Sunday, December 30, 2018

KAATSU To Offset Sarcopenia



KAATSU inventor Professor Sir Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, M.D., Ph.D. and University of Tokyo Hospital cardiologist Toshiaki Nakajima, M.D., Ph.D. determined the optimal means to prevent sarcopenia using KAATSU the original BFR.

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and is a major problem especially among older individuals.

Among both males and females, muscle strength decreases with age and muscle volume quickly decreases (0.45 kg per year) as individuals age past 50 years old. That is, fast twitch muscle fiber decreases on average to 50% by the age of 80 years.

To prevent it, physicians and physiologists understand that high-intensity resistance exercise (e.g., weight training or body weight exercises) is required. But this type of training is usually not possible - or desired - by the elderly.

But with KAATSU, individuals up to the age of 104 [see below] can perform low-load or no-load, non-impact exercise with KAATSU equipment following the KAATSU Cycle modality to induce muscle hypertrophy and strengthen muscle even with short-term, low-intensity exercise. With the KAATSU Air Bands or KAATSU Aqua Bands, the KAATSU no-load, non-impact exercise physiologically and safely equals high-intensity, high-load training. In both cases (KAATSU and high-intensity, high-load training) the muscle and brain are stimulated to induce muscle hypertrophy and strength including fast twitch muscle fibers.

Elderly KAATSU users are strongly recommended to use repeated (3-6) KAATSU Cycles on first their arms and then subsequently on their legs. Ideally, this is done sometime in the morning or afternoon. Users can then do a few KAATSU Cycles on either their arms and/or legs during the evening hours, optimally less than hour before bedtime.

The KAATSU Master 2.0 is the next-generation device to be used safely and effectively by users over the age of 50 years.



























There are 5 general levels of pressure (Levels 1 - 5) that are increasingly higher, but are based on decades of use by elderly patients in Japan and are judged safe by Japanese cardiologist.

Dr. Nakajima reported the significant increase in cross sectional area of thigh with MRI in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports (2014 Oct;24(5):799-806). He also explained how the increase in muscle strength and mass leads to improvement of life function tests like getting up and out of a chair or bed.

Similar results were realized in the arms (biceps and triceps) among the group of elderly patients [see before-and-after effects of a 71-year-old subject on left].

Dr. Nakajima explains the process leading up to muscle hypertrophy due to traditional resistance training. "Typically, an individual needs to perform at least 65% of 1RM to create mechanical stress, metabolic stress, Hormone (cathecholamine) secretion, Growth factor, Cytokin (IL-6), nerve factor, local circulation, hypoxia and cell swelling that leads to adaptation and an increase in protein synthesis and decrease in protein degradation.

In contrast, KAATSU leads to several mechanisms that cause KAATSU's hypertrophic effects: recruitment of fast twitch muscle fibers, increase in Growth Hormone and IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor), amino acid uptake, increase in protein synthesis and a decrease in myostatin.
"

He described the process. "Maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is dependent on the relationship of muscle protein balance - protein synthesis and breakdown. A negative protein balance induces muscle atrophy, whereas a positive balance induces muscle hypertrophy.

After muscle disuse, during long-term bed rest and simulated models of no-bearing activity, severe skeletal muscle atrophy develops due to altered protein metabolism leading to decreased muscle contractile protein content.

To prevent this, resistance exercise, an established and potent stimulus for enhancing muscle protein synthesis and subsequent muscle hypertrophy, is traditionally used.

Conversely, skeletal muscle is a plastic organ that adapts its mass to the different conditions by affecting pathways that regulate protein and cellular turnover. Repetitive KAATSU appears to be a novel stimulus for skeletal muscle to induce a net positive protein balance and prevent atrophy especially with patients with orthopedic diseases or injuries or those with disuse syndrome, sarcopenia and cachexia (weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness)
."

The video below shows the before-and-after effects of KAATSU Cycle on a 104-year-old female.

Visionary physicians like Dr. Sato and Dr. Nakajima are leading the way on how best to utilize KAATSU to combat sarcopenia (loss of muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process) while addressing a host of other wellness and health issues. For example, 104-year-old female patient in Kawasaki, Japan shows what is possible with KAATSU under the guidance of her physician Dr. Odagiri and Dr. Sato.



The patient was bedridden and uncommunicative for two months with severe dementia. She was transferred from her local hospital to Odagiri Hospital where she was treated with KAATSU. Initially for the first month, she simply did KAATSU Cycle as she remained in bed. Gradually, she became communicative and was able to get out of bed. Eventually, over the course of two months, she was able to do a variety of exercises and found herself wishing to live to be 200 years old [see English translation in video above].

During the Japanese-language video, she was asked how old she is and she answers as 104, holding a document confirming her age and birth date. She is shown doing a variety of exercises with her KAATSU Air Bands on (at an Optimal SKU level of 120).

Her doctors also documented her muscle gains in her upper legs (quadricep + hamstring) via before-and-after comparative computed tomography scans (3 months apart):





























For a brief explanation of the mechanisms involved in doing KAATSU among elderly patients, visit here.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU For Older Golfers

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, golfers
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery

Former Japanese golf professional Teruo Sugihara (Japanese: 杉原輝雄) passed away at the age of 74. Sugihara was one of the first professional athletes in Japan to transform his career later in life by incorporating KAATSU into his training and recovery.

Sugihara won 63 tournaments over the course of his career and played professionally in Japan even after his diagnosis of prostate cancer in 1997. In 2006, at age 68, he became the oldest player to make the cut in a top-tier Japanese tour event.

His final Japan Golf Tour appearance came at the 2010 Mizuno Open in Nishonomiya, Japan, the same year that he co-authored a book called KAATSU Golf with KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato.

There were many valuable lessons in his innovative use of KAATSU that he has shared with golfers of any age, but especially with older golfers.

Sugihara-san used KAATSU to improve his health and his game. His book, KAATSU Golf, describes how he used KAATSU to:

* strengthen his upper body
* improve his swing
* enhance his mobility during his swing
* increase his grip strength
* improve his leg strength with squats and practice swings
* enhance his overall strength and club head speed

Older golfers can use KAATSU with the following protocols:

1. Always start with the KAATSU Cycle mode, using the KAATSU Nano or KAATSU Master 2.0 units with KAATSU Air Bands.
2. Always be well-hydrated before starting KAATSU.

3. The KAATSU Cycle should be used first on the arms and then on the legs. That is, place the KAATSU Air Bands first on then arms, do upper body exercises, then remove the bands. Then, repeat the KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU Air Bands on the legs.

4. The Base SKU pressure should be high enough to slightly reduce venous flow, but not high enough to restrict arterial flow. That is, the KAATSU Air Bands should be snugly applied to the limbs so a finger cannot be slipped between the bands and the arms (or legs). The palm of the hand with the band will subsequently turn slightly pink or give the appearance of a rosy color compared to the palm on the hand without the band. This is due to the increased engorgement of blood in the capillaries.

5. In addition to the coloration of the palms, the maintenance of the arterial flow can be confirmed by the Masimo MightySat Finger Pulse Oximeter. The pulse rate and SpO2 is shown on the face of the Masimo device [see photo below where a women in her 60s with the KAATSU Air Bands at 280 SKU shows a real-time pulse rate of 72 beats per minute and SpO2 of 100%]. It is also normal that veins are distended [see photo below].







































6. The KAATSU Cycle mode should start conservatively (i.e., with a lower Optimal SKU pressure) on the first Cycle and then can be gradually increased on the second and subsequent Cycles (e.g., 100 SKU on the first Cycle followed by 140 SKU on the second Cycle, 180 SKU on the third Cycle, and 220 SKU on the fourth Cycle). At all times, the coloration should be at least maintained, and usually becomes a deeper hue or more red. This coloration transformation is due to increased engorgement of blood in the capillaries and veins.


























































7. If the user feels uncomfortable or lightheaded at any time, the bands should be immediately removed. Alternatively, on the KAATSU Master 2.0, the data settings for automatic shutdown can be set to any specific SpO2 or pulse rate. However, use of the KAATSU Cycle has shown over millions of KAATSU sessions that this mode comfortable and appropriate for users of all ages and backgrounds.

8. During the 3-4 KAATSU Cycles, the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises can be done:

KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for arms:
(a) Standard: Hand Clenches + Biceps Curls + Triceps Extensions
(b) Advanced: Hand Clenches with a squeeze ball + Biceps Curls with very light dumbbells + Triceps Extensions done slowly under muscle contraction

KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for legs:

(a) Standard: Toe Curls + Toe Raises + Sitting Heel Raises
(b) Advanced: Slow Standing Heel Raises + Slow Standing Leg Curls + Slow non-lock Quarter Squats

KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for core (optional):

(a) Standard (with KAATSU leg bands on): Sit up straight in chair + stretch arms and hands upwards in a long, slow stretch + bend forward breathing slowly
(b) Advanced (with KAATSU leg bands on): Balance on one foot (alternate feet) + balance on one foot while moving water bottles in hand + walk with a book on your head + balance

That is, when the bands are inflated, the user can do these various movements listed above in order.

9. After the KAATSU Cycles are over, the user can then move right into their KAATSU functional movements of choice (e.g., swinging a club using a putter or driver) or stretching.

10. If functional movements are not possible due to injury or disability, the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises can be used for rehabilitative or recovery.

11. After the KAATSU Cycles and exercises are completed on the arms, then remove the bands from the arms and place the bands on the legs.

12. Do KAATSU Cycles on the legs and then KAATSU functional movements of choice with the bands on the legs.

To purchase Sugihara's DVD book in its original Japanese language, visit Amazon Japan here.

Copyright © 2014 - 2015 by KAATSU Global

Monday, December 24, 2018

Rocks, Sand, Powder and KAATSU

For who? trainers, coahes, athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery



























Most personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and exercise physiologists believe that proper muscle building requires regular lifting of weights and other resistance exercises.

The conventional wisdom is that the heavier the weight and/or the more repetitions or time in the gym, the larger and faster muscles will grow.

Standard thought includes that part of that muscle-building process - at any age or with either gender - requires the experience of DMOS (Delayed Muscle Onset Soreness) where the muscle fibers are damaged while weight lifting, and thus leading to the secretion of HGH (Human Growth Hormone) that results in muscle recovery, growth and size.

Practically, this means that if you are bench pressing 50 kg in 3 sets of 12 repetitions, and then gradually increase the weight to 55 kg in 3 sets of 12 repetitions, then not only are you psychologically satisfied with your performance, but you are also getting stronger and most probably bigger in size.

And usually sore for a while after every weight training session.

Figuratively speaking, a strength and conditioning coach wants their athletes to lift more weights over more repetitions.

Let’s imagine that those weights are rocks. Let’s place those rocks in a bucket and ask the athlete to lift those imaginary buckets.

If the coach wants to increase their weight of that bucket, he will add another rock. But at some point, the bucket will be filled and no more rocks can be added.

But what if those rocks were replaced by sand? Rocks are clearly heavier than sand. But, if we filled the bucket with sand - tiny particles of little rocks - the overall weight of the sand-filled bucket will be even greater than a bucket filled with larger, heavier rocks.

Now imagine the coach wants to increase the weight of the bucket for his athlete. He cannot add another rock, but he can add some additional sand.

The sand enables micro increases of weight in a way that rocks cannot. This can enable the coach to help his athlete very gradually and very minutely increase the weight and performance gains.

Now figuratively imagine, a clever coach used powder instead of sand in his imaginary weight training bucket. Powder is obviously lighter than sand and significantly lighter than rocks. But powder enables the coach to very precisely and gradually increase the weight and strength of his athlete.

Essentially, the sand and the powder enables a more precise means to gradually increase the strength and performance of an athlete.

KAATSU is very similar to this analogy of using rocks versus sand versus powder.

KAATSU equipment enables strength and conditioning coaches to very precisely and MUCH more frequently increase the strength and size of their athletes in addition to their speed and stamina.

The preciseness and specificity that is enabled by KAATSU equipment is unparalleled. With KAATSU equipment, one pressure point increase is the figurative and literal amount that is equivalent to a single grain of sand or tiny bits of powder. For elite athletes who seek victory by being only incrementally faster, better, and stronger than their opponents, KAATSU - or the equivalent of sand or powder - can be the incremental difference.

Likewise, for a stroke victim or a paraplegic who is striving to make only slight incremental improvements in their movements or strength, KAATSU enables the tiny increases in their Quality of Life. Performed regularly and ideally daily for less than 15 minutes per day, these incremental increases in performance and in the Quality of Life makes significant changes in the lives of healthy athletes and injured individuals.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Be Healthy Until The Day You Die

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery


























Graph courtesy of CNN.

"He taught me that a wonderful goal is to be healthy until the day you died," said Steven Munatones of 70-year-old Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, the inventor of KAATSU [shown on left]. "What Dr. Sato and his wife* have shown after 5 decades of daily KAATSU use is that his goal is possible. It is unbelievable how healthy the Sato's are."

With unprecedented demographic changes underway in Japan, KAATSU is a wellness modality in much need.

Japan's population peaked in 2008 at 128,083,960 people. But as the number of births fell below the number of deaths among Japanese, Japan is experiencing its biggest natural population decline since 1899 when records began. Japan's population is currently at 124 million this year - but is expected to decrease to 88 million by 2065 and 42 million by 2110 as its population continues to decline by 1 million people every year according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research estimates.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported that the number of births dipped under 1 million babies for the third consecutive year while the number of deaths in 2018 was 1.369 million.

The demographic trends are undeniable. Since 2013, more than 20% of Japan's population is over the age of 65 and that figure is forecasted to rise above 40% by 2060 while Japanese has an average life expectancy of 85 years as of 2016 (it was 81.25 as of 2006).

So what are the implications of these demographic trends vis-a-vis KAATSU usage?

Significant.



Visionary physicians and patients born before 1950 are leading the way on how best to incorporate KAATSU to combat sarcopenia (loss of muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process) and address a host of other health issues. For example, 104-year-old female patient in Kawasaki, Japan shows what is possible with KAATSU under the guidance of her physician Dr. Odagiri and KAATSU inventor Dr. Sato.

The video above was presented by Dr. Odagiri at the first KAATSU Training Symposium held in Tokyo, Japan in 2005.

The patient was bedridden and uncommunicative for two months with severe dementia. She was transferred from her local hospital to Odagiri Hospital where she was treated with KAATSU. Initially for the first month, she simply did KAATSU Cycle as she remained in bed. Gradually, she became communicative and was able to get out of bed. Eventually, over the course of two months, she was able to do a variety of exercises and found herself wishing to live to be 200 years old [see English translation in video above].

During the video, she was asked how old she is and she answers as 104, holding a document confirming her age and birth date. She is shown doing a variety of exercises with her KAATSU Air Bands on (at an Optimal SKU level of 120).

Her doctors also documented her muscle gains in her upper legs (quadricep + hamstring) via before-and-after comparative computed tomography scans (3 months apart):





























For a brief explanation of the mechanisms involved in doing KAATSU among elderly patients, visit here.

* Mrs. Sato wears a pulse oximeter showing a pulse rate of 72 and a SpO2 of 100% while doing KAATSU on the new KAATSU Master 2.0.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, December 13, 2018

The Transformation From Tradition

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery

















































David Tawil is one of the world’s most experienced KAATSU Master Specialists. He has taught KAATSU to Olympic gold medalists and Navy SEALs as well as wounded warriors and quadriplegics, traveling from Tokyo to Tel Aviv and Houston to Helsinki.

After learning myriad KAATSU protocols and applications directly from KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato over several visits to Tokyo, 29-year-old Tawil started to travel the globe mentoring individuals from teenagers to basketball stars about the intricacies of KAATSU.

But his transformation to a KAATSU Master Specialist was unlikely and unexpected.

I was a conventional personal trainer, lifting heavy weights in order to tear down muscle so it could repair itself and get bigger,” explained Tawil originally from New York City. “I frequently experienced DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) - that was how bodybuilders and trainers were taught.

But then I met Dr. Sato through my own trainer, Jim Cleary. At the time, we were very much into negatives. But Jim was one of the earliest advocates of KAATSU in the United States, back in 2014. Jim had torn his biceps lifting weights and used KAATSU to avoid atrophy and build his bicep even when it was in the process of healing.

I thought the KAATSU concept of reducing the venous flow and secreting Growth Hormone as well as IGF-1 (insulin growth factor) was fascinating. At the time, it was certainly unheard of in my weight training circles and traditional training network, so I found my way to Tokyo where Dr. Sato blew my mind with all kinds of athletic performance, weight training, rehabilitation and recovery protocols.”

Dr. Sato showed Tawil how he could build muscle without lifting weights and avoid DOMS, even while rehabilitating from broken bones or torn muscles or damaged ligaments and tendons. At first, KAATSU seemed to Tawil as a simple adjunct to his traditional weight training program. But as he experimented more and more with KAATSU, he realized KAATSU presented a complete lifestyle change.

KAATSU completely transformed my lifestyle and made it significantly more efficient and effective.

In the course of a single day, I was able to incorporate all different facets of Dr. Sato’s discoveries with KAATSU. I wake up in the morning and do KAATSU to help my body wake up.

I could literally pack for a business trip while wearing my arm bands on and kill two birds with one stone. I would be getting ready, packing my luggage while building muscle with the KAATSU Air Bands on. I could go to the airport early and do a few KAATSU Cycles to relax before my flight. I even learned to do KAATSU at 30,000 feet in the airplane, effectively eliminating jet lag and feeling energized once I got off the plane.

I did KAATSU in Starbucks, in taxis, while waiting in hotel lobbies, before a business meeting, and during vacation.

We did KAATSU Aqua on vacation with my family and I was able to help my father recover from his leg injuries
.”

Not only did Tawil feel better and look bigger, but he also validated his physiological improvements at the Bulletproof Lab in Santa Monica, California. “Even after I stopped lifting weights and was only doing KAATSU Cycles throughout the day - while doing functional movements or isometric exercises - I actually got bigger. My lean muscle mass increased - as documented at the Bulletproof Lab - while my body fat decreased. If I had not experienced this myself and seen the results independently confirmed by the DEXA scan, it would have been hard to believe."

Tawil's most recent work has been with Khabib Nurmagomedov, the Russian professional mixed martial artist who is a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion and the reigning undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion, and his MMA teammates in Miami, Florida.

Follow Tawil's travels around the world here.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Monday, December 10, 2018

Peter Andrew Headlines Global Coaching Convention

Courtesy of FINA, Hangzhou, China.

Coach Peter Andrew spoke eloquently on a topic he knows very well about training world-class swimmers: Quality vs Quantity: Non-Traditional Periodisation of Training Volume to over 1000 delegates, representing over 400 organizations and National Federations at the Hangzhou Intercontinental Hotel. Andrew headlined the 3-day FINA World Aquatics Convention between December 8th and 10th.

Speakers at the 2018 FINA World Aquatics Convention and FINA Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic covered myriad topics to the world's most accomplished coaches and administrators.

"It was years ago that Peter inquired about KAATSU the original BFR and KAATSU Aqua, its application in the swimming and aqua therapy worlds," recalled Chris Morgan, an Olympic coach who runs Crimson Aquatics in Massachusetts. "He started to use KAATSU for recovery after workouts and between heats and the finals, and later for dryland training, and with the KAATSU Aqua Bands when doing explosive sprints in the pool."

After making his presentation at the 5th FINA World Aquatics Convention, Andrew shifted from a speaker to a coach attending the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships held between December 11th and 16th.

Born and raised in South Africa, Andrew was an avid swimmer who later became a member of the Naval Operational Dive Team with the South African Naval Defense Force before earning his business management degree from Natal Technico.

Andrew moved to the United States and established the Aberdeen Aquaholics in South Dakota. The team moved to Kansas and evolved into Indie Swimming and then into the Race Pace Club where his son and world champion Michael trains.

He coached Michael who became the United States' most successful national age group swimmer with over 100 national age group records with four national titles in the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly, and a 2016 world 100m individual medley championship. As his son developed into one of the world's fastest swimmers, Andrew’s influence within the global swimming community has increased.

The Andrew's pair incorporates Ultra Short Race Pace Training and KAATSU into their training regimen.

For more information on the World Aquatics Convention and FINA Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic, visit here. For more information on Peter Andrew, visit here.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Sunday, November 25, 2018

KAATSU Protocols For Achilles Tendon Injuries

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery

The Achilles tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. When the tendon is strained, torn or repaired due to surgery, the following KAATSU protocols are recommended:

General Guidelines
›› Always remain well hydrated before and during the entire KAATSU session.
›› Your skin should turn pink or a beefy red or even a hint of purple. This indicates engorgement of blood in your arms or legs.
›› Your skin should not turn white, gray or blue. This indicates the KAATSU Air Bands are too tight and the bands are serving as a tourniquet. KAATSU is not occlusion training. There must be sufficient and regular arterial flow (i.e., blood flow from the torso to the limbs) and only a modified venous flow (i.e., blood flow from the limbs back to the torso) when doing KAATSU.
›› Continue to follow the recommendations of your medical professional and perform the movements as recommended by your physical therapist .
›› You can use the KAATSU Air Bands while doing standard physical therapy.
›› You can do KAATSU twice per day which is especially effective if one session is in the morning hours and another session is closer to bedtime.
›› Keep rest short between sets and exercises while doing KAATSU. Rest 20-30 seconds between sets or 60 seconds between different exercises. This can be modified as necessary.
›› Select physical therapy movements, exercises, or loads that allow you to perform a good number of repetitions (e.g., 30–40 repetitions in first set, 20-30 repetitions in the second set, fewer than 15 repetitions in the third set).
›› Do at least 3 sets of each exercise or movement and then move onto a different exercise.
›› Try to reach maximum effort (or go to muscular or technical failure) within each set.
›› Always start with up to 15 minutes of KAATSU Cycle on your arms and then do up to 20 minutes of KAATSU Cycle on your legs.
›› Always have your Capillary Refill Time fall within 3 seconds with no occlusion or lightheadedness, and no paleness or no numbness in your limbs.
›› Immediately release and remove KAATSU Air Bands if there is any numbness or lightheadedness, or the skin color becomes pale or white. Lie down with the legs elevated if necessary.
›› Never simultaneously put on or use the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms and legs.
›› Do not exceed 15 minutes of KAATSU on your arms or 20 minutes on your legs.
›› Frequently check your Capillary Refill Time and confirm that the color of your limbs remains either pink or beefy red.
›› Your veins may be distended (i.e., popping out) in your forearms during KAATSU.
›› You may feel a slight tingling in your fingers or toes during KAATSU. This indicates that the small capillaries of your hands are fully engorged.
›› KAATSU should be implemented with the understanding of your physician and physical therapist.
›› Higher SKU levels are usually tolerable on your legs compared to your arms in most cases.

KAATSU Protocols for Muscle, Bone, Ligament, and Tendon Recovery
›› Do 3-5 KAATSU Cycles ("Cycle 20") at your appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU, first on your arms (i.e., 8 cycles of 20 seconds on + 5 seconds off).
›› Then do 4-6 KAATSU Cycles at your appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU on your legs.
›› You can repeat this twice per day. If you stimulate a hormonal response towards bedtime, your speed of recovery will be enhanced.

›› Additionally, you can also do "Cycle 60" at your appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU on your injured leg. That is, apply the KAATSU Air Band only one the leg that is injured or is recovering.
•• The KAATSU Cycle 60 mode is cycles of 60 seconds on followed by 20 seconds off at the Optimal SKU.
›› You can do muscle contractions or simple motions during the KAATSU Cycle 20 and Cycle 60 as desired.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Michael Andrew Wins Breakout Performer of the Year at Golden Goggles

For who? swimmers, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery



Michael Andrew won the Breakout Performer of the Year Award at USA Swimming's Golden Goggles Awards ceremony on November 19th in New York City.

While away from home for over 3 months while touring the world and competing at six events on the 2018 FINA World Cup circuit, he continued his use of KAATSU with his KAATSU Nano and neoprene KAATSU Aqua Bands, made specifically for aquatic applications.

The 19-year-old from Kansas who will move to Encinitas, California with his father-coach Peter Andrew, manager-mother Tina and his younger sister had a breakthrough season this year.

At the 2018 Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships, Andrew won national titles in the 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, and 50m butterfly to become the first man since 2008 to win at least four titles at USA Swimming National Championships or the USA Olympic Trials.

In Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships [see videos below], Andrew won a gold medal in the pressure-packed 50m freestyle on the last day of competition for his first individual medal at a major long-course international meet after training with his KAATSU Aqua Bands.





After the 50m freestyle race, Andrew describes his use of KAATSU Cycle between the preliminary heats and the finals on August 12th in the video above. He described his use of KAATSU in the buildup to the championships in the video below.



Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

From Upside Down To Rightside Up

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery



Jack Turner was recently named the Western Water Polo Association's Most Valuable Player, leading University of California San Diego's water polo team to the NCAA championship tournament that begins this week.

The 6'-7" Fremont, California native is one of the top water polo goalies in America and has represented the USA in international tournaments in Europe.

After returning from a European training trip, he drove up to his parents' home before heading to the San Francisco International Airport to travel to Taiwan in order to starting in the goal for Team USA at the 2017 World University Games.

But he never got to SFO.

He recalled the story of that long drive from San Diego to San Francisco to the San Diego Tribune on August 4th 2017, "At 1 a.m., about a half-hour south of home, I was in in Gilroy when my truck began swerving out of control due to a blown tire."

His truck flipped over on its side and began to roll over and over again until it landed on its roof off the highway while Turner was stuck upside down, held by his seatbelt. “I was thinking, ‘Am I still alive? Can I move my toes? And then I knew I needed to get out of the car. You don’t know what condition it’s in. It’s kind of fight or flight.”

Strong and limber due to years of high-level water polo, he was able to cut himself free from the seatbelt and then he kicked out the passenger window and wiggled his way out of the totaled car. He felt a numbness on the back of his scalp and could not turn his head sideways.

It turned out his numbness was only one indication of the severity of his injury: a crack in his C1 vertebrae and a full fracture of his C2 vertebrae. Victims of such breaks often become quadriplegic and are occasionally fatal as a result of inability to breathe.

But Turner, an aerospace engineering major at UC San Diego, is as lucky as he is unusual and motivated. He wanted to be with his teammates and play against the best American universities and top teams around the world. While his teammate Sam Thompson took over his duties in the water polo cage during the 2017 season, ultimately becoming an All-American, Turner started his rehabilitation with a fervor and eventually was seen on the team's bench with a neck brace.

How he survived is beyond explanation, but he was determined to work himself back to water polo shape and play with his teammates - even with a neck brace on for months. “It was all pretty scary, being told that you shouldn’t be walking or breathing. But more than anything I was thinking about whether I’d be able to play again. I’d been doing it for so long — that was my identity.

I probably went through the seven stages of grief before accepting it. And then being told that it’s not over, that I could continue my career — I knew it was going to be tough, but it ignited something in me. I didn’t give up, and it would have been easy to do that with a broken neck
.”

Turner missed the entire 2017 college season, but eventually found himself back in the pool and wearing USA team gear in Europe this September.

That experience against the world's best water polo players - older, tougher, stronger, faster athletes than the competition who he would play against during the college season - gave him a massive boost of confidence. "I was nervous at first, but I got my hand on a couple of shots and thought, ‘Oh, wow, I can do this. I deserve to be here. I worked hard to be here.

Without question, one of America's best water polo goalies has experienced near tragedy and persevered in one of the most unlikely roads to success in collegiate sports today.

His UC San Diego coaches and teammates know very well what he went through. They do KAATSU for training, rehabilitation and recovery throughout their off-season, pre-season, mid-season and championship season. The young men will face California State University Long Beach on November 29th in the second round of the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championships.

Turner's water polo bio is here.

Update: UCSD, led by Turner, beat Long Beach State 14-9 to reach the NCAA's men's water polo Final Four against Stanford on December 1st.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Working Out Like A Leidy

Courtesy of LifeforceIQ.

Leidy Weinstein and her husband David Weinstein co-founded LifeForceIQ and OASIS in Boca Raton, Florida.

Our goal is to awaken human potential by sharing precise effective tools and methods to maximize the health, happiness and performance of people who want to realize their potential," explains Weinstein, a tireless entrepreneur in the fields of medicine and biotechnology. Together with Leidy, the pair know they can transform themselves in order to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Leidy, a working mother and a competitive body sculptor originally from Colombia, explains, "The LifeForce approach has four dimensions: we can improve your physique and vitality, increase your mental clarity, help you achieve better sleep and recovery, and reduce your stress while boosting your tranquility."

Between cooking healthfully with organic food, she works out vigorously - but efficiently - with KAATSU Air Bands on her arms for her upper body and her legs for her lower body and core.

Leidy and David wanted to learn from the inventor of KAATSU so they traveled from Florida to Tokyo in order to learn from Dr. Yoshiaki Sato. Their initial session was intense.

"She was ready. She listened to Dr. Sato's advice and followed his protocols to the letter," observed KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil. "She was pumped psychologically and became so physiologically toned - ripped - it was unbelievable.

Then she gave that KAATSU Smile that Dr. Sato is always looking for with KAATSU users after their 10-15 minute session is over
."

Dr. Sato started Leidy with several KAATSU Cycles, gradually increasing her Optimal Pressure from 150 SKU to 300 SKU on her arms. "Leidy's skin gradually started to get pink and then became a healthy glow of red by the end of several KAATSU Cycles," said Tawil. "Then Dr. Sato went from the KAATSU Cycle modality right into KAATSU Training when he untethered Leidy and did a variety of short exercises from isometric exercises to triceps extensions on a bench."

Leidy then went into the recovery mode with a finishing KAATSU Cycle and she smiled, "I feel great - like I just had an hour-long workout in the gym. But KAATSU got me to muscular failure within minutes. It is so efficient and effective when the blood is pooled in your limbs."

Together with LifeForceIQ, the husband-and-wife team created the Oasis retreat in Boca Raton where visitors can experience the benefits of exercise and nutrition according to the LifeForce approach and receive personalized Life Coaching services.

For more information about LifeforceIQ, visit here.



Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Beauty After 50




















































Most approaches to enjoying great skin are well-known: good sun protection combined with good nutrition and good overall health.

KAATSU Beauty adds another level of skin security.

KAATSU Beauty enables increased vascular elasticity - especially in the tiny capillaries of the skin.

KAATSU Beauty - Nighttime Protocol #1

1. Be well-hydrated.
2. Do 4-6 KAATSU Cycles one hour before going to bed.
3. Repeatedly pronounce vowels ("a - e - i - o - u") out loud while doing 2-3 KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU Air Bands on the arms.
4. Slowly rotate the head left and right, forwards and backwards, and clockwise and counterclockwise while doing 1-2 KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU Air Bands on the arms.
5. Gently stretch the upper body while doing 1-2 KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU Air Bands on the arms.

KAATSU Beauty - Nighttime Protocol #2

1. Be well-hydrated.
2. Do 3-6 KAATSU Cycles one hour before going to bed.
3. Slowly and steadily stretch the legs and core (abdominal and lower back) while doing KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU Air Bands on the legs.





















The more KAATSU, the better. That is, doing KAATSU sessions daily or twice daily produces better and more dramatic results than only doing KAATSU 2-3 times per week.

Data from research at the University of Tokyo Medical School Hospital’s 22nd Century Medical Center from the Ischemic Circulation Physiology Department found that KAATSU leads to the secretion of Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor (VEGF). VEGF is known to enhance blood vessel neogenesis. The research found that various resistance exercises with KAATSU Air Bands lead to the secretion and activation of VEGF.

The research also confirmed that KAATSU increases vascular endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) using a strain gauge plethysmograph (EC 6 manufactured by Hokanson) that measured vascular endothelium.

The plethysmograph can conduct non-invasive evaluation of the elasticity of blood vessels and the endothelial function. Early detection of lifestyle-related diseases (e.g., arteriosclerosis) and the treatment evaluation of vascular endothelial function result by measuring parameters including arterial influx, venous volume, and venous outflow.

Using the vascular endothelium test measurement instrument, the researchers found that the more KAATSU is properly and safely performed following the standard KAATSU protocols, the more elastic your blood vessels can become. That is, the more often KAATSU was performed, the greater endothelium elasticity was achieved.



























Actual KAATSU Beauty users shown above are at least 50 years old.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Beauty While At Work





Many older Japanese women have great skin.

Most of their secrets are well-known: good sun protection throughout their lives combined with good nutrition.

But there is another secret: KAATSU Beauty, the Original BFR.

KAATSU Beauty has been called anti-aging in the popular Japanese media. In fact, the KAATSU Cycle modality is highly effective in maintaining and improving vein and capillary elasticity as you age. This is the essence of anti-aging description.

The blood circulation that is enhanced with KAATSU (see Effect of knee extension exercise with KAATSU on forehead cutaneous blood flow in healthy young and middle-aged women) stimulates the repeated constriction and dilation of the body's veins and capillaries, improving its overall vascular elasticity. As a result of repeated KAATSU Cycles on the KAATSU Master 2.0 and KAATSU Cycle 2.0, vascular endothelial cells and nitric oxide are produced that also helps.

When the small handheld KAATSU Cycle 2.0 is used at work in an office or cubicle, the blood vessels in your arms and legs are repeatedly dilated as the blood engorges the capillaries of your upper or lower limbs as the color of your arms or legs becomes pink, beefy red or even a shade of purple. As your limbs become dilated, more blood is pooled in your limbs - which is why the color of your arms and legs often starts off with a slight pinkness color and then gradually changes to a darker or redder color during KAATSU.

Meanwhile, the blood vessels in other parts of your body are also positively impacted. Due to the increased elasticity in your arms and legs, your blood circulation is improved throughout your body - including your face and neck.

During KAATSU, the enhanced blood flow in your arms and legs pools into your blood vessels where no blood has been previously supplied - or alternatively, new capillaries are formed. This is why older people or those with cold hands or cold feet feel a sense of warmth after doing KAATSU. These new capillaries help supply a limited amount of blood more efficiently and helps with the onslaught of aging.

With increased vascular elasticity - especially of the tiny amount of capillaries - skin elasticity is increased.

KAATSU Beauty - Home or Work Protocol #1
1. Be well-hydrated with your KAATSU Air Bands on your arms.
2. Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycles while sitting down and writing emails or doing office work.
3. Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycles while rotating your shoulders forwards and backwards and stretching your deltoids (shoulders) and triceps.

KAATSU Beauty - Home or Work Protocol #2
1. Be well-hydrated with your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs.
2. Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycles while standing up and stretching your legs.
3. Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycles while doing simple squats or heel raises.

KAATSU Beauty - Home or Work Protocol #3
1. Be well-hydrated with your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs.
2. Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycles while sitting up very straight with your arms outstretched above your head, as you stretch your core.
3. Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycles while standing up and twisting to one side and then the other.

KAATSU Beauty - Home or Work Protocol #3
1. Be well-hydrated with your KAATSU Air Bands on your arms.
2. Repeatedly (silently) say the vowels ("A-I-E-O-U") enunciating as slowly and steadily as possible.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Romy Camargo Making A Difference With Stay In Step

For who? veterans, soldiers
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery

Courtesy of Romulo 'Romy' Camargo, Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center, Florida.

Romy Camargo enlisted in the United States Army in 1995 and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3.

His life took a turn during combat in Afghanistan on September 16th 2008 when his detachment was viciously ambushed. During the ambush, Romy sustained a gunshot wound to the back of the neck. The gunshot wound paralyzed him from the neck down.

Medic Steve Hill was able to stabilize him while his Team ODA 7115 prepped the battlefield to be medically airlifted out of the area.*

After Romy arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he was operated on to stabilize his neck as his C3 vertebra had been shattered and was extracted. His breathing was tied to a respirator and he was paralyzed from the shoulders down. He transferred to the James A. Haley VA hospital in Tampa, Florida where he was an inpatient for 18 months.

Romy still lives in Tampa where he not only continues to rehabilitate with the latest equipment and protocols, including KAATSU to help restore his muscle tone and improve his vascular elasticity, but also serve as the Administrative Director at the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.

The KAATSU Air Bands are placed on his arms while he uses the physical therapy equipment at Stay In Step. His skin color turns pink with solid red tones due to an engorgement of blood in his forearms and upper arm - and his muscle tone improves.

A hero for sure; Romy’s major awards and decorations include:
* Legion of Merit
* Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
* Army Commendation Medal
* Joint Service Achievement Medal
* Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal
* Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab
* Combat Infantry Badge
* Master Parachutist Badge
* Special Operations Combat Divers Badge
* Special Operations Combat Divers Supervisors Badge



* Hill is the Lead Trainer at Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, November 17, 2018

I Want To Complete A Marathon






























"It is such a joy, honor, and inspiration to work with wounded warriors like Joe," said KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil.

Joe Lowrey retired as a U.S. Army Green Beret Sergeant 1st Class Joseph Lowrey. The Long Beach, California native is an avid KAATSU user after improbably surviving a horrific gunshot wound to his head during a combat tour in Afghanistan.

While serving with the 7th Special Forces Group on July 7th 2014, Lowrey and his fellow soldiers were tasked to enter an area known to be a Taliban stronghold.

The injury occurred during Lowrey’s third deployment while manning the gun turret on top of a truck during an intense firefight against Taliban insurgents.

Immediately after Lowrey was hit when PKM machine gun fire (the round pierced his Kevlar helmet and caused a massive traumatic brain injury to his right hemisphere), the medic onboard heroically saved his life by conducting an emergency tracheotomy on the battlefield. Even so, after surgery, his colleagues were told that Lowrey would not survive.

Inexplicably, Lowrey survived the next day as well as the next week and next month. Just after he and his wife Jennifer welcomed their fourth child, Lowrey was airlifted from Afghanistan to Germany's Landstuhl Hospital where he remained in a coma. Despite being given a small chance of survival by doctors, Lowrey was airlifted to the United States where he continued his battle through stays at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Palo Alto, California at a polytrauma rehabilitation hospital, and then at Casa Colina and Centre for Neuro Skills in Southern California.

After years of believing in himself and his caregivers through an excruciatingly painful recovery and rehabilitation, Lowrey emerged well enough to move back in with his family albeit without use of his left side and with some short-term memory losses due to his traumatic brain injury.

"My brothers rescued me from the fight," he recalled from his home in Ontario, California. "It has been a very long road to recovery, but I want to run again. That is one of my goals."

The Purple Heart recipient then met KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil. Together they delved into every KAATSU protocol covering muscle development, rehabilitation enhancement and basic recovery.

But they also concurrently took a deep dive into nutrition, specifically ketogenic diets, and all kinds of healthy biohacks.

Because Joe, a former highly competitive ice hockey goalie and self-defined fitness fanatic, was completely paralyzed on his left side from 2014. "Due to being sedentary for the first time in my life, I gained a lot of weight and was just eating everything including too many hamburgers," recalled Lowrey.

"But then I lost the added weight when I began eating a low-carb diet and sleeping right."

But he also experienced significant muscle mass loss while undergoing physical therapy in several Veterans Administration hospitals and medical clinics for four years.

Lowrey started KAATSU in June 2018 and, together with Tawil, have established a smooth-running protocol where Lowrey does KAATSU twice daily in the convenience of his home. He does a morning exercise protocol where he focuses on muscle toning, balance and gait fluidity as well as an evening sleep protocol where he focuses on relaxation and vascular elasticity that enables him to get a solid 8 hours of deep sleep.

"I loved how my legs felt the very first time that I tried KAATSU," recalled Lowrey who first did KAATSU in the comfort of his living room.

"I didn't know how to use the KAATSU equipment at first; it was all new to me, but David was patient and taught me and my caregiver how to apply it during my morning and evening sessions. Now it is just part of my daily routine."

Tawil reiterated, "It is important to teach KAATSU users like Joe to understand how to do KAATSU by himself. Because of Joe's limited strength, uncertain balance and lack of complete mobility, we spend all the time necessary for Joe to feel comfortable and gain the maximum benefits from KAATSU.

Joe first started with very low-pressure KAATSU Cycles on both his arms and legs. He learned what the appropriate Base and Optimal pressures are for him - both in the morning where Joe does more vigorous workouts and in the evening where it is all about relaxation and getting ready to reap all the benefits of a good night's sleep
."

Over the next 8 weeks, Lowrey started to stand, balance and walk with KAATSU the Original BFR.

"We walk around the house and in his backyard," explains Tawil. "But we also go outside in his complex and tackle walking on grass. All of the different textures and slightly different elevations on the grass and a nearby hill are great challenges and objectives for Joe to achieve during his walking sessions. This sort of KAATSU Walking on a grassy hill - so simple for able-bodies people - are extremely helpful for Joe's improvement.

Joe does KAATSU 2 times per day: the first time at 10 am and then again at 7 pm before going to bed. At night, Joe just does simple KAATSU Cycles at a relatively low pressure. This double daily session has been essential for his rapid improvement. He is up to 2,000 steps a day, but his long-term goal is running a marathon
."

Lowrey is taking his progress step-by-step.

But it is never easy. Friend John Doolittle said, "Joe recently had a fall and is having resulting issues with his arm and shoulder on his left side. But Joe continues to consistently take 1,500 - 2,000 steps daily and has started to attack stairs and inclines, or mountains as he refers to them. He is making steady progress."







Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, September 6, 2018

KAATSU On Medical Frontiers

For who? medical researchers, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery























NHK World in Japan broadcasts an English-language television program called Medical Frontiers.

One segment was on stiff shoulders and how contemporary sedentary lifestyles can lead to chronic pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders and back. Medical Frontiers described surprising causes of stiff shoulders and innovative treatment options to ease shoulder aches and pains. This includes the KAATSU protocol for stiff shoulders and insomnia.

A second segment was KAATSU applications with patients whose muscles have significantly atrophied.



Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Monday, September 3, 2018

KAATSU Core & Lower Back Exercises

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery



It is not intuitive, but KAATSU Air Bands can be placed on your upper arms and upper legs for systemic effects that are felt and seen throughout your body, including your core and lower back.

Many individuals are not motivated to do planks, crunches and other forms of abdominal work. Instead, KAATSU users can do a number of simple KAATSU exercises to strengthen their lower back and tighten their core.

Core and lower back exercises can comprise of your entire KAATSU training session for the day. Alternatively, core and lower back exercises can be an addition to your typical KAATSU sessions.

Core & Lower Back #1 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs to your Optimal SKU.
3. Sit straight up in a chair or couch with your hips near the edge.
4. Slowly exhale and slowly lean forward, tightening your abdominal muscles as strongly as possible until your stomach is close to your legs.
5. Hold and then slowly inhale air on your return to a sitting position with good posture.
6. Repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #2 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs to your Optimal SKU.
3. Stand on one foot, balancing only on your other leg for as long as possible.
4. When your balance is lost, rest for 10-20 seconds and repeat two more times.
5. After 3 times, balance on your other foot.
6. This act of balancing will create instability in your core and will help strengthen your stomach and lower back.

Core & Lower Back #3 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs to the Optimal SKU.
3. Place a book on your head and walk slowly until the book falls off.
4. Rest 10-20 seconds and repeat the walk again two more times with the book on your head.
5. Walking straight slowly, especially on an uneven surface like a sandy beach, will create instability in your core and will help strengthen your stomach and lower back.

Core & Lower Back #4 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs to your Optimal SKU.
3. Stand on one foot while holding a water bottle in each hand.
4. Hold the water bottle in your outstretched arms and stand as long as possible on one leg.
5. When your balance is lost, rest 10-20 seconds and repeat two more times.
6. After 3 times, balance on your other foot.
7. In order to make this exercise more difficult, move your outstretched arms left and right, and up and down in an asymmetric manner while balancing on one foot.

Core & Lower Back #5 Exercise
1. Manually tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Do planks as usual.
4. Alternatively, tighten the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms at your Optimal SKU and do planks as normal.

Core & Lower Back #6 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly bring one leg one up to your stomach and hold. Grab your knee with your arms to stretch your back.
4. Repeat as desired.
5. Continue to lie on your back and slowly pull both your legs up to your stomach and hold. Grab your knees with your arms to stretch your back.
6. Repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #7 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift your hips off the floor and hold. Bring your hips to the ground and repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #8 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift both your feet off the ground and hold. Repeat as desired.
4. Lie on your back, lift both your feet off the ground, and kick your feet slightly off the ground. Repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #9 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly pandiculate (i.e., stretch and stiffen your trunk and limbs, extending your toes, feet, arms and hands as you do upon waking).
4. Repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #10 Exercise
1. KAATSU Aqua Sit-ups are used by competitive aquatic athletes with a Bosu Ball. 2. Start horizontal in the water while grabbing onto a Bosu Ball; then climb on top of the Bosu Ball. Do 3 sets to failure.



Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Sunday, August 12, 2018

KAATSU Cycling At The 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships

For who? swimmers, athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery





Michael Andrew won his first individual gold medal in a major international meet. After the race, he described his use of KAATSU Cycle between the preliminary heats and the finals at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo, Japan on 12 August 2018 in the video above. He described his use of KAATSU in the buildup to the championships in the video below.



Copyright © 2016-2018 by KAATSU Global

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

KAATSU Aqua For Breaststrokers & Water Polo Players



























After the recent successes of Michael Andrew at the 2018 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, California, there are various creative exercises that swimmers and water polo players can do to increase their strength, speed and racing stamina with KAATSU Aqua Bands, a KAATSU Nano, and a Bosu Ball while having fun.



KAATSU Aqua Bosu Ball Sprint Kicking:
* Set the KAATSU Aqua Leg Bands to your appropriate Base SKU pressure
* Inflate to your Optimal SKU pressure with the KAATSU Nano
* Do 1-2 KAATSU Cycles on the pool deck
* Jump in the water and do 2-4 x 25-meter sprint breaststroke kicking (or eggbeater kick) with a Bosu Ball
* Rest 20-30 seconds between each set



KAATSU Aqua Core Work with Bosu Ball:
* Set the KAATSU Aqua Leg (or Arm) Bands to your appropriate Base SKU pressure
* Inflate to your Optimal SKU pressure with the KAATSU Nano
* Do 1-2 KAATSU Cycles on the pool deck
* Jump in the water and do 10+ Bosu Ball Pull-ups with the KAATSU Aqua Bands on your legs (alternate the following day with the KAATSU Aqua Bands on your arms)
* Rest 20-30 seconds between each set. The number of repetitions should decrease on each set.



KAATSU Aqua Vertical Kicking:
* Set the KAATSU Aqua Leg Bands to your appropriate Base SKU pressure
* Inflate to your Optimal SKU pressure with the KAATSU Nano
* Do 1-2 KAATSU Cycles on the pool deck
* Jump in the water and do 3-5 sets of fast butterfly and breaststroke kicking (or eggbeater kick for water polo players) while in the vertical position with hands, elbows or arms out of the water
* Rest 20-30 seconds between each set



KAATSU Aqua Racing Starts:
* Set the KAATSU Aqua Leg Bands to your appropriate Base SKU pressure
* Inflate to your Optimal SKU pressure with the KAATSU Nano
* Do 1-2 KAATSU Cycles on the pool deck
* Get on the racing block and do 5 race starts with good breakouts and the inflated KAATSU Aqua Bands. Your legs will feel fatigued.
* Rest and swim down a bit
* Then get back up on the starting blocks and do 3-5 good racing starts without the KAATSU Aqua Bands on - the improvement will be remarkable.



KAATSU Aqua Vertical Leaps:
* Set the KAATSU Aqua Leg Bands to your appropriate Base SKU pressure
* Inflate to your Optimal SKU pressure with the KAATSU Nano
* Do 1-2 KAATSU Cycles on the pool deck
* Climb on the starting blocks and do 5 jumps off the racing blocks trying to touch the backstroke flags






























KAATSU Aqua Stretching:
* With KAATSU Aqua Bands on the KAATSU Cycle mode, swimmers and water polo players can also stretch before or after a workout.



























KAATSU Aqua Cycling:
* Of course, KAATSU Cycles should be done before and after every intense workout for optimal warming up and warming down to flush out lactic acid.

On a practical level at the highest echelon of the sport, world-class swimmer Michael Andrew shares how he uses his KAATSU Aqua Bands at a USA Swimming national team training camp in Soka University in Aliso Viejo, California:



Copyright © 2016 - 2018 by KAATSU Global