KAATSU Aqua: Performance, Recovery, Rehabilitation, Longevity in the Water

KAATSU Aqua is a specialized form of KAATSU used in the water to enhance:

* performance of speed, strength, stamina, balance, agility, technique, tactile feel
* recovery from vigorous workouts, intense competition, travel fatigue
* rehabilitation from muscle, bone, ligament, tendon injuries
* longevity and wellness

KAATSU Aqua can be performed in various locations:

* competitive swimming pools
* aqua therapy pools
* lakeside
* seaside

KAATSU Aqua can be performed while:

* swimming horizontally in the water, doing butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, combat stroke, or sidestroke while fully submerged
* treading water (e.g., eggbeatering)
* walking, stretching, jogging vertically in the water while not fully submerged
* using swimming or rehabilitation equipment (e.g., hand paddles, fins, kickboards, noodles, floating gear, stretch cords)
* practicing racing starts or (flip) turns
* passing, shooting, blocking (water polo) balls
* performing strength-training or core-strengthening drills (e.g., with Bosu Balls)

The KAATSU AirBands are made of neoprene and are waterproof. However, the controller units for the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, KAATSU C3, KAATSU B1, and KAATSU B2 models are not waterproof and should not be submerged in the water.





KAATSU Aqua can be used to improve/enhance:

* upper body
* lower body
* core
* lower back



KAATSU Aqua can be used by people who are water-safe:

* of all age
* of any ability
* of any walk of life

KAATSU Aqua should always be used in conjunction with the KAATSU Cycle mode. That is, do 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets, starting at Low Pressure level, prior to starting KAATSU Aqua. KAATSU Aqua, by necessity, is always used in the KAATSU Constant mode. This means that KAATSU Aqua should be used for a maximum of 10 minutes on the arms and 10 minutes on the legs at any given time. The 10 minutes on the arms and 10 minutes on the legs can be performed consecutively and can be repeated if two KAATSU sessions are conducted within one 24-hour period.







It is important to understand the following:

* The KAATSU Cycle mode induces lower pain and less fatigue levels compared to the KAATSU Constant mode.
* The KAATSU Cycle mode enhances the cognitive responses at a greater extent than the KAATSU Constant mode.
* The KAATSU Cycle mode and the KAATSU Constant mode induce similarly advantageous lactate responses as a result of limb movement.
* The KAATSU Cycle mode can help mitigate the effects of flight dysrhythmia (i.e., jet lag) when used before, during, and after a long-distance air flight.

The KAATSU AirBands and KAATSU Aqua Bands should always only be placed on two locations on the body:

* Upper arm: above the biceps, above the triceps, near the armpit, below the deltoids
* Lower leg: above the quadriceps, above the hamstrings, high up on the groin at an angle along the swimsuit line

KAATSU Aqua Bands are designed to engorge the limbs (arms or legs) in blood due to the modification of venous flow (i.e., flow of blood from the limbs back to the torso). When performed properly and safely, the following phenomenon occur: * the skin color turns pink, rosy, or occasionally a beefy red color in some very fit individuals
* a dissention (visual "popping out") of the veins
* a rapid increase in lactate in the working muscles

KAATSU Aqua equipment is not meant to do the following. If these phenomenon occur, the KAATSU Aqua Bands should be immediately removed:

* the skin color turns blue, gray, or white (that indicates a lack of blood flow to the limbs)
* lightheadedness
* uncomfortable feelings or sensations

Do's and Don'ts

* always be well hydrated before and during your KAATSU session.
* always start with your arm bands, and then finish with your leg bands.
* always start on Low Pressure setting.
* you can increase from Low Pressure to Medium Pressure and from Medium Pressure to High Pressure, if your Capillary Refill Time (CRT) is fast (e.g., 1-2 seconds).
* to check your CRT on your arms, firmly press your thumb into your palm. Your skin will temporarily go white. If your skin returns to normal (i.e., the blood returns to your surface capillaries), within 1-2 seconds, you can increase the pressure settings from Low to Medium (or from Medium to High).
* to check your CRT on your legs, firmly press your thumb into your thigh or your calf. Your skin will temporarily go white.
* if your skin returns to normal (i.e., the blood returns to your surface capillaries), within 2-3 seconds, you can increase the pressure settings from Low to Medium or from Medium to High.
* you can do KAATSU sessions 1-3 times per day, but only do KAATSU once per day during the first 1-2 weeks.
* each KAATSU session can include sets on your arms, and then on your legs.
* you can do up to 6 KAATSU Cycle sets on your arms, and then up to 6 KAATSU Cycle sets on your legs, during each KAATSU session. But in the beginning, it is best to do only 1-3 Cycle sets until your body adapts to KAATSU.

* immediately remove your bands if your skin color turns blue, gray or white.
* immediately remove your bands if you feel uncomfortable in any way.
* immediately remove your bands if you feel lightheaded in any way.

The KAATSU Mechanism

* KAATSU Cycle sets lead to a robust hormonal response. This includes Human Growth Hormone and various other molecules from IGF-1 to beta-endorphins.
* KAATSU Cycle sets also lead to an increase in BDNF and alpha waves in the brain.
* KAATSU Cycle sets also lead to a decrease in CRP (C-reactive protein) which is a blood test marker for inflammation in the body. That is, CRP levels increase in response to inflammation. If the inflammation is reduced in the body, users can experience relief from their arthritic pain or tendinitis.
* the decrease in CRP is accompanied by the production of EPC (endothelial progenitor cell). EPC are cells that help regenerate the endothelial lining of your blood vessels (VEGF), bringing additional benefits. Vascular endothelial cells form the innermost layer of our blood vessels. These vascular endothelial cells produce nitric oxide which help keep our blood vessels pliable and elastic as well as regulate the inflammatory cells in the blood vessel walls.
* KAATSU Cycle sets also lead to an increase in nitric oxide.

Body weight KAATSU & Single-limb KAATSU

* while you can sit in a relaxed state and do KAATSU 3-point exercises (i.e., opening and closing of your hand, unweighted bicep curls, tricep extensions on your arms or heel raises, standing leg curls, non-stop quarter squats for your legs), you can also do simple KAATSU Walking while in the KAATSU Cycle mode. There is no need to do a power walk or to walk quickly. A calm, gentle stroll is sufficient.
* during your evening KAATSU session, you can try using the single-limb KAATSU mode where you only apply an AirBand to the limb where the pain is greatest (e.g., right arm or left leg if pain is an issue). Use the single-limb plug on the other side or just do not put on the AirBand on the other arm.
* daily or twice-daily use of the KAATSU Cycle mode while doing body weight exercises will help increase muscle mass and tone while increasing energy consumption that will ultimately reduce body fat percentage.
* KAATSU Walking is the most optimal body weight exercise with the KAATSU AirBands on.
* as the vascular tissue engorges with blood in either the arms or legs, the vascular walls increase in elasticity with every heartbeat. When the three walls of the blood vessels increase (due to this engorgement of blood), this phenomena requires energy consumption (and requires a caloric burn). So KAATSU Walking burns more calories than regular walking and helps increase our metabolism, especially as we age.
* it is important (optimal) to not eat 90 minutes after doing the KAATSU Walking or KAATSU exercise. During this 90-minute period, the increased elasticity of the vascular walls remains and therefore with every heartbeat, there remains an increased caloric burn. Therefore, it is best to not eat during this period when your body is burning more calories.

For water polo players, there are a variety of exercises that can be performed with the KAATSU AirBands on either your arms or legs in order to:

* improve shooting speed
* improve passing accuracy
* get accustomed to handling the ball with your off hand (non-dominant hand)
* improve your eggbeater (for height, speed, and strength)
* sprinting speed
* stamina

For detailed protocols and applications of KAATSU Aqua, you can visit the KAATSU Aqua Education Program that is posted on the www.kaatsu.com website.

Copyright © 2014 - 2023 by KAATSU Global

Jack Turner Is Off To Napoli

For who? athletes, water polo players, student-athletes
For what? mobility, flexibility, recovery

By all accounts, All-American water polo goalie Jack Turner should not be playing his favorite sport, heading into his final year at the University of California San Diego, and training to represent the USA in the 2019 World University Games (XXX Summer Universiade) that will be held in Naples, Italy in July 2019.

The 6'-7" Fremont, California native's improbable rehabilitation and recovery from a horrific car accident is remarkable. It is a story well told of his long drive from San Diego to San Francisco in 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.

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.

He and his teammates regularly do KAATSU for training, rehabilitation and recovery throughout their off-season, pre-season, mid-season and championship season.



Copyright © 2014-2019 by KAATSU Global

Bret Lathrope Going International

For who? water polo player, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery





























When you think of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), international sporting competitions and water polo are two topics that are definitely not on the radar at the world-class educational institute.

But Bret Lathrope is changing that equation.

The former UCLA water polo player is now head coach for the MIT water polo team - regular users of KAATSU for athletic performance and recovery. He is guiding the team to compete at the highest echelon of collegiate water polo outside of California.

Lathrope is now being recognized for his efforts and achievements by the national governing body of water polo in the United States: USA Water Polo. He was recently announced as an assistant coach for the USA men's World University Games team, a collection of the crème de la crème of American collegiate players and coaches.

The team will compete at the 30th Summer Universiade (World University Games) between July 2nd - 14th in Naples, Italy.

For more information on MIT water polo, follow @mitwaterpolo.

Copyright © 2014-2019 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

Alex Roelse Tries KAATSU For Four

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





Former UCLA Bruin, two-time NCAA champion (2014 and 2017), and 2016 Olympian Alex Roelse is a veteran with a huge (6'-8" or 2.03m) presence in the game of water polo.

He did his first KAATSU session at the UCLA campus with KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil who put him with 2 short (3 minute 20 second) KAATSU Cycles (at 300 Optimal SKU on the first Cycle and 400 Optimal SKU on the second Cycle) and then 4 minutes of KAATSU Training squats at 330 Optimal SKU.

He felt it.

Previously, Roelse did 2 short (3 minute 20 second) KAATSU Cycles on his arms (at 175 Optimal SKU on the first Cycle and 250 Optimal SKU on the second Cycle) and then 4 minutes of KAATSU Training curls at 190 Optimal SKU.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global