Doing KAATSU In An Airplane At 30,000 Feet

We regularly do KAATSU on every airplane that we board, whether it is a short flight between Los Angeles to San Francisco or a long intercontinental flight between Europe and Asia.

Doing KAATSU Cycles - not the KAATSU Constant mode - is ideal in any seat whether in economy class or business class, aisle seat or middle seat.

Typically, we pull out our KAATSU Master or KAATSU Nano unit and attach our KAATSU Air Bands at our typical Base SKU (between 40-50 SKU on the KAATSU Master and 25-30 on the KAATSU Nano) as soon as the pilot has leveled off the airplane. Occasionally, there is a stare or question from the person sitting next to us, but most people are busy sleeping, reading or watching movies and we are left to do KAATSU without interruption.

As soon as we check the Base SKU on both KAATSU Air Bands, we begin with our first KAATSU Cycle at a relatively low setting (e.g., 100 SKU). We do this whether or not it is an early morning or a red-eye flight. But we always make sure to hydrate well, at least one water bottle or juice within 30 minutes of starting the KAATSU Cycle.

After the first KAATSU Cycle is completed within 4 minutes, we start our second KAATSU Cycle at a higher pressure (e.g., 150 SKU). We are usually typing away on our laptop or slowly opening and closing our hands (i.e., hand clenches). By the middle of the second KAATSU Cycle, we are starting to feel some significant exertion in our forearms.

We continue with a third KAATSU Cycle at a higher pressure (e.g., 200 SKU) while doing isometric exercises like firmly pressing the palms of our hands together or pressing our hands downwards against our thighs.

We usually finish off with fourth or fifth set at the highest pressure that we can withstand (e.g., 250 SKU) as we continue to do hand clenches or various isometric exercises. By the third, fourth or fifth KAATSU Cycle, we are starting to feel an increased body temperature, but there is usually no increase in our heart rate (checked by our iPhone). Our muscles have definitely gone into fatigue just like we feel in a resistance workout.

As soon as we take off the KAATSU Air Bands, we feel relief and that good feeling like we just worked out. During early morning flights, it is a great way to wake up. During red-eye or intercontinental flights, it is a good way to prepare for a meal or take a nap.

It is much more difficult in an economy class seat to put on the KAATSU Air Bands on our legs, but it can be done with a little bit of effort. With the leg bands on, we flex our feet, press our legs upwards against the seat in front of us, or do a variety of isometric exercises (e.g., pressing our legs against our hands or downwards against the seat or simply flexing and relaxing our glutes).

Of course, you can always put the leg bands on and then walk over to the galley in an intercontinental flight and do a series of squats or leg stretches if you are really serious. Doing KAATSU in the galley usually leads to interesting conversations with the flight attendants.

In summary, KAATSU Cycle is a great way to get in a short and effective workout while at 30,000 feet in the air.

KAATSU Cycle In An Airplane Key Points:
1. Hydrate well before starting.
2. Apply KAATSU Air Bands on arms first.
3. Manually apply the usual Base SKU (pressure).
4. Start off conservatively with a low Optimal SKU (pressure) in the KAATSU Cycle. ALWAYS do KAATSU Cycle first as a warm-up.
5. Repeat the KAATSU Cycle 2-4 times.
6. Do simple exercises like hand clenches or isometric movements as desired for a 10-15 minute upper body workout.
7. Switch to leg bands if desired.
8. Start off conservatively with a low Optimal SKU (pressure) in the KAATSU Cycle. ALWAYS do KAATSU Cycle first as a warm-up.
9. Do simple exercises like flexing your feet or isometric movements within your chair. Repeat 2-4 times as desired for a great lower body workout.
10. All the standard KAATSU protocols apply: maintain good capillary refill time (within 2-3 seconds) and always feel a sense of pulsation under KAATSU Air Bands.
11. NEVER fall asleep with the KAATSU Air Bands on.
12. NEVER apply the KAATSU Air Bands so tightly that your hands or feet go/feel numb or your skin becomes white, gray or blue. In these cases, release the KAATSU Air Bands immediately.
13. NEVER do the KAATSU Constant mode.

Copyright © 2014 - 2015 by KAATSU Global

What Happens When You Max Out On The KAATSU?

Situation: Occasionally, a KAATSU client maxes out on the KAATSU Nano at 400 SKU (Standard KAATSU Unit). That is, their Optimal Pressure reaches 400 SKU and they cannot go higher (i.e., apply more pressure).

In these limited cases, the KAATSU clients feel that they can safely apply more pressure and workout at a higher pressure. But the maximum SKU on the KAATSU Nano is 400 SKU, so they max out.

What should they do?

There is a simple solution in these limited cases.

Short Answer: Deflate, manually re-tighten Air Bands as a higher Base pressure, and try again.

Long Answer: KAATSU is based on two different pressures: the Base SKU and the Optimal SKU. The Base SKU is the pressure applied when the Air Bands are manually tightened on the limbs as the first step. Quite often, this Base SKU is not optimally set and is too loose - especially if a finger or two can be put in-between the Air Bands and the skin of the client.

It is vitally important to initially tighten the Air Bands so the Base SKU is in the appropriate range for the clients. These ranges are dependent upon the clients' age, physical condition and experience with KAATSU, but on the KAATSU Nano, these are the general guidelines:

* Below 10 Base SKU: for very weak or elderly patients first doing KAATSU
* 10-15 Base SKU: for weak individuals or elderly individuals with KAATSU experience
* 15-20 Base SKU: for middle-age or semi-active individuals with KAATSU experience
* 20-25 Base SKU: for younger or active individuals with KAATSU experience
* Above 25 Base SKU: for athletes in good physical condition

In some very limited cases among extremely fit athletes with sufficient KAATSU experience, the Base SKU can be north of 30 as long as the capillary refill time is within 3 seconds and there is no numbness or whiteness in the limbs.

For the KAATSU Master, the general guidelines are as follows:

* Below 20 Base SKU: for very weak or elderly patients first doing KAATSU
* 20-30 Base SKU: for weak individuals or elderly individuals with KAATSU experience
* 30-40 Base SKU: for middle-age or semi-active individuals with KAATSU experience
* 40-50 Base SKU: for younger or active individuals with KAATSU experience
* Above 50 Base SKU: for super athletes in great physical condition

In some very limited cases among extremely fit athletes with sufficient KAATSU experience, the Base SKU can be north of 55 as long as the capillary refill time is within 3 seconds and there is no numbness or whiteness in the limbs.

Copyright © 2015 by KAATSU Global

Using KAATSU To Recover From Broken Ribs

After his recent motorcycle injury, KAATSU Global provided the following recommendations to professional motocross biker Wil Hahn who has cracked ribs and a concussion:

1. Focus on doing the KAATSU Cycle function on a KAATSU Nano device (see below) during his recovery.

2. Start with 2 "KAATSU 20" Cycles (i.e., 8 cycles of 20 seconds on + 5 seconds off). Each of these automatic "KAATSU 20" Cycles is 3 minutes 20 seconds in duration.

3. Then proceed to 3-5 manual "KAATSU 60" Cycles (i.e., 60 seconds on + 5 seconds off).

4. Because he is in such excellent physical shape, he can manually tighten the KAATSU Air Bands (i.e., the Base SKU pressure) to fairly high levels, but no one should ever occlude or feel numbness while doing KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Training.

5. He always tightens to a level where his limbs take on a pinkness or a beefy red color when doing KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Training.

6. After he confirms his CPT (capillary refill time) so it is under 3 seconds, he uses a KAATSU Nano (or KAATSU Master) to inflate the pneumatic KAATSU Air Bands to his Optimal SKU pressure for that day. Again, because he is in such excellent physical shape, his Optimal SKU is much higher than the normal adult.

7. While he is doing the KAATSU Cycles, he can just sit and relax, watch TV, or work/play on his laptop.

8. After he is cleared to exercise after recovering from his concussion, he can begin incorporating the KAATSU Training function and can add in the standard KAATSU 3-point exercises on his arms and his legs to the KAATSU 20 Cycle and KAATSU 60 Cycle protocols. Over time, he can then begin to incorporate KAATSU into his normal training after he is fully recovered from his concussion.







































Copyright © 2015 by KAATSU Global