KAATSU Push-up Challenge

After 1-2 KAATSU Cycles (Cycle 20 is a great warmup for non-athletes or Cycle 60 for high-level athletes) and perhaps after completing the standard KAATSU 3-point exercises (i.e., hand clenches + biceps curls + triceps extensions), try to do the KAATSU Push-up Challenge (i.e., three sets of push-ups with your Optimal SKU levels in the KAATSU Air Bands).

Do the first set of push-ups until you reach muscular or technical failure. Ideally, your Optimal SKU will allow you to do between 25-40 push-ups.

Then rest 20 seconds and start your second set of push-ups. Do the second set of push-ups until you reach muscular or technical failure.

Ideally, if your Optimal SKU is set properly, you will not be able to repeat the same number of push-ups in the second set as you did in the first set. You may be able to do only 10-20 push-ups on the second set. This is OK and actually exactly what you want.

Then rest 20 seconds and start your third set of push-ups. Do the third set of push-ups until you reach muscular or technical failure.

Ideally, your number of push-ups will decrease again. This indicates you have set your Optimal SKU.

This is a great way to build strength and develop tone in your upper body.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

Training With KAATSU Aqua Bands In The Water

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



Sprint butterfly + pull-ups + pull-outs + push-ups with the pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands are notoriously difficult. 8 x 25 with 5 pull-ups and 10 push-ups are extraordinarily tough.



Competitive swimmers, open water swimmers, water polo players, triathletes, surfers, and other watermen and waterwomen can use KAATSU Aqua leg bands to enhance speed, stamina, strength and "feel" in the water.



Aquatic athletes can pull a parachute with KAATSU Aqua Bands to enhance speed, stamina, strength and "feel" in the water.



Using the pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands by identifying the appropriate Base SKU (compression) and inflated Optimal SKU (compression), swimmers, water polo players and triathletes and everyone from those rehabilitating to individuals simply focused on fitness can really work on their core in the water.



Using the pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands in the water and the KAATSU Nano or KAATSU Master on the pool deck, individuals of any ability or any age was do blood flow moderation training for speed, stamina, strength or flexibility.



Long Beach (California) firefighter Mitch Berro trains with KAATSU Aqua Bands by pushing off bottom of pool holding a weight.



Training with KAATSU Aqua Bands by eggbeatering in a pool while holding a weight.



Use a kickboard, use fins, do vertical kicking, or other moves to highly stress the legs and core.



Pull along a parachute to add stress to your KAATSU Swimming.



The pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands add stress to sculling in the water with or without hand paddles.



The pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands can help strengthen triceps with triceps extensions in the water with or without hand paddles.



The pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands can be done while swimming, kicking or pulling butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle, or while shooting a water polo ball or doing aqua-therapy, aqua-walking or aqua-jogging.



KAATSU Aqua Walking for those undergoing aqua-therapy or rehabilitation.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

Local And Systemic Mechanisms Of KAATSU Training

Dr. James Stray-Gundersen of the United States Ski & Snowboard Association and Chief Medical Officer of KAATSU Global explains the local and systemic mechanisms of KAATSU Training that is used by elite professional and Olympics athletes and non-athletes alike.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

Details And Differences Between KAATSU And KAATSU Aqua

KAATSU Aqua Bands can be used differently depending on whether the bands are used for with masters swimmers or fitness swimmers or competitive elite swimmers.

In general, the more competitive the swimmer, the higher the pressures. But finding the Optimal SKU (compression) is a function of many factors including whether the bands are on the legs or arms, the percentage of body fat, the tolerance level of high lactate levels, and the amount of experience using KAATSU.

But in general, the intensity of feeling while doing KAATSU Aqua is greater in the water compared to KAATSU done on dryland. The reasons why include the following:

1. Because the body is in the horizontal position while swimming and the body is floating in the water. Therefore, the relative pressure within the veins and capillaries are greater in this situation than on dryland, especially while swimming quickly.

2. Swimming is an activity where breathing is different and less efficient than on land. That is, even great swimmers breathe differently while swimming than while exercising on land. Therefore, there is an even greater hypoxia in the limbs in the water than on land.

3. Swimming is an activity where there is almost never a "pumping out" of the lactate like there is with exercises like biceps curls. In other words, when the athlete is correctly doing biceps curls with KAATSU Air Bands on land, the limbs become saturated with blood and lactate. But the pumping action of the curls naturally forces some blood and lactate out of the muscle, past the KAATSU Air Bands. But when one is swimming freestyle, backstroke or butterfly, this "pumping out" of the lactate does not occur so effectively. The arms are simply swinging around the body (over and below the water surface) in a rather static position. Therefore, more lactate stays in the muscle...and therefore discomfort comes earlier.

4. Because swimming is such a technical sport, even slight changes in the head or body or knee or elbow positions can dramatically change the speed of the swimmer. So when the swimmer starts to feel the lactate building, their technique quickly deteriorates and speed significantly decreases.

Coaches want their swimmers to swim with as best technique as possible. Therefore, swimming with KAATSU Aqua Bands is generally and best limited to 25-50 meter distances - performed at top speed and with as best technique as possible.

Swimming sets for competitive elite swimmers can be done towards the end of their workouts and can be limited to breakouts (10-15 meter practices of turns off the wall), 25-meter or 50-meter swims of high intensity.

Examples of sets with KAATSU Aqua Bands include:

* 10 x 25 with a 20-second rest
* 10 x 40 swims in a 25-yard or 25-meter pool where a strong pace is maintained for the first lap followed by a strong turn and breakout. Swim easy to the wall after the breakout.
* 5-10 x racing starts with KAATSU Aqua Bands or until technical failure is reached. Followed by 2-3 racing starts without bands.
* 5 x 25 of each stroke (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle) with a 20-second rest
* 8 x 15-meter race-pace breakouts of each stroke (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle) with a 20-second rest
* 8 x 50 (or 4 x 100) pulling with hand paddles and/or buoys with arm bands
* 8 x 50 race-pace kicking with or without a kickboard with leg bands
* 8 x 30-second vertical kicking sets with leg bands
* 8 x vertical jumps off the bottom of the pool with leg bands

Notes:
1. The sets can be done alternatively with the arm bands and leg bands on alternative days.
2. If there is sufficient time within a workout, the sets above can be done first with the arms bands and then with the leg bands.
3. In each set, each swimmer should swim with their own Optimal SKU.
4. The swimmer should take additional rest and/or temporarily release the air in the KAATSU Aqua Bands when technical failure is reached (where technical failure is judged by a breakdown of proper swimming technique).

Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

Olympic Swim Coach On His Use Of KAATSU Aqua

Chris Morgan, a 2008 Olympic swimming coach, teaches and advises a number of athletes about KAATSU the original BFR on dryland and KAATSU Aqua in the water from Olympic swimming medalists and Olympic Trials finalists to masters swimmers (24- 75 years), competitive age group swimmers and collegiate swimmers.

"KAATSU Aqua is beneficial for those athletes aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and non-athletes recovering from injuries," says Morgan who explained how Roy-Allan Burch [see below] used KAATSU to recover from a double patella tendon rupture and qualified for the Olympics.







































Morgan [see video below] explains, "We work on speed, strength and stamina every workout at the Gator's Swim Club in Waltham, Massachusetts [the 2015 New England Senior Swimming Championship Team].

Like other competitive age-group swim teams, we augment those hard training sessions with a focus on proper technique, good balanced nutrition, and all kinds of 'outside the box' dry-land training.

This year, our athletes began an innovative addition to our entire training regime that has resulted in some unprecedented drops in time."

Over a 3-month period, some of the representative swims include the following:

Henry Gaissert (17 years old)
• 100 freestyle: from 47.0 to 44.8 (44.1 relay split)
• 100 butterfly: from 52.4 to 49.8
Maddie Wallis (16 years old)
• 100 backstroke: from 57.1 to 54.9
• 200 backstroke: from 2:07.9 to 2:00.3
Johnny Prindle (17 years old)
• 100 freestyle: from 48.1 to a 45.9 relay split
• 200 freestyle: from 1:47.2 to 1:41.5
• 100 breaststroke: from 59.0 to 57.5

Their secret…?

KAATSU.

KAATSU is the advantage that Olympic and professional athletes from Japan, and increasingly in teams from the United States and Switzerland to Tunisia and Hungary, have been using to gain specific strength in order to improve speed and increase stamina.

Morgan continues, "Years ago, Olympic champion Misty Hyman from Stanford University did something vaguely similar. The 200-meter butterfly Olympic champion in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games placed several thick postage rubber bands around her arms and legs. She would at times swim as much as 8,000 meters with the bands at AFOX in Arizona under the guidance of its coach Bob Gillette as a high school student. Her unusual training method started in Arizona as a top age-grouper and continued at Stanford University under Richard Quick - where I served as an assistant coach.

But we learned from Dr. Yoshiaki Sato and our KAATSU Global colleagues that very specific pressures with carefully engineered pneumatic bands used in short durations is the key to significant improvements in speed, strength and stamina. We use the KAATSU Master and KAATSU Nano devices to identify two types of specific pressures (called Base SKU and Optimal SKU where SKU stands for Standard KAATSU Unit). These pressures are specific for each athlete that can vary from day to day and workout to workout. Those specific pressures, that vary from athlete to athlete, are how our athletes have maximized the benefits of KAATSU or "blood flow moderation training."

Invented in 1966 and perfected by 1973 by Dr. Sato of Tokyo, the KAATSU inventor was honored by the Japanese Olympic Committee in 1992. Word eventually leaked out from Japan about KAATSU beginning in the 1980s and throughout the 1990s, but it was mostly adopted without knowledge of the Base SKU and Optimal SKU, the smart pneumatic bands, or the use of the KAATSU Cycle protocols by the bodybuilding community.

These bodybuilders, looking to achieve muscle hypertrophy, never understood the existence of pneumatic bands that maintain its structural integrity as they inflate, or the importance of identifying one's Base SKU or Optimal SKU, or integrating the KAATSU Cycle protocols as a means of post-workout recovery. Eventually, the bodybuilding community resorted to using knee wraps and other sorts of restrictive, occasionally non-elastic, bands as occlusion training or tourniquet training tools. But acceptance of the thick postage rubber bands or knee wraps never took off in amateur or professional sports in the West, especially in the aquatic community.

But for years and even a cursory search on Amazon, a growing number of American and European bodybuilders and trainers simply tie knee wraps and other bands around their arms in order to build bulk based on information they learned from the Internet and two-dimensional photos they saw of KAATSU bands.

In contrast to the specific KAATSU protocols to identify optimal pressures, bodybuilders tie their limbs with occlusion bands using a pain scale from 1 to 10, with 7-8 being the recommended level of pain by various American researchers and strength coaches. This kind of simplified and frankly dangerous* means to occlude blood flow in the limbs was neither possible nor practical for age-group swimmers or older masters swimmers. "Or frankly, anyone," reminds Morgan. "In contrast to those focused on muscle hypertrophy, we wanted a proven, safe and effective means to help our young athletes improve their speed, strength and stamina - not a means simply to get bulkier.

Since the Center for KAATSU Research at the Harvard Medical School was established in 2013, I first used KAATSU on myself** and learned the proper protocols and how to safely use the KAATSU equipment. With that knowledge and experience, the athletes of the Gator's Swim Club have been experimenting with KAATSU and our age-group swimmers, several who are national-caliber swimmers.

I quickly learned how we could replicate 'race pain' without the need for a time-consuming test set by using the KAATSU equipment. By engorging the muscles in blood - instead of keeping blood out like the bodybuilders and their knee wraps, I studied how this revolutionary training technique could be utilized by competitive swimmers whether they are focused on their local high school championships and getting into college or others like Roy Burch and Mohamed Hussein who qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games."

Coach Morgan now uses KAATSU in three fundamental ways:

1. In rehabilitation
2. For recovery
3. During training

Rehabilitation
Swimmers use KAATSU to quickly resolve sore shoulders and the tweaks of overuse injuries from both our age-groupers and masters swimmers. "We use the KAATSU Cycle modality that starts off with lower pressures and gradually builds up to higher pressures. These protocols are the same protocols that are used by Olympic gold medalists and members of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics USA team and professional soccer players."***

Recovery
"We use the KAATSU Cycle modality between races and between the preliminary and final events in a multi-day event (e.g., the 2015 Winter Junior National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia) and KAATSU Cycle has been used at the World University Games and United States Olympic Trials in both swimming and track & field."

Training
"We do a variety of sets with KAATSU in order to improve technique, speed, strength and stamina. None of these sets last over 20 minutes, as per the standard KAATSU protocols. Some of the sets involve using arm bands and some of the sets involve using leg bands, including sets that exclusively focus on starts or turns.

These sets can range from 10 x 15m breakouts to 10 x 50 at a specific pressure.

Not only have our athletes and their parents accepted KAATSU and appreciate its benefits, but we also have some of our graduating seniors requesting the KAATSU machines accompany them to their new collegiate teams."

* Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 2010 May; 20(3): 218-9: Low-load ischemic exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis

** In 2013, Morgan competed in a Tough Mudder obstacle race near Boston. He used the KAATSU Master to improve his fitness level, but on the day of the event, at mile #10, he slipped on a log, smashed his side, and broke 2 ribs. For 7 days immediately after the injury, he used the KAATSU Master and KAATSU Air Bands as prescribed for broken bones. By day 7, the pain and sensitivity of the broken ribs had vanished. Ten days after the first x-rays revealed the broken ribs, he took a second set of x-rays at Harvard University that showed a complete recovery. "Ever since that time, I wanted the athletes who I work with to benefit from a clear and methodical use of KAATSU."

*** Get Stronger, Go Longer. KAATSU is Blowing Researchers' Minds (Military Times) and KAATSU Japanese Blood Flow Routine (Outside Magazine)

*

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

John Welbourn Interviews Dr. Sato On Power Athlete HQ

John Welbourn, a 9-year veteran of the NFL, is the CEO of Power Athlete and creator of CrossFit Football. He interviewed Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, chairman of KAATSU Global, at last week's 2016 Biohacking Convention in Pasadena, California about KAATSU from its invention to its applications.

A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley in 1998, Welbourn was drafted with the 97th pick in 1999 NFL Draft and went on to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, and for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In 2008, he played for the New England Patriots until a pre-season injury ended his season. Over the course of his career, Welbourn started over 100 games in addition to 10 playoff appearances.

Since retiring from the NFL in 2009, Welbourn has trained athletes in MLB, NHL, NFL, CrossFit and the Olympics. He has also worked in the same capacity for Naval Special Warfare, teaching performance and training for Navy SEALs, and travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition and as an expert on food for performance.

Welbourn started experimenting with BFR (Blood Flow Restriction) training, but was introduced to KAATSU by his colleagues in the NFL. He has since become a KAATSU Specialist and wanted to learn more directly from Dr. Sato during his visit to the Bulletproof Biohacking Convention.

Dr. Sato's interpreter Manako Ihaya assists with the communications between Welbourn and Dr. Sato that will be edited and broadcast in full soon on Welbourn's POWER ATHLETE™ Blog. This is only the beginning of the full program.




























Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

Andre Metzger on Making Weight with KAATSU

World championship bronze medalist and two-time NCAA wrestling champion Andre Metzger describes how KAATSU helps his collegiate wrestlers make weight before their bouts.

Metzger uses a KAATSU Nano and KAATSU Air Bands on his wrestlers' arms and legs (separately) with the appropriate Base SKU (compression) and Optimal SKU (compression).

For individuals who use the KAATSU Master 2.0 or KAATSU Cycle 2.0 and want to maintain or loss weight should limit their food intake at least 90 minutes after doing KAATSU. Because the vascular tissue is made more elastic with efficient and effective KAATSU Cycles, there is a period of time where more energy is required for the vascular tissue to expand in this state. As your body is burning more energy, it is great to stay hydrated, but less optional to consume food if weight control or weight reduction is the goal.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Aqua For Recovery

For who? aquatic athletes, Baby Boomers, retirees, student-athletes
For what? mobility, flexibility, recovery




















































Whether an elderly person is recovering from a knee replacement or an Olympic athlete is rehabilitating from a double patella tendon rupture, KAATSU can be comprehensively incorporated into their recovery.

After the individual identifies their appropriate Base SKU, they can do a series of KAATSU 3-point exercises first on their arms and then on their legs. This can begin as early as 72 hours after surgery or as soon as their physician gives them the green light to begin.

KAATSU on the arms should always be performed first and will help initiate the positive system effects of KAATSU.

The KAATSU 3-point exercises on the arms include three sets of hand clenches, three sets of biceps curls, and three sets of triceps extensions. The hand clenches can be performed with standard hand grips and the biceps curls and triceps extensions can be performed either without weights or with filled water bottles, resistance bands or very light weights (>3 kg).

After the KAATSU arm session is completed within 15 minutes (maximum duration), the KAATSU 3-point exercises on the legs can begin as the individual remains well-hydrated.

The KAATSU leg exercises are very simple and can include 3 sets of toe curls, 3 sets of toe raises, 3 sets of heel raises (if possible), 3 sets of leg extensions (see below if possible) or 3 sets of simple quarter-squats (if possible). Even more easily and comfortably, aqua-walking in a shallow pool (>1 meter deep) is extremely effective.

Each of the sets of exercises on the arms and legs should become increasingly difficult due to the lactic acid build-up. If aqua-walking or aqua-therapy is used, the KAATSU Aqua Bands should only be on the legs for 20 minutes maximum.

Simple stretching in the water or walking in shallow-water pools is also very effective.






























For more information about KAATSU Training or KAATSU Aqua, contact KAATSU Global.




















































For an article about use of KAATSU Aqua by Olympic athletes, visit here (Déjà Vu, Training Of Misty Hyman Redux). For an article about the use of KAATSU Aqua by a 50'ish swimmer, visit here (A Positive Mindset For Brain Surgery). For an article about hard-core aquatic training, visit here (Aquatic Equivalents Of Brutal Dryland Workouts).



Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

Maximum Muscle Hypertrophy In Minimum Time With KAATSU

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

Some athletes - or individuals of any age (even up to 104 years old - see here) want or need muscle hypertrophy in a minimum amount of time. These are the standard KAATSU protocols for these individuals:

* always keep rest short between sets and between exercises. That is, rest 30 seconds maximum between sets or 60 seconds maximum between exercises.

* select loads that enable you to do a good number of repetitions (e.g., 30-60 in first set, 20-30 in the second set, >20 in the third set, >10 in the fourth set)

* focus on handling higher pressures rather than the absolute amount of weight being lifted

* remain well-hydrated before and during the entire KAATSU session

It is important - as always - to follow standard KAATSU protocols, no matter what your level of fitness or age is:

1. Always have good capillary refill within 2-3 seconds and feel no occlusion or numbness

2. Always start with KAATSU Cycles (i.e., 8 cycles of 20 seconds pressure on + 5 seconds pressure off). In fact, you can also achieve muscle hypertrophy doing only the KAATSU Cycles.

3. Use an appropriately high Base SKU and the highest Optimal SKU that is safe for you and falls within the standard KAATSU guidelines (e.g., good capillary refill)

KAATSU Arm Workout Protocols

Step 1: Start with the KAATSU Cycle at an average Base SKU and average Optimal SKU (e.g., if your Optimal SKU is 250 SKU, start with an SKU of 220-230).
Step 2: Use hand grips to do one set of hand clenches until muscular failure, enabling the lactic acid to being accumulating.
Step 3: Use light weights (e.g., 5-10 lbs. dumbbell) to do bicep curls slowly and deliberately until muscular failure to reached.

* Note: if you can do over 60 repetitions before reaching failure, then the KAATSU Base SKU and Optimal SKU are both too low. Increase the Base SKU or Optimal SKU so ideally the number of repetitions on the first set is 30-40 repetitions before failure.

Step 4: After the first set of 30-40 repetitions, set the dumbbells down and rest for approximately 15 seconds.
Step 5: Start the second set of bicep curls. It is ideal if muscular failure comes before 20 repetitions.
Step 6: Set the dumbbells down and rest for approximately 15 seconds.
Step 7: Start the third set of bicep curls. It is ideal if muscular failure comes before 10 repetitions.
Step 8: Set the dumbbells down and rest for approximately 15 seconds.
Step 9: Start the fourth and last set of bicep curls. Muscular failure should come quickly after only a few repetitions. The discomfort should be quite significant.
Step 10: Return to the hand grips and do one more set of hand clenches until muscular failure. The discomfort should be extreme.

KAATSU Leg Workout Protocols

Step 1: Properly set the deflated KAATSU Air Bands around the upper legs.
Step 2: Do 2 KAATSU Cycles as a warm-up, inflated with a appropriate Base SKU (Standard KAATSU Unit) pressure and an Optimal SKU pressure.
Step 3: Select an appropriate weight load with the pneumatic KAATSU Bands inflated at the appropriate Base SKU and an Optimal SKU.

Step 4: Do squats until muscle failure in set #1, ideally between 30-40 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds [see Note below].
Step 5: Do squats until muscle failure in set #2, ideally between 20-30 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 6: Do squats until muscle failure in set #3, ideally around 10 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 7: Do squats until muscle failure in set #4, 1-3 repetitions is sufficient. Rest no more than 60 seconds, but do not release air from the pneumatic KAATSU bands around upper legs.

Step 8: Do leg extensions until muscle failure in set #1, ideally between 30-40 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 9: Do leg extensions until muscle failure in set #2, ideally between 20-30 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 10: Do leg extensions until muscle failure in set #3, ideally around 10 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 11: Do leg extensions until muscle failure in set #4, 1-3 repetitions is sufficient. Rest no more than 60 seconds, but do not release air from the pneumatic KAATSU bands around upper legs.

Step 12: Do leg curls until muscle failure in set #1, ideally between 30-40 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 13: Do leg curls until muscle failure in set #2, ideally between 20-30 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 14: Do leg curls until muscle failure in set #3, ideally around 10 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 15: Do leg curls until muscle failure in set #4, 1-3 repetitions is sufficient. Rest no more than 60 seconds, but do not release air from the pneumatic KAATSU bands around upper legs.

Step 16: Do calf raises until muscle failure in set #1, ideally between 30-40 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 17: Do calf raises until muscle failure in set #2, ideally between 20-30 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 18: Do calf raises until muscle failure in set #3, ideally around 10 repetitions. Rest no more than 30 seconds.
Step 19: Do calf raises until muscle failure in set #4, 1-3 repetitions is sufficient. Rest no more than 60 seconds, but do not release air from the pneumatic KAATSU bands around upper legs.

Post-Workout Sensations

* You will feel very pumped up after each KAATSU session.
* You may feel post-workout fatigue if the sessions are extraordinarily intense.

Note: the recommended rest of 30 seconds for muscle hypertrophy differs slightly than the standard recommendations of a 20-second maximum rest for other KAATSU protocols.

Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Stretching

KAATSU during Stretching can be done two different ways:

(a) Stretching with KAATSU Cycle

(b) Stretching with Optimal Pressure

KAATSU Specialists often ask older patients or rehabilitating clients to simply stretch as the KAATSU Air Bands are inflated during the KAATSU Cycle mode - and to relax during the 5-second rest (deflated) intervals. These patients do not - or cannot due to age or other ailments - even do the KAATSU 3-point exercises because it is too stressful. For these individuals, stretching with the KAATSU Cycle is sufficiently effective.

Conversely, younger healthy KAATSU users can inflate to their Optimal SKU and stretch before and/or after their KAATSU workouts. Stretching with the inflated bands serves to help keep the muscles limber and avoid muscle hypertrophy that some individuals and endurance athletes do not want.

Unlike KAATSU training for muscle hypertrophy (see here), KAATSU users who are stretching do not need to go to fatigue. Most do not even come close to muscle failure. They are simply stretching the muscles that are engorged in blood.

Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global

Dr. Alan Mikesky On KAATSU

Alan Mikesky, Ph.D., FACSM, Professor Emeritus, Department of Kinesiology, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis discussed his experience with KAATSU. "I was first introduced to the concept of KAATSU Training, also known as blood flow restriction training, at the national convention of the American College of Sports Medicine in 2006.

KAATSU Training has been and continues to be one of the most exciting innovations involving resistance training that I have run across in my professional career of over 30 years.

It has become a very active research area and rarely does a month go by that one or two new studies have not been published in reputable professional journals. The cumulative results from these studies indicate that KAATSU training is safe, effective and deserving of all the research attention it is getting.

There is still much to be learned about the physiology of how it works, how it is prescribed and its potential applications, but it is clear that KAATSU training has unlimited potential as a means for maintaining and improving muscle function in populations ranging from the infirmed patient to the elite athlete."

Below is a listing of Dr. Mikesky's published abstracts and papers related directly to KAATSU:

Fujita, S., A. Mikesky, Y. Sato, and T. Abe. (2008) Fatigue characteristics during maximal concentric leg extension exercise with blood flow restriction. International Journal of KAATSU Training Research. 3: 27-31.

Weatherholt, A., M. Beekley, S. Greer, M. Urtel, and A. Mikesky. (2013) Modified KAATSU Training: Adaptations and Subject Perceptions. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 45(5):952-961.

Mikesky, A.E. (2013) Cross-Over Muscular Adaptation to Blood Flow Restricted Exercise. Letter. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 45(5):1019.

Segal, N.A., M. Davis, R.B. Wallace, and A. Mikesky. (2015) Efficacy of Blood Flow Restricted Low Load Resistance Training for Quadriceps Strengthening in Men at Risk for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. 6(3):160-167.

Segal, N.A., G.N. Williams, M.C. Davis, R.B. Wallace, and A.E Mikesky. (2015) Efficacy of Blood Flow-Restricted, Low-Load Resistance Training in Women with Risk Factors for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 7:376-384.

Ogasawara, R., M. Sugaya, M. Sakamaki, S. Fujita, H. Ozaki, T. Yasuda, Y. Sato, A.E. Mikesky, A. Takashi. (2009). Change in Temperature of Active Muscle During Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction. Med. Sci. Sports and Exerc. (Suppl) 41(5):Abstract #2835, S475.

Meek, A., A. Heavrin, N.A. Segal, A.E. Mikesky. (2014). KAATSU Cuff Tightness and Limb Anthropometry: Effect on Blood Flow Restriction. Med. Sci. Sports and Exerc. 46(5S):Abstract #3006.

Segal, N.A., A.E. Mikesky. (2014) Assessment of Efficacy of Partial Blood Flow Restriction Low-Load Resistance Training for Quadriceps Strengthening in Men at Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis. Med. Sci. Sports and Exerc. 46(5S):Abstract #3322.

Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global

Cupping versus KAATSU

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

The Greatest Olympian of All Time, Michael Phelps, has drawn a lot of attention to the ancient Chinese art of cupping during his continued gold-medal run at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Phelps, along with other American Olympians like 12-time medalist Natalie Coughlin and actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Simpson, have been seen with several visible red round marks on their body.

Cupping is used for recovery and to relieve pain. It is also used to treat pain, shingles, acne and breathing difficulties.

Practitioners of cupping use small glass cups that are placed over the skin and then a vacuum is induced inside a cup. The suction pulls the skin up into the cup that breaks the capillaries and causes the blood to pool and stagnate. This creates a bruise and leaves circular spots on the skin.

Cupping is commonly used among athletes because they want to stimulate blood flow in order to help muscles heal more effectively and quickly.

But physicians and physiologists know that a bruise is a blood clot. But does clotted blood really lead to improved blood flow?

Improved blood flow or not may not matter to Olympic athletes if the placebo effects of cupping provide them with a psychological advantage. This positive mindset may be significant enough to provide them a 0.04 second boost – or the difference between Phelps’ gold medal performance in the 200-meter butterfly and the time of Masato Sakai of Japan, the silver medalist.

But there is an alternative to cupping, a scientifically proven, effective, and safe way to improve blood flow and enhance recovery from strenuous exercise, either in competition or in training.

KAATSU.

KAATSU, or generically described a blood flow moderation exercise, was invented in Japan in 1966 by Dr. Yoshiaki Sato. After three decades of meticulous testing with people ranging from 4 to 104 years and years of research, athletes in 19 countries have discovered what is explained in over 100 peer-review published papers.

KAATSU is now used by athletes and teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball as well as Olympic swimmers, runners, triathletes, judoka, rowers, wrestlers, basketball players and rugby players from the United States, Japan, Brazil and China, as well as countries ranging from Hungary to Tunisia. It is also used by NASA, American colleges from West Point to the University of Missouri, and in hospitals and clinics from the University of Tokyo Hospital to the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paolo.

KAATSU equipment consists of a portable handheld unit that carefully monitors the external compression of pneumatic bands placed on the upper arms and upper legs.


These pneumatic KAATSU bands serve to safely reduce venous flow in the limbs, thus leading to an effective pooling of blood in the arms and legs. Through stretching or any form of movement – either strenuous exercise or physical therapy – with the KAATSU Air Bands on, the pooling of blood helps expand the veins and capillaries. Additionally, the KAATSU Cycle function effectively flushes out lactic acid in the muscles.

After 5-10 minutes of KAATSU Cycle, the athletes feel rejuvenated because the lactic acid is not only effectively removed from the muscles, but also the expansion of the vascular walls leads to an increased elasticity of the veins and capillaries.

There is also a concurrent release of growth hormones and nitric oxide caused by this blood pooling that aids recovery. This biochemical reaction is a natural effect of blood pooling that has positive systemic effects on the body. The hormones are transported throughout the body via the vascular system. When these hormones reach muscle cells that are under stress, cell receptors in these cells interact as the body is designed to do.

Therefore, KAATSU is a scientifically proven modality that has natural systemic effects on the body. These are not only more healthful and effective than localized cupping, but it also leads to a natural hormonal release and improved elasticity of the vascular system.

KAATSU versus Cupping, Advantages versus Disadvantages:

*Cupping breaks the capillaries in a localized area. KAATSU improves the elasticity of the capillaries.
*Cupping creates bruising in a localized area. KAATSU leads to a natural hormonal response.
*Cupping leads to visible red spots on the body. KAATSU leaves no visible marks on the body.
*Cupping requires an experienced practitioner. KAATSU can be done anywhere anytime by anyone who follows the standardized KAATSU protocols.
*Cupping feels very good to many people after a session. KAATSU makes the body feel recovered and very good after a session.

Swimming World Magazine also wrote about cupping by Olympic swimmers here.

For more information about KAATSU, visit @kaatsuswim, @kaatsuglobal, Facebook, Instagram and KAATSU Global.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Training By Older Users

Samuel Amorim, the first KAATSU Specialist of KAATSU Brasil, has been focused on physical therapy and wellness sessions with the older patients at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo.

Amorim using both KAATSU Cycle sets and KAATSU Constant Training in his therapy. Amorim initially warms up his clients and patients with the KAATSU Cycle sets while they are sitting and stretching. Then, the patients proceed with a variety of exercises following the standard KAATSU Training protocols with resistance bands.

Additional KAATSU Brasil activities are posted on both Facebook and Instagram.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

Emilie Larsen Rehabs With KAATSU

Danish national team swimmer Emilie Larsen and her trainer explain how she recovered quickly from an ACL injury with KAATSU.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

Broken Bones + Rehabilitation = Great Opportunity for KAATSU

It is always a pleasure to work with athletically-minded individuals who cannot stand atrophying as they rehabilitate from injuries.

Jack [shown above] is one of those hard-charging athletes. A highly competitive motorcycle racer, Jack has broken dozens of bones throughout his career and has undergone his fair share of surgeries.

Then he discovered KAATSU with Dr Arthur Ting of Fremont, California.

Below is a typical daily rehabilitation/training program for Jack: He comes into the KAATSU Studio well-hydrated and first works on his arms with the KAATSU Nano device and a medium set of KAATSU Air Bands. Then, he works on his legs.

He takes the time to accurately set his correct Base SKU and then identify his Optimal SKU using the standard KAATSU protocols. He understands well the subtle importance of safely and effectively compressing the venous flow in order to stimulate a systemic response from KAATSU.

Upper Body Workout
1. KAATSU Cycle once at 25 Base SKU and 150 Optimal SKU
2. KAATSU Cycle once at 25 Base SKU and 250 Optimal SKU, constantly checking CRT (Capillary Refill Time) to confirm Optimal SKU
3. KAATSU 3-point arm exercises to muscular failure: 3 sets of hand clenches + 3 sets of biceps curls (with 1 lb dumbbells) + 3 sets of triceps extensions

Lower Body Workout
1. KAATSU Cycle once at 25 Base SKU and 150 Optimal SKU
2. KAATSU Cycle once at 25 Base SKU and 300 Optimal SKU, constantly checking CRT (Capillary Refill Time) to confirm Optimal SKU
3. KAATSU 3-point leg exercises to muscular failure: 3 sets of heel raises + 3 sets of quarter, non-lock squats + 3 sets of standing hamstring curls

He also throws in an occasional walk with the KAATSU leg bands and does bouts of stretching while doing the KAATSU Cycle.

Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

Spreading KAATSU In Germany With Robert Heiduk

KAATSU Specialist Robert Heiduk explains the mechanism and equipment of KAATSU using the KAATSU Master and KAATSU Air Bands in the German language in his latest introductory video:



Copyright © 2014 - 2016 by KAATSU Global

Slow Hand Clenches With KAATSU Balls

Courtesy of KAATSU Germany

KAATSU Specialists Robert Heiduk and Marek Joschko from KAATSU Germany wisely use soft KAATSU Balls with the KAATSU Cycle modality.

The soft KAATSU Balls helps clients, patients and athletes do hand clenches at the correct speed (i.e., slowly) during the KAATSU 3-point exercises.

KAATSU users should do hand clenches, biceps curls and triceps extension slowly and steadily during the KAATSU 3-point exercises.

Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU + Resistance Bands = Great Upper Body Workout

Uno Gomes, Founder and CEO of Let's Band in Malta, shows how to use resistance bands with KAATSU for a great upper body workout.

Standard KAATSU protocols calls for the athlete to do 3-4 sets of each exercise. There should be between 15-20 seconds of rest between each set. If the appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU is set, the athlete will reach failure at a decreasing number of repetitions on each subsequent set (e.g., 25 reps on the first set, 15 reps on the second set, 5-10 reps on the third set).

Failure to move the limbs - either muscular or technical - is important in order to send a failure signal through the central nervous system to the brain. This will elicit a cascade of positive physiological reactions in the body.




























































































































































































Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU + Resistance Bands = Great Lower Body Workout

Uno Gomes, Founder and CEO of Let's Band in Malta, shows how to use resistance bands with KAATSU for a great lower body workout.

Standard KAATSU protocols calls for the athlete to do 3-4 sets of each exercise. There should be between 15-20 seconds of rest between each set. If the appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU is set, the athlete will reach failure at a decreasing number of repetitions on each subsequent set (e.g., 25 reps on the first set, 15 reps on the second set, 5-10 reps on the third set).

Failure to move the limbs - either muscular or technical - is important in order to send a failure signal through the central nervous system to the brain. This will elicit a cascade of positive physiological reactions in the body.

















































































































































































































































































































































Copyright © 2016 by KAATSU Global

Supercomputer Copies Whole-Body Blood Flow

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





























A new supercomputer simulation of blood moving around the entire human body compares extremely well with real-world flow measurements, researchers say.

Read more here on BBC.