Friday, March 23, 2018

Working On One Limb At A Time



Above are various KAATSU the original BFR exercises performed by 5-time Olympic medalist Justin Gatlin who did his KAATSU workout together with Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, the KAATSU inventor, at Dr. Sato's office in Tokyo.

Gatlin warmed up with the KAATSU Cycle, both on his arms and legs, while learning his appropriate Base SKU pressure and Optimal SKU training pressure.

Gatlin first wanted to work on his left leg because the timing and firing of his left leg was slower than his right leg. In this case, he first performed several KAATSU Cycles on his left leg only with his appropriate Base pressure of 30 SKU and found his Optimal SKU pressure.

He then untethered the KAATSU connector tubes and did a variety of normal leg exercises with the left KAATSU Air Band on his left leg. Both he and his coach were surprised and happy with the results after Dr. Sato removed the KAATSU Leg BBand.

Gatlin then explained that his arms need to move faster in order to improve. So KAATSU Arm Bands were placed on both arms and his Optimal SKU pressure was found using the standard KAATSU Cycle protocols.

After several KAATSU Cycles where he gradually increased the Optimal SKU pressure, Dr. Sato untethered Gatlin from the KAATSU equipment. Gatlin proceeded to do his standard arm exercises, both with and without the bands on.

His body started to produce Human Growth Hormone, nitric oxide, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and beta endorphins as his level of CRP (C-reactive protein) started to decrease. All these factors enabled Gatlin to feel better and move his legs and arms as he had hoped. Many athletes describe this sensation as "feeling lighter or smoother - and faster."

Additionally, if increased speed is desired or required, Gatlin and every other athlete can be directed to do several KAATSU Cycles at increasingly higher SKU pressures on the KAATSU Nano or KAATSU Master 2.0 as they do specific movements. Then they can untether the KAATSU Air Bands and do normal training exercises at race pace. "We focus on race pain as opposed to race pace," said Olympic swim coach Chris Morgan. "The athletes train at the speed in which they want to move in competition, but with the KAATSU Air Bands on their limbs, the amount of lactate that builds up in their limbs leads to discomfort - the very kind of discomfort they will feel in competition."

Coach Morgan prefers to focus his athletes on their 'race pain' rather than their race pace. "I want them to experience the discomfort that they will face in a competition. With the KAATSU Air Bands or KAATSU Aqua Bands on, they can almost always get to that feeling. Over time, this helps them improve significantly as they start to be able to engage a greater percentage of their muscle fibers and deliver more blood to the exercising muscle as well as flush out the lactic acid more efficiently."

Elite track club in Florida after their KAATSU workouts.






























Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, March 17, 2018

KAATSU Performance Training For Football Players





Fundamentally, KAATSU applications are separated into three general areas. KAATSU protocols differ slightly for (1) Athletic Performance, (2) Rehabilitation, and (3) Recovery and Wellness.

Athletic Performance
KAATSU is used in different ways to develop speed or stamina or strength or muscle size or to lose weight or improve BMI. Each of these goals has slightly different protocols.

Rehabilitation
KAATSU is used together with basic physical therapy for people with broken bones, torn ligaments or tendons, or pulled muscles - and, very importantly, to eliminate muscle atrophy during rehabilitation and recovery. These protocols are specific with different applications of pressure and can include the CYCLE 20 or CYCLE 60.

Recovery & Wellness
KAATSU is used for recovery from injuries, jet lag and the effects of sedentary living.

When trainers and coaches focus on KAATSU Performance Training, they make sure the athlete is well-hydrated and start with 2-3 KAATSU Cycles. The pressure on for 20 seconds followed by pressure off for 5 seconds in sequentially higher pressures enables the athlete's capillaries and veins to become 'warmed up' (more elastic) and ready for more intense exercise.

The KAATSU Air Bands are then inflated to the athlete's Optimal SKU pressure. If this is the first experience with KAATSU Performance Training, the athlete should start off conservatively (i.e., low pressure). Over time, they can increase their Optimal SKU pressure as their bodies acclimate to KAATSU.

After the Optimal SKU pressure is reached, the athlete can untether (disconnect) the KAATSU Air Bands from the KAATSU unit and the athlete is free to move around the field. They should start off slowly and be comfortable, always checking their Capillary Refill Time.

Quarterbacks can throw, linemen can come off the line (like sumo wrestlers do), receivers can run routes, and punters can stretch and kick.

The athletes can do 5-10 repetitions of their motions (passes, routes, blocks or kicks). This will build up lactic acid fairly quickly in the muscles and their performance will gradually and slightly degenerate - so quarterbacks will throw with less of a zip, linemen and receivers will get very winded, and kickers will not be able to extend as normal). This is helping the muscle fibers get faster and stronger despite the athlete's increasing fatigue and decreasing performance.

Then take off the KAATSU Air Bands (off either their arms or legs - never use both the arm and leg bands together). The coaches and trainers should allow the athlete to rest and hydrate a bit. Linemen and receivers will definitely need to catch their breath.

Now the athlete should repeat the same movements (i.e., throws, blocks, routes, kicks) without the KAATSU Air Bands on. Their tactile feel should improve; their speed of movement should feel more fluid. Some athletes describe this feeling as being 'lighter'.

KAATSU Performance Training can be done daily and can be limited to less than 10 minutes (i.e., without a big impact to the total number of hours they are practicing).

Strength training exercises can even be done out on the field - without the need to head back to the weight room:



Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Before And After Effects Of KAATSU Among The Elderly

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



At the Harvard Medical School in Boston on November 5th 2014, cardiologist Toshiaki Nakajima, M.D., Ph.D., formerly of the University of Tokyo Hospital [shown on left with KAATSU inventor Professor Sir Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, M.D., Ph.D.), presented a study entitled Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy inducted by KAATSU Rehabilitation and Prevention of Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and is a major problem 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 and here] 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 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.

Dr. Nakajima tested 19 healthy elderly subjects with a mean age of 71 years [one 84-year-old subject is shown on left]. There were 10 individuals in the control group and 9 individuals in the experimental (KAATSU) group. The individuals did knee extensions and leg press exercises twice per week (Mondays and Thursdays) for 12 weeks. The SKU (Standard KAATSU Unit) pressure on the KAATSU leg bands ranged from 120-250 SKU.

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].

He 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)
."

To view an example of the before-and-after effects of KAATSU on a 104-year-old female, visit here.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Functional Movement with KAATSU

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



























KAATSU Cycle and KAATSU Training is used for a variety of purposes from athletic performance (increasing speed, strength, stamina or size) to rehabilitation to recovery.

For many users, the most effective functional movement with KAATSU is walking. That is, simply walking at a comfortable pace with the KAATSU Air Bands on your legs, a most common and popular form of KAATSU performed.

But there are some older or injured individuals who cannot walk (far) with KAATSU Air Bands. In these cases, they put on their KAATSU Air Bands on their legs and either:

* walk in place
* repeatedly stand up and down while holding a chair, table or wall
* lift up one foot up as repeated leg curls (alternating legs after 10-30 repetitions)

KAATSU functional movements can also be enhanced with KAATSU Air Bands or Aqua Bands during:

1. martial arts training or combative sports movements (e.g., throwing a jab or learning a new wrestling move)
2. swimming or aqua-walking
3. shooting (a basketball)
4. throwing (a baseball)
5. swimming or track starts
6. typing on a computer
7. swinging a tennis racquet or golf club
8. spinning on a stationary bicycle
9. jumping for specific sports (e.g., rebounds in basketball)
10. paddling or kayaking
11. walking up stairs
12. getting in and out of a chair or bed

Users should start with the KAATSU Cycle and then move right into their KAATSU functional movements of choice.

Alternatively, if functional movements are not possible due to age, injury or disability, the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises were developed for these individuals or others who want a specific set of exercises to repeat for their own rehabilitation or training program.

1. KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for arms:

(a) Standard: 3 sets of Hand Clenches + 3 sets of Biceps Curls + 3 sets of Triceps Extensions
(b) Advanced: 3 sets of Hand Clenches with a squeeze ball + 3 sets of Biceps Curls with very light dumbbells + 3 sets of Triceps Extensions done slowly with muscle contraction

2. KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for legs:

(a) Standard: 3 sets of Toe Curls + 3 sets of Toe Raises + 3 sets of Sitting Heel Raises
(b) Advanced: 3 sets of slow Standing Heel Raises + 3 sets of slow Standing Leg Curls + 3 sets of slow non-lock Quarter Squats

3. 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

Photo shows physical therapist Bettina Bardin-Sorensen PT, MSPT, CAFS, TPI doing KAATSU with a patient.

Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Recovering from Dislocations and Tears with KAATSU

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

Many athletes and other active people of various ages and backgrounds dislocate their shoulders or tear ligaments and tendons in course of their workouts or competitions.

Many of these individuals use the KAATSU Master, KAATSU Master 2.0 or KAATSU Nano products for their rehabilitation and recovery.

These are the key protocols that they follow to achieve rapid recovery:

1. Continue their existing physical therapy, using KAATSU to augment their recovery. That is, if they are doing 60 minutes of physical therapy, continue with the same movements and exercises, but add in KAATSU in the last 20-30 minutes.

2. Do KAATSU Cycle on both their arms and legs, regardless if the injury is in the lower body or upper body.

3. Be well-hydrated before and during KAATSU, and follow all standard KAATSU safety protocols.

4. Start with conservative Optimal pressures on the KAATSU Cycle (e.g., 200 SKU for the first KAATSU Cycle of 3 minutes 20 seconds). Then repeat a series of KAATSU Cycles with higher and higher Optimal pressures (e.g., 250 SKU, 275 SKU, 300 SKU, 325 SKU), always checking for proper Capillary Refill Time.

5. Never move the limb, joint or muscle to the point of pain. Stop just short of discomfort in any movement and move the limb slowly and steadily as the physical therapy movements are being done.

6. The limbs should be fully engorged with blood so the skin becomes a deep pink, beefy red or even a purple color.

7. Never simultaneously put on the arm and leg bands. Work only the upper body with KAATSU and then the lower body.

8. As the body becomes more accustomed to KAATSU, the Optimal SKU pressures will naturally increase.

9. Pay close attention to the appropriate Base SKU levels. It is best to place on the KAATSU Air Bands on snugly so you cannot stick your fingers between the bands and your skin.

10. Email KAATSU Global at info@kaatsu-global.com if you have any specific questions.

Photos above show young athletes doing KAATSU Cycles and 77-year-old swimmer Mike Allford of Boston working on his partly torn rotator cuff.

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, January 27, 2018

守破離 ... Shu-ha-ri With KAATSU

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

Shuhari (守破離 in Japanese) is a Japanese martial art concept. It succinctly describes the three stages of learning to mastery.

"When I first saw Dr. Sato use KAATSU to enable the human body to heal itself, to perform effective and efficient rehabilitation, and to build muscle and increase vascular elasticity in creative and unique ways, I realized that he followed the concept of shuhari," observed KAATSU Global CEO Steven Munatones.

Shu or 守 means to protect or obey traditional wisdom. This is the stage where the fundamentals of exercise or rehabilitation are studied, and the protocols of improving human physiology or healing injuries are learned from experienced coaches, teachers, masters, physicians or medical practitioners.

Ha or 破 means to detach or break away from tradition. This is the stage where KAATSU Specialists look beyond what has been done before - and study the mechanisms of KAATSU.

Ri or 離 means to separate from the past. This is where KAATSU Specialists achieve their own goals in the areas of human performance, rehabilitation and recovery for users of various ages, abilities, conditions and backgrounds.

Aikido master Endō Seishirō shihan explained, "It is known that, when we learn or train in something, we pass through the stages of shu, ha, and ri.

In shu, we repeat the forms and discipline ourselves so that our bodies absorb the forms that our forebears created. We remain faithful to these forms with no deviation. Next, in the stage of ha, once we have disciplined ourselves to acquire the forms and movements, we make innovations. In this process the forms may be broken and discarded.

Finally, in ri, we completely depart from the forms, open the door to creative technique, and arrive in a place where we act in accordance with what our heart/mind desires, unhindered while not overstepping laws
."

Copyright © 2014-2018 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, January 18, 2018

104-Year-Old Building Muscle and Doing KAATSU

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



Visionary physicians and patients born before 1950 are leading the way on how best to incorporate KAATSU to combat sarcopenia and address a host of other health issues. A 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 passive KAATSU Cycle sets as she remained in bed. Gradually, she became communicative - to the delight of her daughters in their early 80's - and was able to get out of bed by herself. 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 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 AirBands on (at a 120 SKU level).

Her doctors also documented her muscle gains in her upper legs (quadriceps and hamstring muscles) 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

Monday, January 8, 2018

KAATSU Aqua Core And Shoulder Work

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



While basic core-strength exercises including planks, crunches, sit-ups, bridges, and abdominal presses can be done on land or in gyms, KAATSU users (especially competitive and fitness swimmers, water polo players, lifeguards and surfers) can also do a variety of core-strength and shoulder exercises in the pool.

Use a Bosu Ball and KAATSU Aqua Bands - either on your arms or legs.

The KAATSU Aqua Bands can be inflated and monitored with the KAATSU Master, KAATSU Nano, and KAATSU Master 2.0 products.

After tightening to your appropriate Base SKU and inflating to your Optimal SKU, and doing a few KAATSU Cycles in order to warm-up, you are ready to go in the pool.

In the exercise shown above, place the KAATSU Aqua Bands on your arms and start in deep water (so you cannot stand on the bottom of the pool). Place your hands on sides of the Bosu Ball and pull yourself up on top of the Bosu Ball, using your arms and legs. Balance on the ball for a short time (3-10 seconds) as you place stress on your core. Slide off the ball back into the water and repeat.

Do this non-stop: (1) pull yourself up on top of the ball, (2) balance on the ball, (3) drop back down into the water, treading water to stay afloat, and (4) repeat until failure - where you cannot do any more repetitions.

Rest 20 seconds between each set. Do 3 sets with the KAATSU Aqua Bands on your arms.

Then do 3 sets to failure in the same manner with the KAATSU Aqua Bands on legs, resting 20 seconds between each set.

It is harder than it looks.

Other core exercises in the water are shown here and below:



Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Core Work In The Water With KAATSU Aqua

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



While basic core-strength exercises including planks, crunches, sit-ups, bridges, and abdominal presses can be done on land or in gyms, KAATSU users (especially competitive and fitness swimmers, water polo players, lifeguards and surfers) can also do a variety of core-strength exercises in the pool.

Core exercises in the pool with a Bosu Ball and KAATSU Aqua Bands are fun and enjoyable to do with friends.

KAATSU Aqua Bands are made of neoprene and can be inflated and monitored with the KAATSU Master, KAATSU Nano, and KAATSU Master 2.0 products.

After tightening to your appropriate Base SKU and inflating to your Optimal SKU, and doing a few KAATSU Cycles in order to warm-up, you are ready to go in the pool. There are various exercises that you can do:

1. KAATSU Kicking
Use a Bosu Ball of any size and place KAATSU Aqua Bands on either your upper arms or upper legs (but not both!). Jump on top of the ball and starting kicking forward. It may take a few times to get the hang of it, but once you get the hang on it, KAATSU Kicking can be fun.

If you want, repeat three times with your arm bands on with at least 20 seconds of rest between each set. Then try three times with your leg bands on. Repeat three times with at least 20 seconds of rest between each try. You can kick freestyle - or even breaststroke or butterfly (dolphin) kick for even more difficult sets.

2. KAATSU Balancing
Use a Bosu Ball of any size and place KAATSU Aqua Bands on either your upper arms or upper legs (but not both!). Jump on top of the ball and starting balancing without trying to move. It may take a few times to get the hang of it, but once you get the hang on it, KAATSU Aqua Balancing can be fun.

Repeat three times with your arm bands on with at least 20 seconds of rest between each set. Then try three times with your leg bands on. Balance as you can. Then try extending your arms forward - and then placing your legs over the surface of the water for even more difficult sets.

You can start in the shallow water by jumping off the bottom of the pool - or try climbing up on the Bosu Ball in deep water for a greater challenge.



3. KAATSU Backstroke
Put on your KAATSU Aqua Bands on your upper legs. Kick on your back holding the Bosu Ball up over the surface of the water. Your hips and legs will sink deep in the water, but try to tighten your core and kick backstroke with your hips and legs as close to the water surface as possible. Kick 3 x 25 meters with at least 20 seconds of rest between each set.

4. KAATSU Aqua Walking
Put on your KAATSU Aqua Bands on your upper legs. Walk in shallow water of at least 1 meter in depth. The resistance of the water will make you quickly feel the KAATSU effects on your quadriceps and hamstrings. Walk slowly and steadily.

5. KAATSU Leg Lifts Put on your KAATSU Aqua Bands on your upper legs. Place your back against the wall of the pool and extend your arms along the pool's edge. Lift your legs in a variety of movements (see video above and other KAATSU Aqua ideas below). Move slowly and steadily.



Copyright © 2014 - 2018 by KAATSU Global

Friday, December 29, 2017

KAATSU Illustrated

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


















































































Copyright © 2014-2017 by KAATSU Global

Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Evolution of KAATSU

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

The Moment of Discovery

In the fall of 1966, Yoshiaki Sato was 18 years old. He was attending a Buddhist memorial service and listening to the monk chanting sutras when, not unexpectedly, his legs went numb while sitting on the floor in the traditional Japanese position (“seiza” or 正座). With a straight back while kneeing on the tatami mat floor, he started to massage his calves in order to relieve the pain as his legs were bent underneath him.

While the discomfort continued during the long ceremony, he had a revelation.

Sato realized that his blood circulation was blocked in his calves as the weight of his body was directly upon his ankles. He reasoned that his legs must have gone to sleep as a result of the reduced blood flow to the periphery of his legs. Because his calves had the “pumped up” feeling after he experienced while bodybuilding, this was the initial KAATSU moment of inspiration where the original idea of blood flow moderation training began.

The swelling and hardness in his calves led to Sato asking himself the key question that began KAATSU.

I wonder if purposefully constricting blood flow could artificially replicate the physiological conditions of hard training. If this were true, could benefits be realized by only lifting no loads or only light loads instead of heavy weights?

The answer would be answered in the positive.

Years of Quiet Experimentation

Over the next seven years between 1966 and 1973 in the quiet of his own house, the young man from Tokyo diligently experimented on himself by applying different bicycle tubes, ropes and bands at different pressures on different parts of his body. He methodically kept track of what type of bands and pressures worked and what experiments did not.

As a monk in his local Buddhist temple, he began to see results that could not be explained given the physiological knowledge of the day. But the resulting effects of KAATSU were clear, although the medical explanations did not come for another decade.

After detailed and documented trial and error, Sato gradually developed effective protocols to safely restrict blood flow and enable muscle growth. His self-research on his own body led him to determine what length and width of bands are ideal and the optimal degree and locations to apply KAATSU pressure in various activities.

Moment of Proof

By 1973 on his own body, Sato gradually developed the details and fine-tuned the protocols of KAATSU as it continues to be practiced. At the age of 25 he went on a ski trip when he badly fractured his ankle and torn the ligaments around his knee. The injuries were diagnosed and his own father, a local doctor, told Sato that it would take six months to heal.

With a plaster cast on his leg, Sato rehabilitated himself with his KAATSU bands applied to his upper leg. Because he could not withstand the discomfort of keeping the bands on for the usual duration, he released the bands and repeatedly tightened the bands while doing isometric exercises for 30 seconds on and a few seconds off three times per day.

The results of his regimen – now known as the KAATSU Cycle – surprised him to a certain extent, but really shocked his doctors because not only did his muscles not atrophy, but he fully recovered within six weeks.

Years of Confirmation

Word spread locally of Sato’s unheard of recovery. Demand for his new approach built rapidly around Tokyo, so Sato opened the Sato Sports Plaza in Fuchu where the KAATSU Japan headquarters still exists.

Sato conducted KAATSU on local people of all ages and abilities over the next decade. Injured patients, healthy athletes, older people and younger adults flocked to his office. While applying KAATSU to thousands of clients, Sato learned what worked best for people with various kinds of afflictions and injuries and from all walks of life between 1973 and 1982.

Mind – Body – Spirit Connection

Sato observed that KAATSU enabled the human body to improve and heal itself most effectively and most efficiently than any other therapy or modality.

He also encouraged people to focus mentally on their injured body part while doing KAATSU and observed how the intake of food and water before and after KAATSU also led to positive results. The mind-body-spirit connection was clearly evident.

Patenting KAATSU

In 1994, Sato applied for his first patents in Japan (Patent No. 2670421), U.S.A. (Patent No. 6149618), and Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy with 94206403.0) as he produced and commercialized the first KAATSU Training bands. He worked on injured professional golfers and Japanese Olympians as his reputation grew.

Introduction of the KAATSU Instructor Certification Program

In 1997, Sato introduced the KAATSU Instructor educational program in Japan where his defined protocols were shared with coaches, trainers, physical therapists and physicians throughout Japan. Over 3,000 KAATSU Instructors were certified and hundreds of more experienced KAATSU Special Instructors were licensed. These instructors conducted tens of thousands of KAATSU sessions annually and safely without complications.

Media attention and public acceptance grew in Japan after KAATSU was named one of the collaborative projects of the University of Tokyo Hospital’s 22nd Century Medical and Research Center in 2000.

Sato also began to offer an ischemic circulatory physiology course at the University of Tokyo Hospital and conducted joint development work with the Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation.

KAATSU Research

Beginning in the mid-1990’s, Sato began joint research with Professor Naokata Ishii of the Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, at the University of Tokyo. Other researchers in Japan, including cardiologists Dr. Nakajima and Dr. Morita at the University of Tokyo Hospital, started to explore the benefits of KAATSU and various research results were submitted to peer-review publications.

KAATSU Internationalization

In 2014, KAATSU Global was established in Huntington Beach, California and the Center for KAATSU Research at the Harvard Medical School was started in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Sato and his partners, Steven Munatones, Richard Herstone, David Tawil, retired Navy SEAL Captain John Doolittle, Robert Heiduk in Germany, Péter Lakatos in Hungary and many others began expansion to the markets in the North America, South America, Oceania, Europe and Asia. Eventually, KAATSU Global developed the next-generation products that were also sold to and distributed by Dr. Sato in Japan.

KAATSU Future

Future applications and the third generation of KAATSU products are currently being explored in the military, medical, sports performance and corporate wellness markets in the United States with plans for further expansion in Asia, South America, Europe, and Oceania.

While KAATSU has expanded to 32 countries as of 2018, there are also an increasing number of knock-offs and imitators that use KAATSU copyrighted materials and attempt to design products around KAATSU patents as the global market continues to grow.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, November 25, 2017

John Doolittle Joins The KAATSU Team

For who? Navy SEAL, soldiers
For what? Strength, stamina




























































Retired Navy SEAL Captain John Doolittle as KAATSU Global's Chief Business Development Officer. Originally from Walnut Creek, California, he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992 and has a Master’s Degree in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School.

After graduation from the Air Force Academy, he received a cross commission and served as a hard-hat Dive Salvage Officer and Surface Warfare Officer with the U.S. Navy from three years in Hawaii. In 1996, he transferred to the Naval Special Warfare community and became a Navy SEAL.

From 1997 to 2002, Doolittle was assigned to Navy SEAL Team Two and served throughout Europe and Africa including a deployment in Kosovo during the 9/11 tragedy.

In 2002, he reported to Naval Special Warfare Unit Two in Germany and conducted special operations in the Baltics, Levant, Bosnia and East Africa. In 2005, he was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Unit One in Guam as an Executive Officer. In 2006, he was sent to Fallujah, Iraq in support of Special Operations Task Force West.

In 2007, he served in the U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters and was the Deputy Commander for Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force for the Arabian Peninsula in Iraq. In 2009, he commanded the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. In 2013, he became a director for the Preservation of the Force and Family Task Force in Florida.

He has received a Bronze Star twice, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal twice.

He was first introduced to KAATSU the Original BFR while he was rehabilitating with injured knees and a torn bicep muscle.

Photos above show Doolittle, a former collegiate swimmer at the Air Force Academy, with his graduating SEAL's class in 1996 [bottom row, far right], upon his retirement, and introducing KAATSU to men and women from various walks of life.

Copyright © 2014-2017 by KAATSU Global

Monitoring With Masimo

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



"One of the best physiological monitoring devices that we use with KAATSU Master and KAATSU Nano is the Bluetooth-enabled Masimo MightySat™ Fingertip Pulse Oximeter," said KAATSU Global CEO Steven Munatones.

"We can simultaneously track and archive the oxygen level in KAATSU user's blood, their pulse, the number of breaths per minute, a measure to understand how well hydrated they are, and another data point that indicates changes in blood circulation. We use the Masimo on ourselves and with our athletes."

The five specific parameters that can be tracked noninvasively include the following data points:

1. SpO2 or Oxygen Saturation is the oxygen level in your blood that indicates changes due to your heart or lung function, oxygen use by your body, or altitude. It is a percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen.

2. PR or Pulse Rate is the number of your heart pulses per minute that indicates your overall fitness or exertion levels.

3. RRp™ or Respiration Rate is the number of breaths per minute that indicates how well your heart and lungs function or how quickly you recover from exercise. It is a measurement of respiration rate based on changes in the plethysmographic waveform. The unit of measure is respirations per minute (RPM).

4. PVi® or Plethysmograph Variability Index is the variation in perfusion index over your breathing cycle, which may indicate changes in hydration, breathing effort, perfusion, or other factors. The Plethsymographic Waveform displays your real-time pulse pressure waveform. To properly measure your PVi®, you should lay down relaxed in a horizontal position and take it at the same time of the day in the same position.

5. PI or Perfusion Index is the strength of your blood flow to your finger that indicates changes in blood circulation. It is the ratio of the pulsatile blood flow to the non-pulsatile blood in peripheral tissue used to measure peripheral perfusion. The Perfusion Index values ranges from 0.02% for a very weak pulse to 20% for an extremely strong pulse.

For more information about the Masimo MightySat™ Fingertip Pulse Oximeter, visit Masimo Personal Health here.

Copyright © 2014-2017 by KAATSU Global

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Jonty Skinner Inducted In Hall Of Fame

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


Certified KAATSU Specialist Jonty Skinner, a former world record holder and USA Swimming National and Olympic team coach, was recently inducted in the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

He talks about his career and his path to the Hall of Fame above in the ASCA World Clinic in Washington D.C.

His use of KAATSU and KAATSU Aqua was explained here on FloSwimming.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Michael Andrew Goes 3 For 3

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

At the 2017 World Junior Swimming Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, 17-year-old Michael Andrew had an evening to remember.

At 6:24 pm, he set a world record in the 50-meter backstroke, winning the event in a time of 24.63 seconds.

At 6:40 pm, he entered the water again in the 50-meter butterfly in a semifinal heat and qualified first in 23.27 seconds, setting another world record.

At 7:11 pm, he walked up to the starting blocks in the 50-meter freestyle for his third race in 45 minutes and won the event, setting his third world record in 21.75 seconds.

He followed the KAATSU Cycle protocol between races that allowed him to recover quickly and prepare himself physiologically for his next event.

For more information on his remarkable evening, visit SwimSwam and Swimming World Magazine.




Copyright © 2014-2016 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

KAATSU Training On Proliferation and Differentiation Of Goat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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



The video above shows the subjects of an interesting series of research projects by the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University in Changchun, China.

The initial results were published in the Chinese language in the Chinese Journal of Laboratory Diagnosis (25 Aug 2016 issue, Vol. 20, No. 8, P. 1240) entitled Effects of KAATSU Training on proliferation and differentiation of goat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by by Yu-hui Yang, Shao-qian Sun, Yoshiaki Sato, et al.

The English translation of the paper is below:

Objective

To explore the effects of KAATSU Training on proliferation and differentiation of goat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Methods

60 Boer goats were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, the experimental group was given KAATSU Training twice a week, non-KAATSU Training twice a week for the control group. 6 months later, we got the goat bone marrow and then separated and absorbed the white cloud layer which mainly contained the mononuclear cell in the upper-middle interface with the method of percoll-density gradient centrifugation, cultured and observed the cell morphology and the proliferation rate; the cells of the two groups were induced into cardiomyocyte like cells by the 5-azacytidine. The cells which had been differentiated were detected with the expression of the cardiac specific antigen α-actin by immunofluorescence assay.

Results

The cells isolated from the bone marrow in the white cloud layer were adherent, generated and grew well. In addition, the cells which induced by 5-azacytidine could express the cardiac specific antigen. The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of the experimental group were small and round, and their proliferation rate was faster than the control group, though the shape of the cells in the control group were polygonal or triangular, and the proliferation rate were slow.

Conclusion

It has been succeeded both in separation and cultivation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and also induced the proliferation of turning into cardiomyocyte like cells in vitro. The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in pressurization motion for a long period of time were easier to proliferate than the cells in non-pressurization motion, but the differentiated capability were low.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are from the mesoderm and are pluripotent stem cells with high capability in proliferation, self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation potential. Further studies have demonstrated that BMSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, neurons or neuroglial cells. Upon in vivo transplantation, these cells can migrate to injured sites (mostly to ischemic or anaerobic sites) and repair respective tissues. Cell transplantation has provided brand-new treatment strategy to irreversible heart diseases. BMSCs are currently considered as one of the most ideal seed cells for cell transplantation, and are often used as carrier cells in gene therapy. Allogeneic BMSC transplantation may trigger immunologic rejection, while autologous stem cells are of limited quantities.

It is therefore crucial to look into how autologous stem cells could proliferate and be release to the bloodstream, especially in large mammals. In recent years, the number of studies focused on small animals such as mice/rat or rabbit is relatively high, but few studies and report investigate into BMSCs in bigger animals like goats. Thus, it is important to study the in vitro directed differentiation of BMSCs from goat as a big animal.


Osaka University and Peking University have both carried on research on stem cells with some of their work summarized below:



Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Friday, August 11, 2017

KAATSU For Baseball Players

For who? baseball players, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery



























Teenage baseball players can use KAATSU in three primary ways that have been tested and proven by professional baseball players:

1. Athletic Performance
2. Injury Rehabilitation
3. Recovery

Athletic Performance
1. For throwing: warm-up with KAATSU Cycle and throw as normal with KAATSU Optimal SKU Pressure and the Arm Bands untethered.
2. For pitching: warm-up with KAATSU Cycle and pitch as normal with KAATSU Optimal SKU Pressure and the Arm or Leg Bands untethered.
3. For running: warm-up with KAATSU Cycle and do base running as normal with KAATSU Optimal SKU Pressure with the Leg Bands untethered.
4. For batting: warm-up with KAATSU Cycle and take practice swings (i.e., not at home base with a pitcher) with KAATSU Optimal SKU Pressure with the Arm or Leg Bands untethered.
* Avoid fielding or batting to the KAATSU Arm or Leg Bands on. We want to avoid any possible unintended injuries.

Injury Rehabilitation
Use KAATSU Cycle (Cycle 20 or Cycle 60) to augment traditional rehabilitation therapy and to avoid muscle atrophy.

Recovery
1. Post-game pitcher: ice + 3-5 KAATSU Cycles on arms as an ideal post-game recovery mode to reduce inflammation.
2. Post-workout field players: 3-5 KAATSU Cycles after weight-running or a particularly long and vigorous workout.
3. Travel: 3-5 KAATSU Cycles on arms and/or legs after long trips or overnight travel as desired.

Copyright © 2014-2017 by KAATSU Global

Friday, June 30, 2017

Coaching With KAATSU Aqua



Chris Morgan, a 2008 Olympic swimming coach, teaches and teaches everyone 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 for those aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to those recovering from injuries.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Unique Vision By Dr. Yoshiaki Sato

For who? Navy SEALs
For what? meteorite, Japanese swords

Retired Navy SEAL Captain John Doolittle is shown holding a Japanese sword owned by KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato at the headquarters of KAATSU Japan in Fuchu just outside of Tokyo.

The unique sword is made from a meteorite that had fallen in Japan.

Dr. Sato acquired the raw meteorite years ago and commissioned one of Japan's most renowned sword makers to create an otherworldly long bladed weapon.

The sword is so strong that it was tested by cutting cleanly through the chassis of a motor vehicle.

The unique vision of Dr. Sato - whether it comes to KAATSU or a sword made from a meteorite - is always a pleasure to behold.

Copyright © 2014-2017 by KAATSU Global

Friday, June 16, 2017

KAATSU Aqua Burpees

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



The KAATSU Aqua Burpees (arms) can include any number of swims and exercises to maximize intensity in the water.

One version is shown above with a 54-year-old swimmer doing the following Burpee:

1st lap = 25 yards of butterfly + pull-ups off the diving board performed to muscular failure
2nd lap = 25 yards of freestyle
3rd lap = 25 yards of butterfly + push-ups on deck performed to muscular failure
4th lap = 25 yards of freestyle

This KAATSU Aqua Arm Burpees set with the pneumatic KAATSU Aqua Bands includes 100 yards of swimming (with hand paddles to increase intensity) + a maximum number of pull-ups and push-ups performed to muscular failure.

3-4 sets of these KAATSU Aqua Arm Burpees with 1-2 minute rest between each set is plenty for a thoroughly exhausting workout for all levels of lifeguards, swimmers, water polo players, triathletes, military special operators, CrossFit athletes, surfers, surf lifesavers and other types of watermen and water women.

The total arm workout time would be between 10-15 minutes total.

KAATSU Aqua Leg Burpees can include a combination of eggbeatering (treading water) with your hands and elbows out of the water + non-lock (partial extension) squats on deck performed to muscular failure + vertical kicking with a medicine ball and kicking with a kickboard to muscular failure.

An example could be: 1st lap = 25 yards of kicking with a kickboard + vertical kicking with a medicine ball to muscular failure
2nd lap = 25 yards of kicking with a kickboard
3rd lap = 25 yards of eggbeater + non-lock squats on deck performed to muscular failure
4th lap = 25 yards of sprint kicking with a kickboard

Kicking can be done with or without fins.

The total leg workout time would be between 10-15 minutes total.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Increasing Range Of Motion With KAATSU

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



Robert Heiduk of KAATSU Germany worked with a young woman who had a ski accident 10 weeks ago. She could not raise her right arm above her shoulder before seeing Heiduk.

Heiduk used the standard KAATSU protocols that he learned from Dr. Yoshiaki Sato in Tokyo (i.e., KAATSU Cycle + movement under Optimal SKU pressure). Her range of motion before and after KAATSU is shown above as a result of a single KAATSU session.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, March 16, 2017

KAATSU In Hawaii



North Shore lifeguards on Oahu use KAATSU the original BFR in a variety of ways for training, rehabilitation and recovery.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Thursday, March 9, 2017

How The University Of Alabama Uses KAATSU

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

Among his many athletic and coaching achievements, Jonty Skinner will be inducted as a coach in the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

The current Associate Head Coach at the University of Alabama first made his name in the international sports arena as one of the fastest sprinters in the world.

He was one of the gold medal favorites in the 100m freestyle at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. However, his home country of South Africa was still banned due to its apartheid, and he was ineligible to compete.

At the 1976 Olympics, his American rival Jim Montgomery won the 100m gold medal en route to becoming the first swimmer in history to break the 50-second barrier in the 100m freestyle with a 49.99. Twenty days later at the American national swimming championships in Philadelphia, Skinner swam a 49.44 to set the world record that would last for the next five years.

Upon his retirement as the world's fastest sprinter, Skinner has established an even greater legacy, in coaching.

He has become a scientifically-minded, analytically-oriented coach which included an 8-year reign as USA Swimming’s Director of National Team Technical Support covering the 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In this position, Skinner was charged with organizing all of the testing, monitoring, and analysis of national team swimmers.

He also coached three separate times in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama (1978-1981; 1988-1994, 2012-present) in one of the swimming world's most prestigious swimming programs.

As Skinner is described by Floswimming, "He continues to apply his analytical mind towards using cutting-edge scientific methods on his swimmers. In a sport where races are won and lost by hundredths of seconds, Skinner is always searching for new and creative ways to get his swimmers to move faster through the water."

Watch his use of KAATSU here, produced by Floswimming.

Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

How North Shore Lifeguards Train With KAATSU

For who? lifeguards, student-athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery



Location: North Shore, Oahu in Hawaii.

Some of the most monstrous and among the best-known waves for surfers crash onto the North Shore of Oahu in the state of Hawaii.

With many surfers enjoying themselves in heavy surf while facing large waves over coral reefs at shallow depths while facing strong tidal pulls, rip tides and currents, the lifeguards on the North Shore of Oahu have their hands full.

To make a save, the lifeguards must run from their lifeguard station in soft sand, quickly put on their fins, and sprint through surf diving under the crashing waves. Then they must grab the troubled surfer, bodysurfer or ocean swimmer and safely bring them back to shore. And the lifeguards do it repeatedly on days where the surf can be rough or large.

This responsibility requires speed, strength and stamina.

How can these lifeguards use KAATSU the Original BFR and KAATSU Aqua to help improve their speed, strength and stamina?

For speed on land, lifeguards place the KAATSU Air Bands on their legs and run on the soft sand at Waimea Bay or Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline) or Haleiwa. They can start with simple walking and then end with short sprints on flat sand or up a sand dune.

For speed in the water, lifeguards place the KAATSU Aqua Bands on their legs while using fins and do the following kicking and swimming sets in a pool:

• 1 x 25m easy kicking + 1 x 25m fast kicking
• 1 x 25m easy kicking + 1 x 50m fast kicking
• 1 x 25m easy kicking + 1 x 75m fast kicking
• 1 x 25m easy kicking + 1 x 100m fast kicking
• 10x streamlined jumps off the bottom of the pool and kick up as high out of the water as possible. Repeat immediately 10 times.

• 8 x 25m swimming freestyle with fins with 20 seconds rest between each 25
• 4 x 50m swimming freestyle with fins with the first 25m easy + second 25m fast
• 1 x 25m easy + 1 x 75m fast
• 1 x 25m easy + 1 x 100m fast

For strength on land, lifeguards place the KAATSU Air Bands on their legs and do squats, leg lunges, leg curls and simply balance on one leg to gain core strength. Lifeguards can place the KAATSU Air Bands on their arms and do KAATSU 3-point Exercises, do push-up sets, or use resistance bands while doing a variety of exercises.

For strength in the water, lifeguards place the KAATSU Aqua Bands on their legs while using fins or place the KAATSU Aqua Band on their arms while using hand paddles and do the following kicking and swimming sets in a pool:

• Kick in the vertical position for 10 seconds in a pool with hands and arms out of the water. Rest 10 seconds and repeat 4-8 times.
• Kick on one's back with arms straight out of the water: 4 x 25m with 20 seconds rest between each 25
• 4 x 25m hard with hand paddles and no fins, 20 seconds rest between each 25
• 8 x 25m easy/hard with 20 seconds rest and 10 seconds of vertical kicking (elbows out of water) between each 25

For stamina on land, lifeguards place the KAATSU Air Bands on their legs and go for a slow run or spin on a stationary bicycle.

For stamina in the water, lifeguards place the KAATSU Aqua Bands on their legs while using fins or place the KAATSU Aqua Band on their arms while using hand paddles and do the following kicking and swimming sets in a pool:

• 12 x 25m kicking with KAATSU Aqua Bands (2 butterfly, 2 backstroke, 4 freestyle, 4 head-up freestyle)
• 3 sets of vertical kicking with KAATSU Aqua Bands for 30-60 seconds until reaching muscular failure
• Aqua-jogging or aqua-running with KAATSU Aqua Bands in waist-deep water
• 3 x 60 seconds of treading water (eggbeater with arms above water) with KAATSU Aqua Bands

• Two lifeguards face each other and hold one kickboard between them while in a shallow or deep pool. The kickboard is held in the vertical position. Each lifeguard kicks vigorously against each other, in the opposite direction, until one lifeguard has moved 5 meters.

KAATSU Air Bands are also used for rehabilitation purposes under the guidance of a physical therapist or trainer - to help rapid healing of injured muscles, bones, ligaments or tendons.




























Copyright © 2014 - 2017 by KAATSU Global

Friday, December 30, 2016

KAATSU Aqua Bands - How To Use In Pool

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




















































Depending if you are a competitive swimmer (healthy or injured), a masters swimmer (healthy or injured) or a water polo player or a land-based athlete interested in working out in the pool, there are a number of kicking sets you can do in the pool:

1. Pool Kicking Sets

To develop speed
• 1 x 25 easy + 1 x 25 fast
• 1 x 25 easy + 1 x 50 fast
• 1 x 25 easy + 1 x 75 fast
• 1 x 25 easy + 1 x 100 fast

To develop stamina:
• 1 x 25 easy + 30 seconds vertical kicking (hands in water)
• 1 x 25 easy + 30 seconds vertical kicking (hands out of water)
• 1 x 25 easy + 30 seconds vertical kicking (wrists out of water)
• 1 x 25 easy + 30 seconds vertical kicking (elbows out of water)

To develop strength:
• 10 x 25 kicking with KAATSU Aqua Bands (2 butterfly, 2 backstroke, 2 breaststroke and 4 freestyle)
• 3 sets of vertical kicking with KAATSU Aqua Bands until mouth goes below surface of water
• Aqua-walking, aqua-jogging or aqua-running with KAATSU Aqua Bands in waist-deep water
• 3 x 60 seconds of treading water (eggbeater) with KAATSU Aqua Bands

2. Open Water Kicking Sets

To develop stamina:
• 500m kick in open water with a kickboard
• 500m kick in open water with a kickboard and short-blade fins
• 500m kick in open water with a kickboard and long-blade fins
• 500m kick in open water without a kickboard, hands sculling in front
• 500m kick in open water without a kickboard or fins, hands sculling at sides

To develop navigational IQ:
• 500m backstroke kick in open water with arms stretched out in front
• 500m backstroke kick in open water with hands sculling at sides

To develop strength and stamina:
• 100m backstroke kick with arms stretched up above the chest in the air
• 100m easy freestyle back to start
• 75m backstroke kick with arms stretched up above the chest in the air
• 75m easy freestyle back to start
• 50m backstroke kick with arms stretched up above the chest in the air
• 50m easy freestyle back to start
• 25m backstroke kick with arms stretched up above the chest in the air
• 25m easy freestyle back to start

To develop speed and kinetic awareness of the power of the ocean:
• 30 minutes of bodysurfing with a regular kickboard
• 30 minutes of bodysurfing with a regular kickboard and fins
• 30 minutes of bodysurfing with fins

3. Pool or Open Water Kicking Sets

Just for fun and challenge
• Swim with shoes in open water trying to keep a streamlined body position
• Vertical kicking with shoes in the pool
• Vertical kicking holding liter bottles filled with water
• Push off wall underwater and try to go as far as possible underwater while holding a kickboard in outstretched arms
• Two people face each other and hold one kickboard between them in the vertical position. Each kick vigorously against each other, in the opposite direction, until they have moved 5 meters

Copyright © 2014-2016 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, December 10, 2016

KAATSU User Michael Andrew Wins First World Title




























Photo courtesy of Peter H. Bick for Swimming World Magazine.

Michael Andrew, a phenomenal 17-year-old from Kansas won his first world swimming title yesterday in Canada in the 100m individual medley at the 2016 FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships.

Coached by his father, Peter Andrew, Michael uses blood flow moderation training with KAATSU Cycles and KAATSU Training on his KAATSU Master unit.

The Andrew's use of KAATSU is illustrative to what is recommended to aquatic athletes and their counterparts on dryland, using either a portable KAATSU Nano or a larger KAATSU Master.

1. Strength building
(a) warm-up with KAATSU Cycle with an appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU levels 2-3 times on both arms and legs.
(b) a wide variety of body-weight exercises and resistance band exercises, along with use of ergometers with the KAATSU Arm Bands (and separately with KAATSU Leg Bands), always going to either muscular or technical failure generally in sets of 3-4.

2. Stamina building
(a) swim short sets of sprints (8-12) of 25-50 yards or meters with 20 seconds rest between, ideally performed at the end of practice.
(b) after the KAATSU swim sprints are completed, remove bands and loosen down a bit (100-300 meters) and then do one last all-out sprint. The athletes usually feel strong and swim outstandingly fast.

3. Speed building
(a) swim short sprints (15-25 meters) and agility drills that should be performed with a strong kick.
(b) practice race starts (3-5).
(c) practice race-pace breakouts and turns.

4. Skill improvement
(a) Use KAATSU Arm Bands or KAATSU Leg Bands (on alternate days) during shooting drills for water polo players.
(b) Use KAATSU Arm Bands or KAATSU Leg Bands during swimming technique drill sets (on butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle). The athletes usually feel an enhanced tactile feel in the water as a result.
(b) Use KAATSU Leg Bands during kicking sets for swimmers, especially intense when using fins, or during eggbeatering drills that are especially important for goalies.

5. Warm-up
(a) Conduct warm-up on dryland with "light" KAATSU Cycles before a game/swim meet or between games/swims on multi-game tournaments or multiple swims during one day.
(b) Do KAATSU Cycles (Cycle 20) between prelims and finals at the hotel or home.

6. Recovery
(a) Warm-down with "light" KAATSU Cycles after a practice/game/swim meet in order to recover well for the next day.
(b) Do KAATSU Cycles (Cycle 20) after finals in the evenings in the hotel/home in order to recover well for the next day of competition.

7. Flexibility
(a) Stretch on dryland with KAATSU Cycles in order to increase range of motion.
(b) Stretch in the water with KAATSU Arm Bands or KAATSU Leg Bands on in order to increase range of motion.

8. Rehabilitation
(a) Perform KAATSU based on the advice of a physician, physical therapist or trainer.

To research Frequently Asked Questions about KAATSU, visit here.

Copyright © 2014-2016 by KAATSU Global, Inc.