself is widely recognized as one of the defining characteristics of life.
Contrary to the common assumption that technological progress reduces the need for physical activity, modern society creates even greater opportunities to engage in purposeful exercise through organized physical education and sport. Combat horting provides an effective means of satisfying this biological need while simultaneously promoting comprehensive physical development.
This issue is particularly important for adolescents and young adults. Numerous chronic diseases affecting the adult population—especially cardiovascular disorders—originate from behavioral patterns established during the school and university years. It is well documented that maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) declines by approximately 8% every ten years after the age of 25, primarily because of reduced physical activity. Among combat horting athletes and other physically active individuals, however, this decline is approximately 4%, indicating a substantially slower rate of age-related physiological deterioration [13–18].
Furthermore, the systematic use of combat horting as a component of physical training and medical rehabilitation has been shown to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases by 15–25% and decrease the frequency of medical consultations by two to four times compared with less physically active populations. These findings highlight the significant health-promoting potential of combat horting as an effective means of lifelong physical activity, disease prevention, and functional rehabilitation.
Physiological Adaptation to Physical Training
The physiological mechanisms underlying adaptation to physical exercise involve increased production of metabolites and hormones, together with enhanced adaptive protein synthesis. These processes improve the functional capacity of actively working cellular structures and facilitate the transition from immediate physiological responses to stable, long-term, nonspecific adaptation.
With the systematic application of combat horting training, the body's response to repeated physical stimuli gradually becomes more efficient. This occurs because of increased resistance of central regulatory mechanisms as well as adaptations within peripheral cellular structures, including biochemical and biophysical modifications at the cellular level. As a result, functional reserves expand and the adaptive capacity of the organism increases, allowing athletes to tolerate progressively greater training loads while maintaining physiological homeostasis.
Experimental research has demonstrated that under conditions of insufficient physical activity, the efficiency of cognitive performance declines dramatically. As early as the second day of reduced physical activity, mental performance may decrease by nearly 50%, accompanied by impaired concentration, increased nervous tension, prolonged problem-solving time, rapid onset of fatigue, apathy, diminished motivation, irritability, and emotional instability.
Combat horting training represents an effective strategy for preventing these adverse effects of physical inactivity. The underlying mechanism is associated with afferent impulses originating from the musculoskeletal system, which increase the functional activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex by enhancing cellular metabolism. Simultaneously, physical exercise stimulates the secretion of endocrine hormones that further accelerate metabolic processes throughout the body. Active muscular work also improves systemic circulation, enhances pulmonary ventilation, and increases the efficiency of hepatic and renal detoxification, thereby facilitating the removal of metabolic waste products that negatively affect nervous tissue.
Consequently, regular participation in combat horting, combined with appropriately controlled training loads, represents one of the most effective approaches to maintaining high physical performance, cognitive efficiency, creative productivity, physical fitness, and healthy longevity. By enhancing oxidative metabolic processes, systematic combat horting training contributes to delaying the development of atherosclerosis [33–48]. Clinical observations indicate that physically active individuals, including combat horting athletes, exhibit a substantially lower prevalence of cerebral and coronary atherosclerosis, as well as reduced blood cholesterol concentrations, compared with sedentary populations.
The functional tone and working capacity of the brain are maintained more effectively when rhythmic contraction and relaxation of different muscle groups alternate continuously. Such movement patterns characterize combat horting training sessions as well as other rhythmic forms of physical activity, including walking, cross-country skiing, running, skating, and similar moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.
Daily Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Daily morning exercise should be regarded as the minimum level of physical activity necessary to maintain health. For combat horting athletes, morning exercise should become as routine as personal hygiene.
Spending at least 1–1.5 hours outdoors each day represents another essential component of a healthy lifestyle. This recommendation is particularly important for individuals whose occupational or academic activities are primarily performed indoors. An evening walk before bedtime serves as an effective method of relieving accumulated mental fatigue, reducing nervous system excitation, regulating respiration, and improving sleep quality.
For combat horting athletes seeking to maintain physical fitness, these walks are recommended in the form of interval walking, alternating approximately 0.5–1.0 km of relaxed walking with an equal distance of brisk спортив walking (fitness walking), repeated as appropriate according to individual fitness level.
The organization of regular physical activity is therefore of considerable importance for health promotion. One of the essential elements of a healthy lifestyle for combat horting athletes is the systematic use of physical exercise that is appropriately adjusted according to sex, age, health status, and individual functional capacity.
Motor activity encompasses a broad range of movement behaviors performed during everyday life, structured combat horting training sessions, and independent physical exercise. Together, these activities constitute an individual's overall level of physical activity.
In modern society, especially among individuals engaged primarily in intellectual work, overall motor activity is often insufficient. This situation is particularly characteristic of schoolchildren and university students, whose academic responsibilities frequently result in prolonged sedentary behavior and limited opportunities for regular physical exercise. Combat horting provides an effective means of counteracting these negative consequences by integrating structured physical activity with the development of physical fitness, psychological resilience, and healthy lifestyle habits throughout life.
Optimization of Physical Activity
One of the most important social and pedagogical objectives of the National Combat Horting Federation of Ukraine is to determine the optimal, as well as the minimum and maximum, levels of physical activity appropriate for athletes at different stages of training and development. Seasonal variations in physical activity should also be considered, as overall activity levels typically decrease by 5–15% during the winter months compared with summer.
An important factor in optimizing athletes' physical activity is independent participation in combat horting training, including workouts conducted in sports facilities, as well as supplementary physical exercise such as morning exercise routines, short exercise breaks during academic work, daily walks, weekend outdoor activities, and other forms of recreational movement [49–62]. Effective independent training requires several essential conditions, including the athlete's freedom to select appropriate training methods and exercises, strong intrinsic motivation, and the experience of positive emotional and functional outcomes resulting from the physical, psychological, and volitional effort invested.
Hygienic Foundations of a Healthy Lifestyle
The term hygiene originates from the Greek word meaning "health-promoting" or "bringing health." As a branch of preventive medicine, hygiene seeks to preserve human health through scientifically based preventive measures, thereby enhancing physical well-being, appearance, and overall quality of life.
For combat horting athletes, personal hygiene encompasses skin care, proper clothing and footwear hygiene, physical hardening (conditioning), and other aspects of everyday health maintenance. Strict adherence to hygienic principles is particularly important for individuals who train regularly, lead an active athletic lifestyle, and participate in competitions.
Skin Care
Proper skin care is essential for maintaining health. The skin serves not only as the organ of touch but also as a protective barrier against environmental influences and plays a crucial role in thermoregulation and respiration. It contains an extensive network of sensory nerve endings. Approximately 100 pain receptors, 12–15 cold receptors, 1–2 heat receptors, and about 25 pressure receptors are located within each square centimeter of skin, providing the central nervous system with continuous information about environmental stimuli.
These physiological functions are fully preserved only when the skin remains healthy and clean. Skin diseases and inadequate hygiene impair normal skin function and consequently have adverse effects on overall health. The foundation of skin care consists of regular washing of the entire body with warm water, soap, and a washcloth. This should be performed at least once every four to five days, whether by showering, bathing, or using a sauna or steam bath, followed by changing underwear.
Hand hygiene deserves particular attention because microorganisms and parasite eggs present on the hands may easily contaminate food and eating utensils. The area beneath the fingernails contains especially high concentrations of microorganisms. Therefore, hands should always be washed thoroughly after contamination, before eating, after combat horting training sessions, after using the restroom, and whenever appropriate.
Hair, Oral, and Foot Hygiene
Hair hygiene includes regular washing and trimming, as well as protecting the hair from excessive contamination during work, sports participation, and recreational activities.
Proper oral hygiene helps prevent infections and supports the healthy functioning of the gastrointestinal system. Regular dental care is therefore an essential component of overall health maintenance.
Foot care consists of washing the feet daily with soap before bedtime, wearing clean socks, and ensuring adequate ventilation and drying of footwear.
Mastering and consistently following the principles of personal hygiene is an essential responsibility of every individual. Knowledge and daily practice of hygienic habits are indispensable characteristics of an educated and health-conscious person.
Hygiene During Combat Horting Training
Personal hygiene places particular emphasis on maintaining healthy skin because the skin performs numerous physiological functions, including protecting the body's internal environment, eliminating metabolic waste products, and regulating body temperature. These functions are fully effective only when the skin is healthy and clean.
The skin possesses natural self-cleaning mechanisms through the continuous shedding of epithelial cells and the secretion of sweat and sebaceous glands, which help eliminate various waste products [63–78]. Nevertheless, athletes are recommended to shower, bathe, or use a sauna at least once every four to five days, while a warm shower should be taken immediately after every physical training session, followed by changing into clean clothing.
Hygiene of Clothing
Clothing hygiene requires that garments be selected primarily according to their functional and hygienic characteristics rather than fashion or prestige. Clothing should be appropriate for the environmental conditions and the specific physical activities in which it will be used. Proper sports apparel should provide comfort, allow unrestricted movement, facilitate heat dissipation, absorb moisture efficiently, and contribute to maintaining the athlete's health and physical performance during both training and competition.
Sports Clothing and Footwear Hygiene
Sports clothing used in combat horting must meet specific requirements determined by the nature of training activities and official competition regulations. Athletic apparel should be as lightweight as possible while allowing complete freedom of movement. Therefore, sports clothing is typically manufactured from elastic cotton and wool-based fabrics with high air permeability, effective moisture absorption capacity, and the ability to facilitate rapid evaporation of sweat.
Proper footwear hygiene requires that athletic shoes be lightweight, flexible, well-ventilated, and capable of maintaining the correct anatomical position of the foot. In this regard, footwear made from natural leather possesses particularly beneficial qualities. Sports shoes should also provide protection against injuries and include specialized features appropriate for the specific requirements of the sport.
Additional Hygienic and Recovery Methods
Additional hygienic measures include hydrotherapy procedures, massage, and self-massage techniques aimed at accelerating recovery and restoring physical performance capacity.
A shower provides both thermal and mechanical stimulation of the body. A prolonged hot shower decreases nervous system excitability while increasing metabolic activity. A warm shower has a predominantly relaxing and calming effect. Short-term exposure to alternating cold and hot water increases muscle tone and stimulates cardiovascular function. A contrast shower is considered an effective recovery method for athletes following physical exertion.
Detailed knowledge of various massage techniques and hygienic recovery procedures can be acquired during practical training sessions and through the study of specialized methodological literature related to combat horting.
Hardening and Physical Conditioning of the Body
Systematic body hardening (conditioning) is an important preventive measure against respiratory infections and other cold-related illnesses. Ideally, hardening procedures should begin during childhood and continue throughout life.
The simplest form of hardening is exposure to fresh air through air baths. Water-based procedures also play an important role in a comprehensive hardening program. They strengthen the nervous system, positively influence cardiovascular function, help regulate blood pressure, and improve metabolic processes.
Initially, hardening should begin with several days of dry rubbing of the exposed body with a towel, followed by gradual transition to wet rubbing procedures. After wet rubbing, the body should be vigorously dried and rubbed with a dry towel to stimulate circulation.
Water procedures should initially be performed with warm water (35–36°C), gradually transitioning to cooler temperatures and eventually to full-body water exposure. During summer, water-based hardening procedures are preferably conducted outdoors after morning exercise. Regular exposure to fresh air, moderate sun exposure, and swimming are also beneficial components of physical conditioning.
Physically healthy and well-conditioned individuals may perform outdoor water procedures even during winter, provided that appropriate safety conditions are observed. The fundamental principles of effective hardening include:
Hygienic Principles of Body Hardening
Hardening represents an important preventive strategy for reducing the negative consequences of exposure to cold environments or excessive heat. Regular use of conditioning procedures decreases the incidence of respiratory illnesses by two to three times and, in some cases, may almost completely prevent their occurrence [79–87].
Hardening procedures may be classified as:
Air Hardening Procedures
Air exposure influences the human body through temperature, humidity, and air movement. The intensity of air baths should be regulated gradually by either lowering environmental temperature or increasing the duration of exposure while maintaining the same temperature.
Signs of excessive physiological stress during warm air baths include significant skin redness and excessive sweating. During cool or cold air exposure, warning signs include the appearance of goosebumps and shivering. In such cases, the procedure should be immediately discontinued.
Cold air baths should only be practiced by individuals with sufficient adaptation to cold exposure and preferably after medical evaluation.
Sun Hardening Procedures
Solar Exposure and Sun Baths
Different components of solar radiation produce specific physiological effects on the human body.
Visible light enhances biochemical processes and increases immunological responsiveness. Infrared radiation produces thermal effects, while ultraviolet radiation possesses bactericidal properties and stimulates the production of melanin, a pigment responsible for skin tanning. Melanin formation provides partial protection against excessive solar radiation and reduces the risk of sunburn.
Ultraviolet radiation is also essential for the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D, which plays a critical role in bone growth and development, as well as maintaining normal function of the nervous and muscular systems.
For combat horting athletes, properly controlled exposure to natural environmental factors—air, water, and sunlight—represents an important component of a comprehensive health-preservation strategy. When combined with systematic physical training, these procedures contribute to improved adaptation, enhanced recovery capacity, resistance to disease, and long-term maintenance of athletic performance.
Solar Exposure, Water Hardening, and Prevention of Harmful Habits Among Combat Horting Athletes
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation produces different physiological effects depending on the dose received. In small doses, ultraviolet rays stimulate the central nervous system (CNS) and contribute to adaptive processes; however, excessive exposure may suppress CNS activity and cause skin burns. The physiological response of an athlete after sun exposure serves as an important indicator of whether the procedure was beneficial. If a combat horting athlete experiences increased energy, positive mood, improved appetite, and stable, restorative sleep after sunbathing, the exposure can be considered beneficial. Conversely, symptoms such as irritability, lethargy, sleep disturbances, and loss of appetite indicate excessive exposure. In such cases, sun exposure should be temporarily discontinued for several days, and subsequent solar procedures should be reduced in duration.
Water Hardening Procedures
Hardening through water exposure represents a highly effective physiological conditioning method due to the pronounced cooling effect of water. The heat capacity and thermal conductivity of water are significantly greater than those of air, resulting in stronger thermal stimulation of the body.
Body rubbing represents the initial stage of water-based hardening. This procedure may be performed using a towel, sponge, or a hand moistened with water. The sequence of rubbing should proceed systematically: neck, chest, arms, back, followed by thorough drying and vigorous rubbing with a towel until mild skin redness appears, indicating increased peripheral circulation.
The next stage of water hardening involves water pouring procedures, followed by showering, which provides a more intensive physiological stimulus.
For comprehensive adaptation, both general and localized water procedures are recommended [88–94]. The most common local procedures include foot washing with cool water and cold-water throat rinsing, as these methods strengthen the body areas that are particularly vulnerable to cooling.
Foot washing should be performed throughout the year before bedtime. Initially, water temperature should be maintained at approximately 26–28°C, gradually decreasing to 12–15°C as adaptation develops. After the procedure, the feet should be carefully dried and rubbed until mild redness appears.
Throat rinsing should be performed daily in the morning and evening. The initial water temperature should be approximately 23–25°C, gradually decreasing by 1–2°C each week until reaching 5–10°C.
Prevention of Harmful Habits
A healthy lifestyle is incompatible with harmful habits, and this principle is especially important for combat horting athletes. The consumption of alcohol, psychoactive substances, and tobacco represents one of the major risk factors contributing to numerous diseases and negatively affecting human health and athletic performance.
A health-oriented lifestyle requires a conscious and decisive rejection of behaviors that cause long-term damage to the organism. Harmful habits often develop gradually and may negatively influence physical condition, psychological stability, social functioning, and quality of life. The most widespread harmful behaviors include alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and drug abuse.
Harmful Habit: Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol poses a significant threat because it negatively affects vital organs and physiological systems, including the central nervous system. Ethanol obtained through fermentation of starch-containing grains and vegetables or produced synthetically may contain toxic impurities when insufficiently purified.
Individuals who regularly consume alcoholic beverages demonstrate reduced cognitive efficiency, impaired attention, slower decision-making, and decreased accuracy of mental processes. Alcohol consumption also contributes to impaired self-control, inappropriate behavior, emotional instability, and increased likelihood of antisocial actions. Therefore, alcohol use is fundamentally incompatible with the principles of a healthy lifestyle and athletic development.
Alcohol is classified as a psychoactive substance with characteristics typical of addictive agents. Chronic and systematic alcohol consumption negatively affects the cardiac conduction system and disrupts normal metabolic processes. The digestive system is also significantly affected. Alcohol irritates gastrointestinal tissues, impairs gastric secretion and enzyme production, and contributes to the development of gastritis, gastric ulcers, and potentially malignant tumors.
Long-term alcohol abuse may result in fatty degeneration of the liver, followed by cirrhosis. In approximately 50% of cases, advanced liver disease may be associated with the development of malignant processes.
A lifestyle dominated by alcohol consumption inevitably leads to reduced social activity and withdrawal into limited personal interests. Overall quality of life decreases, personal goals become distorted, and the ability to perform tasks requiring discipline, intellectual effort, and emotional control becomes impaired. Such changes frequently contribute to interpersonal conflicts and difficulties in social adaptation.
Harmful Habit: Tobacco Smoking
The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system begin with irritation of the mucous membranes of the airways, causing chronic inflammatory processes. These changes are often accompanied by persistent coughing, particularly in the morning, hoarseness, and the production of dark gray sputum.
With continued smoking, the elasticity of lung tissue gradually decreases, contributing to the development of pulmonary emphysema and progressive respiratory impairment. This explains why smokers have a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer compared with non-smokers.
For combat horting athletes, avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful substances is a fundamental requirement for maintaining physical performance, recovery capacity, psychological stability, and long-term health. A disciplined lifestyle consistent with sports training principles enhances adaptation to physical loads and supports the development of the athlete’s physical culture and health values.
Tobacco Smoking and Drug Prevention Among Combat Horting Athletes
It is a misconception to believe that smoking is harmless or that it improves intellectual performance, increases alertness, or provides additional energy. Scientific medical research has demonstrated that, during the initial period of tobacco consumption, smoking may temporarily increase the excitability of the cerebral cortex; however, this effect is followed by suppression of nervous system activity, creating a need for repeated nicotine intake.
Cigarette smoke is particularly dangerous because it introduces more than thirty harmful substances into the human body, including nicotine, hydrogen sulfide, acetic acid, formic acid, hydrocyanic acid, ethylene, isoprene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, various tar compounds, and radioactive polonium.
There are numerous arguments against smoking; however, the most significant concern is the increased probability of developing respiratory tract cancers. Lung cancer continues to cause millions of deaths worldwide each year. According to scientific evidence, respiratory cancers occur approximately 20 times more frequently among smokers than among non-smokers.
Harmful Habit: Use of Narcotic Substances
Systematic use of narcotic substances leads to severe deterioration of the organism, metabolic disorders, psychological disturbances, memory impairment, persistent delusional states, schizophrenia-like symptoms, personality degradation, and reproductive dysfunction.
General personality deterioration occurs 5–10 times faster in individuals with drug dependence compared with those experiencing alcohol abuse. Treatment of drug addiction is extremely difficult; therefore, the most effective strategy is complete prevention and avoidance of any initial experimentation with narcotic substances.
For a combat horting athlete, the use of narcotic substances is strictly unacceptable both from the perspective of achieving athletic excellence and from the standpoint of compliance with the ethical principles of the sport. A responsible athlete should recognize narcotic substances as an extremely dangerous threat to health, performance, and personal development.
Even occasional use may lead to severe addiction disorders known as drug dependence (substance use disorder) [95–99]. The dangerous nature of narcotics lies in their ability to gradually create an uncontrollable psychological and physiological dependence characterized by several signs:
Long-term drug use results in chronic intoxication of the body and profound dysfunction of multiple organ systems. Progressive physical and psychological exhaustion develops.
Individuals with advanced drug dependence commonly demonstrate:
Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is fundamentally incompatible with harmful habits. This incompatibility represents one of the essential principles of physical culture and athlete development.
Rational Nutrition and Dietary Regulation
Nutrition culture plays an important role in establishing a healthy lifestyle among combat horting athletes. Every athlete should understand the fundamental principles of rational nutrition and maintain an appropriate body weight according to physiological requirements.
Rational nutrition is defined as a physiologically adequate dietary system that considers an individual's sex, age, occupational demands, physical activity level, and other biological and environmental factors.
A scientifically based nutritional strategy is built upon the following principles:
Important components of nutritional culture include:
The dietary regimen should be individualized according to the athlete’s physiological characteristics and training objectives.
For individuals participating in combat horting training, meals should generally be consumed 2–2.5 hours before training sessions and 30–40 minutes after their completion to support optimal digestion, energy availability, and recovery processes.
During intensive physical activity accompanied by significant sweating, daily sodium intake may need to be increased from approximately 15 g to 20–25 g, depending on environmental conditions, training intensity, and individual physiological needs. Consumption of mineral water or lightly salted water may assist in maintaining electrolyte balance.
All physiological processes in the human body depend significantly on nutritional quality from the earliest stages of life, as well as on regularity and organization of dietary habits. Every living organism continuously expends energy, which is replenished through the metabolism and processing of nutrients obtained from food.
For combat horting athletes, rational nutrition represents not only a component of health maintenance but also an essential factor influencing physical performance, recovery capacity, adaptation to training loads, and long-term athletic development.
Energy Metabolism and Nutritional Requirements of Combat Horting Athletes
A significant proportion of nutrients consumed through food is "burned" (oxidized) within the body, resulting in the release of energy. This energy is used to maintain a stable body temperature, support the normal functioning of internal organs (including the heart, respiratory system, circulatory system, and nervous system), and, most importantly, provide energy for physical activity.
In addition, the human body continuously performs anabolic processes associated with the formation of new cells and tissues. To maintain life and optimal physiological functioning, all energy expenditures and structural requirements of the organism must be fully compensated. The primary source of this compensation is the nutrients obtained through food intake.
A scientifically based nutritional system is built on several fundamental principles:
Energy Requirements According to Physical Activity Level
Based on energy expenditure, the adult population may be divided into four main groups:
Combat horting athletes belong primarily to the fourth category during periods of intensive training and competitive preparation due to their increased physiological demands.
Basal Metabolism and Nutritional Composition
A portion of daily energy expenditure is associated with basal metabolism, which is required to maintain vital functions during rest. For an adult male weighing approximately 70 kg, basal metabolic requirements average about 1,700 kcal per day, while for females they average approximately 1,600 kcal per day.
However, effective nutritional planning requires more than simply calculating total caloric intake. It is also necessary to determine the qualitative composition of the diet—namely, which nutrients and in what proportions are required to provide adequate energy and support physiological functions.
During oxidation processes:
When necessary, carbohydrates and fats may partially compensate for each other as energy sources. However, protein cannot be replaced by any other nutrient because proteins perform unique structural and regulatory functions in the human body.
Proteins
Proteins represent one of the most important classes of nutrients. Their primary function is plastic and structural, providing materials for the construction and continuous renewal of body tissues and cells.
Proteins are also components of many hormones and therefore play an essential role in metabolic regulation. Protein deficiency negatively affects the functioning of the central nervous system, endocrine glands, liver, and other organs. It decreases immune defense mechanisms, reduces physical performance, and in children may impair normal growth and tissue development.
The highest biological value is attributed to proteins found in animal-derived products, including:
Therefore, approximately 60% or more of daily protein intake should come from animal sources.
Among plant-based foods, significant protein sources include:
For optimal nutritional organization, protein-containing foods should preferably be distributed throughout the day as follows:
For combat horting athletes, adequate protein intake is especially important because it supports muscle recovery, adaptation to training loads, immune function, and long-term athletic development.
Fats
Fats perform multiple complex physiological functions. They represent concentrated sources of energy, participate in cellular structure formation, and contribute significantly to metabolic processes.
Dietary fats:
Unused fat is stored in the body as reserve (stored) fat. It accumulates in subcutaneous tissue, where it reduces heat loss, and around internal organs, where it provides mechanical protection against impacts and excessive vibration.
Fats contain essential fat-soluble vitamins:
They also provide valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids, which:
The richest sources of beneficial fats include:
The daily requirement for polyunsaturated fats can generally be satisfied by consuming approximately 20–30 g of vegetable oil per day, incorporated into salads, vinaigrettes, and other meals.
Nutritional Importance for Combat Horting Athletes
A balanced intake of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates is a fundamental component of the health culture of a combat horting athlete. Proper nutrition ensures adequate energy availability, supports physiological adaptation to exercise, accelerates recovery processes, maintains immune protection, and contributes to the development of physical performance throughout all stages of athletic training.
Dietary Fat, Carbohydrates, and Vitamins in the Nutrition of Combat Horting Athletes
Fats
In a balanced human diet, fats should include approximately 75–80% from animal sources and 20–25% from plant sources, according to traditional nutritional recommendations. Significant amounts of dietary fats are found in vegetable oils, butter, mayonnaise, cod liver oil, and pork products.
Fats serve as important sources of energy and participate in numerous physiological processes, including cellular structure formation, hormone regulation, metabolic processes, and protection of internal organs. For combat horting athletes, an adequate intake of high-quality fats is essential for maintaining energy balance, supporting recovery processes, and ensuring optimal physiological adaptation to physical training.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates represent the primary energy source for the human body. They are essential for the normal functioning of skeletal muscles, the central nervous system, the heart, and the liver.
Carbohydrates also play an important regulatory role in protein and fat metabolism. When sufficient carbohydrates are available, the body reduces the utilization of proteins and fats for energy production. Under certain physiological conditions, excess carbohydrates may be converted into fat and stored in adipose tissue.
Carbohydrates are traditionally classified into two main categories:
From a nutritional perspective, the majority of carbohydrate intake should preferably come from complex carbohydrates, such as starch, which is abundant in foods including potatoes and grain products. Simple sugars should constitute only approximately 20–25% of total daily carbohydrate intake.
When carbohydrate intake meets physiological requirements, excess carbohydrates are stored primarily in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen, a specialized storage form of animal carbohydrate. However, excessive carbohydrate consumption may result in conversion into fat deposits.
Therefore, individuals prone to excessive weight gain should avoid excessive consumption of refined flour products, sweets, and other rapidly absorbed carbohydrates.
Dietary fiber is also commonly classified as a carbohydrate component. Although fiber is only partially utilized by the human body, it is essential for maintaining normal digestive function. Fiber:
High-fiber foods include:
Major carbohydrate sources include:
For combat horting athletes, carbohydrates represent a critical nutritional component because they provide the energy required for high-intensity training sessions, competition performance, and recovery after physical exertion.
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential biological regulators that function as catalysts of metabolic processes. They participate in biochemical reactions and regulate numerous physiological functions within the human body.
Most vitamins cannot be synthesized independently by the body in sufficient quantities and therefore must be obtained through dietary sources of both plant and animal origin.
Insufficient vitamin intake may lead to hypovitaminosis, characterized by:
Excessive intake of vitamins, particularly through uncontrolled use of synthetic vitamin supplements, may result in hypervitaminosis, which can also negatively affect health.
Vitamins are divided into two major groups:
Fat-soluble vitamins:
Water-soluble vitamins:
For more accurate daily vitamin recommendations, intake should be calculated according to energy expenditure. Traditional sports nutrition guidelines consider vitamin requirements relative to approximately 1,000 kcal of energy expenditure, including:
When energy expenditure exceeds approximately 3,000 kcal per day, additional vitamin requirements increase proportionally.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Vitamin C plays an essential role in:
Vitamin C is particularly important during periods of intensive physical and psychological stress, as well as during exposure to extreme environmental conditions, including cold and hot climates.
Major dietary sources of vitamin C include:
For combat horting athletes, adequate vitamin C intake contributes to improved recovery, resistance to illness, and maintenance of high functional capacity during intensive training cycles.
Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine)
Vitamin B₁ plays a fundamental role in:
Major sources of vitamin B₁ include:
Adequate thiamine intake is especially important for athletes because carbohydrate metabolism represents one of the primary mechanisms supporting muscular performance during intensive physical activity.
Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B₂ plays an important role in regulating oxidative-reduction processes, supporting:
The highest concentrations of vitamin B₂ are found in:
For combat horting athletes, sufficient vitamin B₂ intake supports tissue recovery, energy production, and adaptation to repeated physical loads.
Nutritional Significance for Combat Horting Athletes
A properly balanced diet containing adequate amounts of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals is a fundamental component of the athlete’s health culture. Rational nutrition supports energy production, physiological adaptation, recovery processes, immune function, and long-term athletic development throughout all stages of combat horting training.
Vitamin PP (Niacin)
Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid, niacin) plays an important role in energy metabolism and cellular energy production. It is essential for the normal functioning of:
A balanced daily diet usually provides sufficient amounts of vitamin PP through the consumption of:
For combat horting athletes, adequate niacin intake is important for maintaining energy metabolism, nervous system function, and overall physiological adaptation to physical training.
Vitamin A (Retinol) and Carotene
Vitamin A (retinol) and carotenoids regulate metabolic processes in epithelial tissues, stimulate growth and development, contribute to normal vision, and strengthen immune defense mechanisms.
Vitamin A is primarily obtained from animal-based foods. The highest concentrations are found in:
In addition, the human body can synthesize vitamin A from carotenoid provitamins found in plant foods. Among these compounds, β-carotene has the greatest biological importance.
Major sources of β-carotene include:
For combat horting athletes, vitamin A is particularly important because it supports immune function, tissue regeneration, visual health, and recovery processes following physical exertion.
Minerals
Mineral substances play an essential role in human nutrition. They participate in:
Among minerals, the most important macronutrients include:
Calcium
Calcium is a fundamental component of supporting tissues and plays a critical role in the formation and maintenance of the skeletal system.
It contributes to:
Adequate calcium intake supports normal excitability of the nervous system and neuromuscular function.
The recommended daily calcium requirement is approximately:
800–1400 mg/day.
The richest dietary sources of calcium include:
For combat horting athletes, sufficient calcium intake is essential for maintaining bone strength, preventing injuries, and supporting neuromuscular performance.
Phosphorus
Similar to calcium, phosphorus is essential for bone formation and skeletal health. It also plays a significant role in the functioning of the nervous system.
Organic phosphorus compounds participate in:
The recommended daily phosphorus intake is approximately: 2000–2500 mg/day.
Major dietary sources of phosphorus include:
For athletes, phosphorus is particularly important because it participates in ATP metabolism, which provides energy for muscular activity.
Sodium
Sodium has multiple biological functions. It contributes to:
The primary dietary source of sodium is common table salt added to food.
For combat horting athletes, sodium balance is especially important during intensive training because significant sweating may lead to electrolyte loss.
Trace Elements
Trace elements represent a group of minerals required by the body in very small quantities. They include:
Although present in minimal amounts, trace elements have significant biological importance and participate in numerous physiological processes, including:
Water
Water is one of the most important environmental and physiological factors necessary for human life.
It is essential for:
Water is a major component of human tissues and organs and participates in:
For combat horting athletes, adequate hydration is a critical component of maintaining physical performance, recovery, and adaptation to training loads.
Summary of Healthy Lifestyle Principles
Summarizing the above, a healthy lifestyle can be defined as a system of activities aimed at strengthening:
while ensuring rational, balanced nutrition and the maintenance of optimal physiological conditions.
For combat horting athletes, a healthy lifestyle represents an integrated system combining:
Culture of Interpersonal Communication
Communication, the effectiveness of which depends on the level of participants’ communicative culture, represents a fundamental form of human interaction and an important component of a healthy lifestyle.
The culture of interpersonal communication includes:
These elements are naturally expressed in both professional and emotional interactions with other people.
A developed communication culture is an important condition for:
Within the framework of combat horting education, interpersonal communication culture is considered an essential component of athlete development, contributing not only to sports performance but also to the formation of responsible, disciplined, socially adapted, and morally oriented individuals.
At present, the socio-psychological environment has significantly intensified the problem of emotional communication among people. In a developed and highly differentiated society, the demands that individuals consciously or unconsciously place on real and potential communication partners continue to increase. Meeting these expectations becomes increasingly difficult when the communicative culture of each participant in the interaction process is insufficiently developed.
The development of communicative culture primarily involves improving perceptual abilities and the skills necessary for accurately understanding and interpreting other people. Therefore, an individual should be able to apply an appropriate communication style and tone depending on the social context and characteristics of the interaction partner.
The same gestures or words that may be completely appropriate when communicating with a calm and friendly person may provoke an undesirable reaction in an individual experiencing psychological difficulties. Therefore, it is important to develop the ability to communicate effectively in different situations. A serious professional conversation requires one type of communication; an informal conversation during leisure time requires another; a friendly discussion at a social event requires different approaches; and communication with people of different ages and levels of social closeness (parents, acquaintances, colleagues, friends) requires additional adaptation.
An important component of communicative culture is the ability to cooperate effectively with people in various types of activities. The development of communication skills is based on the improvement of numerous psychological characteristics, including:
One of the most important foundations of communicative culture is the need for deep emotional and meaningful communication. This need is naturally inherent in every person; however, the degree of its development varies depending on gender, age, cultural background, and social experience.
This need can be fully realized when a combat horting athlete possesses empathy — the ability to emotionally respond to the experiences of others, understand their internal world, recognize their thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences, and demonstrate compassion and support.
An important aspect of personal development is the cultivation of reflection, understood as the ability and readiness for self-analysis and conscious evaluation of one’s own actions, emotions, and communication behavior. Such reflective ability serves as a foundation for effective self-regulation.
Communication culture is also based on specific cognitive characteristics, including:
Effective verbal communication requires:
The communicative culture of a combat horting athlete includes social attitudes that define communication as a dialogue-based process, requiring:
The development of communicative culture is significantly enhanced through diverse physical education and sports activities within combat horting, which provide numerous opportunities for meaningful interpersonal interactions based on respect, cooperation, discipline, and humanistic values.
Psychophysical Regulation of the Body
All subjective perceptions of various life situations, events, and their evaluations (such as desirability, usefulness, or significance) are closely connected with emotional processes. Emotions help mobilize the body's resources for overcoming challenging situations and adapting to external demands.
Negative emotional states may contribute to physiological changes, including increased levels of acetylcholine in the blood, which can cause narrowing of the coronary arteries. Therefore, combat horting athletes should develop the ability to regulate excessive emotional reactions, reduce unnecessary anxiety, and overcome negative emotional states.
One effective method of emotional regulation is the switching of attention toward another activity, object, or constructive task. The stronger the personal significance of an event, the stronger the emotional response it may produce. Therefore, the ability to objectively evaluate circumstances and maintain emotional balance is an important factor in preserving the health and psychological stability of a combat horting athlete.
Under conditions of intense emotional influence, the body may enter a state of stress or psychological tension. Preventing negative consequences of stress requires systematic but appropriately dosed physical activity.
Regular combat horting training has a significant anti-stress effect, helping to:
However, it is essential that training sessions and physical exercises provide satisfaction, motivation, and positive emotions rather than being perceived as an unpleasant obligation or “bitter medicine.”
For a combat horting athlete, physical training represents not only a means of developing motor abilities but also an effective mechanism for maintaining psychological balance, emotional stability, and overall health.
Psychophysiological Regulation of the Body
All subjective perceptions of various life situations and events, as well as their evaluation in terms of desirability and usefulness, are associated with emotional responses. Emotions contribute to the mobilization of the body's resources for overcoming challenging situations. However, prolonged negative emotional states may have adverse physiological consequences. Negative emotions are associated with increased acetylcholine concentration in the blood, which may contribute to vascular constriction within the coronary arteries. Therefore, Combat Horting athletes should develop the ability to regulate excessive emotional reactions and overcome negative emotional states.
One effective approach to emotional regulation is attentional switching, which involves redirecting focus toward alternative objects, tasks, or activities. The stronger the personal significance of an event, the more pronounced the emotional response may become. Consequently, developing the ability to objectively evaluate circumstances and maintain emotional balance is an important component of health preservation among Combat Horting athletes.
Under conditions of intense emotional stress, the body may enter a state of psychological and physiological tension commonly referred to as stress. Prevention of stress-related breakdowns can be supported through regular, appropriately dosed physical activity during Combat Horting training sessions. Physical exercise has been demonstrated to possess stress-reducing effects and may contribute to decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, training activities should provide a sense of satisfaction and psychological well-being rather than being perceived as an additional burden.
Among the negative factors contributing to stress among Combat Horting athletes are family-related problems, educational or professional difficulties, social maladjustment, suppressed anger, feelings of injustice, intense fear, time pressure, and sudden changes in living conditions that exceed an individual's adaptive capacity. However, not all forms of stress are harmful. A distinction should be made between eustress, a positive form of stress that mobilizes adaptive mechanisms and facilitates adjustment to new conditions, and distress, a negative form of stress that may contribute to the development of psychological disorders, including neuroses.
The development of stress-related disorders depends not only on the presence of stressors but also on how individuals perceive and interpret these factors. Research analyzing the emergence and progression of stress-related diseases indicates that the primary determinant is not stress itself, but rather the absence of active coping strategies aimed at changing or adapting to challenging circumstances.
Two general approaches to stress management may be distinguished:
The negative effects of stress are intensified when a Combat Horting athlete focuses primarily on evaluating the consequences of an adverse event rather than identifying possible solutions and corrective actions. Regular Combat Horting practice contributes to the prevention of stress-related disturbances. The psychological regulation methodology developed within the National Combat Horting Federation of Ukraine includes specific procedures and practical approaches aimed at improving stress resistance among athletes.
Researchers within the federation have identified a close relationship between an athlete's functional state and the degree of physiological responses demonstrated by various body systems under stressful conditions.
Based on these findings, various psychological and psychophysiological methods have been developed within comprehensive mental health preservation programs. These methods are aimed at reducing unfavorable emotional states and their consequences through conscious regulation of specific physiological functions. The effectiveness of these approaches significantly increases when they are performed in combination with deep muscular relaxation techniques.
During the application of autogenic training methods, some Combat Horting athletes incorrectly associate these techniques exclusively with self-suggestion practices. However, autogenic training is primarily based on conscious self-regulation and cognitive restructuring, which strengthen psychological resilience and activate personal resources. Autogenic training has minimal contraindications and may be effectively incorporated into athlete preparation programs.
A specific form of autogenic training is the psych hygienic gymnastics system of Combat Horting. This system consists of exercises designed for psychological hygiene purposes and is characterized by a relatively smaller volume of activity. It is applied both in the morning to establish an optimal psychophysiological state before daily activities and in the evening after training sessions, particularly before sleep.
Breathing exercises play an important role in the autogenic training system of Combat Horting. Proper diaphragmatic breathing engages various regions of the lungs, improves oxygen saturation of the blood, and increases pulmonary functional capacity. Additionally, diaphragmatic movements provide a natural massage effect on abdominal organs, particularly the liver, thereby improving their blood circulation.
The Combat Horting psychotraining system also incorporates exercises aimed at improving attention regulation, developing self-control, applying verbal self-instruction techniques, and achieving autogenic relaxation states. Methodological information regarding these approaches can be obtained through practical training sessions of the National Combat Horting Federation of Ukraine and through specialized instructional literature.
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