KAATSU Implications For The Elderly And Competitive Athletes

For who? Retirees, Baby Boomers, competitive athletes, work-at-home parents
For what? Rehabilitation, recovery, functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, stress relief, KAATSU At Home

























































A 76-year-old woman in Southern California was looking to maintain her health.

Her use of KAATSU, the original BFR, very pleasantly surprised her and her family.

She started doing KAATSU Cycles on her arms and legs twice a day on her new KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit while doing stretching and the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises (see here for arms and here for legs).

"Not only did she see a nice visual improvement in her overall muscle tone [see top photo above], but she also realized a significant decrease in her triglyceride levels* from 327 to 144," observed Steven Munatones.

"She achieved these results without changing her diet or changing the amount or intensity of exercise she normally did over a 2-month period. But what she did new was simply do KAATSU Cycles on her arms and legs twice a day on a KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit while doing stretching and the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises in the comfort and convenience of her home (see here for arms and here for legs)."

KAATU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato has long seen these kinds of results with his older patients in Tokyo, Japan.

One of his early studies on the effects of KAATSU was published in 2000 in the Journal of Applied Physiology (titled Effects of resistance exercise combined with moderate vascular occlusion on muscular function in humans).

Background

KAATSU inventor Dr. Sato discovered throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that KAATSU is extremely effective for training of everyone from elite athletes to older people facing sarcopenia.

During the 1980s, his Japanese clients and athletes started to incorporate this new training and rehabilitation modality, but it took until the mid-1990's before Dr. Sato found an inquisitive collaborator in Professor Naokata Ishii of the University of Tokyo (Department of Life Sciences) began to conduct formal research studies on KAATSU.

Their first major peer-review paper was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

KAATSU Vernacular

The results were not surprising to Dr. Sato, but Professor Ishii knew that the findings were difficult for the journal editors to accept because the word "KAATSU" was unknown in the research and sports world outside of Japan. After discussions with the journal editors, KAATSU was described in the literature as vascular occlusion - even though Dr. Sato and Professor Ishii wanted to steer away from the word occlusion.

They know there is no arterial limb occlusion of the brachial artery and brachial veins even at high pressures with the pneumatic KAATSU Air Bands. The ultrasound image on left shows the brachial artery and brachial veins at 300 SKU (mmHg) of a 21-year-old collegiate athlete.

Study and Findings

24 women (ages 47-67 years) did a 16-week training program (3 sets of single-arm dumbbell curls in the sitting position with non-dominant arm and a 1-minute rest between sets, performed twice per week) comparing KAATSU exercise (at 110 SKU pressure) with low-intensity exercise without KAATSU and high-to-medium intensity exercise without KAATSU.

Percent changes in cross-sectional area and isokinetic strength were compared: the KAATSU Group increased more than the low-intensity non-KAATSU Group and were similar to the high-intensity non-KAATSU Group.

Before and after exercise, arterial blood flow and plasma lactate concentration were measured; during exercise, the electromyographic activity of the biceps muscle was recorded. The average SKU (mmHg) pressure was 110.

GH concentration, electrical activity in the working muscles, muscular hypertrophy (in both the biceps and triceps), muscular strength, and number of muscle fibers recruited increased with the KAATSU Group as it did with the high-intensity non-KAATSU Group.

Implications for the Elderly Population and Competitive Athletes

The increase in muscle fiber recruitment with KAATSU has implications for elite athletes and older people. The moderation of blood circulation and the hypoxia and acidic intramuscular environment also leads to additional motor-unit recruitment.



For example, repeated KAATSU without any exercise during bed rest effectively prevents muscle atrophy.

Furthermore, when the leg muscles of older people gradually weaken, the inability to stand up and walk increase and serious problems with falling occur. Although resistance exercise can improve muscular strength and size and bone mineral density, KAATSU presents the opportunity to achieve their beneficial results without large mechanical stress. Additionally, when KAATSU is applied with simple resistance exercise, an increase in energy consumption is also seen.

For competitive athletes undergoing a season-long vigorous training program, recovery days or less-than-highly-intense training days are built into their training regimen.

For these athletes, they can train as normal during their intense workouts during hard sessions, but also with the increase of muscle fiber recruitment with KAATSU on their recovery days, the athletes are effectively training vigorously every session with the usual fatigue and muscle soreness than comes with intense sustained exercise.

* A high triglyceride level combined with high LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (good) cholesterol is linked with fatty buildups within the artery walls, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. The 76-year-old woman's triglyceride level fell over an 8-week period from 327 mg/dL (high) to 144 mg/dL (normal).

Normal levels of triglycerides is less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high is 150 to 199 mg/dL
High is 200 to 499 mg/dL
Very high is 500 mg/dL or above

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Dr. Mercola Talks KAATSU

For who? Retirees, Baby Boomers, competitive athletes, work-at-home parents
For what? Rehabilitation, recovery, functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

Courtesy of Briana Mercola and Dr. Joseph Mercola.

Dr. Joseph Mercola is an alternative medicine proponent and osteopathic physician.

Dr. Mercola is a member of the political advocacy group Association of American Physicians and Surgeons as well as several alternative medicine organizations.

In a recent interview with Dr. Joseph Mercola, former retired Navy SEAL Captain John Doolittle and Steven Munatones discuss some of the many benefits of KAATSU the Original BFR.

Listen to the 1 hour 13 minute podcast with Dr. Mercola here.

For more information on Dr. Mercola, visit here.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Siim Land Discusses KAATSU, The Original BFR

For who? Retirees, Baby Boomers, competitive athletes, work from home employees
For what? Rehabilitation, recovery, functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

Estonian biohacker Siim Land is an author, public speaker, high performance coach, and content creator who has a popular podcast about optimizing health, performance, longevity, and well-being with many different biohacking techniques.

Land's latest podcast is Slow Down Aging and Build Muscle With Kaatsu Training that can be heard here with KAATSU Global executives Steven Munatones and John Doolittle, a retired Navy SEAL Captain, who talk about KAATSU the Original BFR.

Both Munatones and Doolittle use KAATSU equipment daily, either on dryland, in the water, or in airplanes on frequent business trips.























Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Home Workouts During Mandatory Lockdowns & Quarantines

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes, work-at-home employees, study-at-home students
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, warm-up, recovery, KAATSU Cycle









As schools, universities, cities, organizations and governments close in unprecedented numbers around the globe due to the coronavirus pandemic and fears about infection from COVID-19, some individuals find themselves limited to their homes and neighborhoods.

While precautions are prudent and wisely followed, people still need to work and eat, and many want to rehabilitate and exercise as usual.

Telecommuting enables people to work from home together with their far-flung co-workers. Eating is certainly not an issue (if local residents are not stockpiling food and water), but rehabilitating and exercise can be more problematic for many people.

A walk outside, a jog around a local park, bodyweight exercises or yoga indoors can be done during temporary lockdowns and mandatory telecommuting policies set by corporations or governments. But going to a physical therapy clinic for rehabilitation or heading to a fitness gym that is located further away may not be a conveniently easy option.

This is where the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 can help.

The KAATSU Cycle 2.0 is compact (handheld) and can be done anywhere anytime by anyone doing anything. From stretching and doing therapeutic movements to walking upstairs and doing push-ups with the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 is effective and efficient. Even the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on your arms or legs [shown above] are tremendously beneficial and provide a great stress relief in these times of the unknown.

In times of stress, especially while being forced to limit outdoor activities and travel, simple leg and easy-to-do core exercises with KAATSU equipment are a great way to stay fit and not gain weight.

KAATSU Walking can provide the same effect as significantly longer (in duration and distance) runs, jogs and walks. Simply put the KAATSU Air Bands on your legs and walk in or around your home or stretch [see photo on left].

Advanced KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for the legs (i.e., Standing Heel Raises, Leg Curls, and Quarter Squats) are a great finisher to the KAATSU Walking.

The KAATSU Air Bands on your upper legs will result in healthful systemic effects that are felt and seen throughout your body, including your core and upper body.

But if you want to focus on your core, you do not have to do planks, crunches and other forms of abdominal work. Instead, KAATSU users can do a number of simple KAATSU exercises to strengthen their lower back and tighten their core.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Core & Lower Back #6 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift your hips off the floor and hold. Bring your hips to the ground and repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #7 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly lift both your feet off the ground and hold. Repeat as desired.
4. Lie on your back, lift both your feet off the ground, and kick your feet slightly off the ground. Repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #8 Exercise
1. Tighten your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your appropriate Base SKU.
2. Inflate your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs at your Optimal SKU.
3. Lie on your back and slowly pandiculate (i.e., stretch and stiffen your trunk and limbs, extending your toes, feet, arms and hands as you do upon waking).
4. Repeat as desired.

Core & Lower Back #9 Exercise
1. KAATSU Aqua Sit-ups are used by competitive aquatic athletes with a Bosu Ball. 2. Start horizontal in the water while grabbing onto a Bosu Ball; then climb on top of the Bosu Ball. Do 3 sets to failure.

KAATSU Master Specialist Cory Keirn DPT explains how and where KAATSU can be used...anywhere anytime, including in your car while waiting for your children.



You can use KAATSU for exercise or rehabilitation while...

* typing an email in your office
* waiting for an airplane or the train
* sitting in the passenger seat on a long drive
* doing the dishes or folding clothes
* watching TV
* doing homework or reading a book
* walking your dog
* stretching
* packing your bags or tidying up your room

Once you understand that exercise and rehabilitation can be done anywhere anytime, your efficiency and effectiveness in getting things done goes way up. And exercise is transformed to simple movement - that you constantly do during the course of your day - with KAATSU equipment.



Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Jamal Hill Heading To Newport Beach

For who? Swimmers
For what? Functional mobility, flexibility, Charcot-Marie-Tooth



Jamal Hill of Inglewood, California struggles with the degenerative disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth - but not much else.

The personable aquapreneur is a member of the USA Paralympic Swim Team and is looking forward to competing in the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games despite living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease which is an inherited disorder that causes nerve damage in his arms and legs.

The disease results in smaller, weaker muscles, a loss of sensation and muscle contractions, and difficulty walking.

In Hill's case, it significantly reduces the mobility in his legs where his motor function stops at his knee caps and his motor function in his arms is impacted.

“[The disease] runs in my family,” Hill explained. “It affects my mom a little bit. It affects my uncles pretty heavily.

Essentially my motor neurons in my outer extremities, from my elbow to my fingertips and from my kneecaps all the way to my toes gives me a lot of problems.”

But his overwhelming positive nature has enabled him to succeed in a sport he could have easily quit many times - and filmmaker John Duarte made an inspirational short documentary film about him called Swim Up Hill.

Swim Up Hill was recently accepted to the 2020 Newport Beach Film Festival.

Duarte talked about Hill, "Jamal has blazed through boundaries.

Once fully paralyzed from the neck down, and now a top ranked swimmer, he teaches us that nothing - and no one - can put a limit on his ambition if he doesn’t impose one on himself. As soon as I met Jamal, I knew I had to document his journey."

Hill won a silver medal at the 2019 Para Pan American Games in Lima, Peru with a lifetime best.  "He just keeps getting better and better under the tutelage of coach Wilma Wong.  "Jamal has a passion - for swimming, for sharing his passion, for mentoring others - has is so uncommon.  It is great to see him succeed both in his commercial ventures and in the water," said Steven Munatones who taught Hill how to use KAATSU in his training.

Hill is happy with his progress using KAATSU, "The [KAATSU] technology has been so integral in my growth since we first met almost two years ago."

Coach Wong describes how he warms up with KAATSU on the pool deck for his races - since he becomes paralyzed once his core body temperature increases too much. "Sometimes, he cannot even climb out of the pool," said Wong with respect and compassion.

"In Tokyo, I think there will be gold at the end of his Olympic rainbow," predicted Munatones.

For more information on Swimming Up Hill, visit www.swimuphill.com and @swimminguphill.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Running 42 Kilometers In 1:59:40

35-year-old Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge EGH was the first person to run a full marathon under 2 hours in Vienna, Austria in October 2019 [see above]. Because of the unique circumstances of the special event, Kipchoge is still the world record holder in the marathon run with a time of 2:01:39 that he set in September 2018 at the Berlin Marathon.

Dr. Borja Muñiz Pardos, a Spanish researcher specializing in testing the effectiveness of technological applications to improve the athletic performance in runners, was most recently involved in the Sub2hrs marathon project.

Dr. Muñiz completed a Master’s in High Performance Sport in the Spanish Olympic Committee and works under the supervision of Professor Yannis Pitsiladis at the University of Brighton in the UK. Within the framework of the Sub2hrs marathon project, he has collaborated in different studies in the University of Zaragoza and the University of Stirling.

After finishing his PhD and obtaining the Extraordinary Doctorate Award, he has continued his work as a sport scientist for the Sub2hrs marathon project, with special focus on the effects of brain stimulation on physical performance.

Dr. Muñiz is now undertaking a review of the scientific literature on KAATSU.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Working The Core, Arms, Legs

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes, work-from-home employees, study-at-home students
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, warm-up, recovery, KAATSU Cycle





After a warm-up of KAATSU Cycles on the KAATSU Master 2.0 or KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit, you can do the Standard KAATSU 3-Point Leg Exercises (i.e., Sitting Heel Raises + Leg Curls + Non-lock Quarter Squats), you can try doing various sets of KAATSU arm, leg and core exercises (i.e., three sets of each at your Optimal SKU pressure levels).

Use very light weights - or even water bottles in each hand.

Start your first set and continue repetitions until you reach failure, then rest 30 seconds. Start your second set and continue doing repetitions until you reach failure again, then rest 30 seconds. Finish off with a third set.

Note 1: for older people or less active individuals, you can do these exercises without any weights or water bottles. Just hold your arms or legs as shown.

Note 2: for people of all ages and different levels of strength, you can incorporate more motions into these sets, even minor muscular contractions, to help build tension and add various levels of intensity. Any functional movement with emphasis on mobility and/or stability is enhanced with the KAATSU Air Bands on.

Note 3: In essence, KAATSU is an effective, efficient adjunct to any existing protocols and exercises that you do, albeit the duration, intensity, number or resistance with the KAATSU Air Bands on can be reduced.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

KAATSU Specialist Series: KAATSU Push-ups

For who? Competitive athletes
For what? Strength



After a warm-up of KAATSU Cycles on the KAATSU Master 2.0 or KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit, you can do the Standard KAATSU 3-Point Arm Exercises (i.e., Hand Clenches + Biceps Curls + Triceps Extensions), you can try doing sets of KAATSU push-ups (i.e., three sets of push-ups at your Optimal SKU pressure levels).

Try the first set of push-ups. Continue until you reach muscular failure. Ideally, your Optimal SKU will allow you to do between 15-25 push-ups.

Then rest 30 seconds and start your second set of push-ups.

Do the second set of push-ups until you reach muscular 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 5-15 push-ups on the second set. This is OK and actually exactly what you want.

Then rest another 30 seconds and start your third set of push-ups. Do the third set of push-ups until you reach muscular failure. Ideally, your number of push-ups will decrease again. This indicates you are set with your Optimal SKU.

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

If you cannot do push-ups, try using a resistance band while standing up and do these types of exercises:



Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global, Inc.

Dr. Cory On Why People From All Walks of Life Use KAATSU

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes, work-from-home employees, study-at-home students
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, warm-up, recovery, KAATSU Cycle



KAATSU Master Specialist Cory Keirn DPT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, TSAC-F, XPS explains how to put on the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms and legs and how to use the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 for first-timers who want to KAATSU for exercise, rehabilitation and recovery.

Cory Keirn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Tampa, Florida. He is a former Strength & Conditioning Coach with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and the Philadelphia Phillies. He did his residency in orthopaedics with a focus on complex orthopaedic cases and advanced physical therapy integration for tactical athletes.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Dr. Cory On Using KAATSU Cycle 2.0 On Your Arms

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes, work-from-home employees
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, warm-up, recovery, KAATSU Cycle



KAATSU Master Specialist Cory Keirn DPT , DPT, OCS, CSCS, TSAC-F, XPS explains how to use KAATSU on your arms for exercise, rehabilitation and recovery.

Cory Keirn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Tampa, Florida. He is a former Strength & Conditioning Coach with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and the Philadelphia Phillies. He did his residency in orthopaedics with a focus on complex orthopaedic cases and advanced physical therapy integration for tactical athletes.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Dr. Cory On Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0 On Your Legs

KAATSU Master Specialist Cory Keirn DPT , DPT, OCS, CSCS, TSAC-F, XPS explains how to use the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 on your legs with a wide variety of exercises and rehabilitation.

Cory Keirn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Tampa, Florida. He is a former Strength & Conditioning Coach with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and the Philadelphia Phillies. He did his residency in orthopaedics with a focus on complex orthopaedic cases and advanced physical therapy integration for tactical athletes.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Dr. Cory On Putting KAATSU Air Bands On Your Legs

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes, work-from-home employees
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility,recovery



KAATSU Master Specialist Cory Keirn DPT , DPT, OCS, CSCS, TSAC-F, XPS explains how and where to put the KAATSU Air Bands on your upper legs for exercise, rehabilitation and recovery.

Cory Keirn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Tampa, Florida. He is a former Strength & Conditioning Coach with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and the Philadelphia Phillies. He did his residency in orthopaedics with a focus on complex orthopaedic cases and advanced physical therapy integration for tactical athletes.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Questions & Answers

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, warm-up, recovery, KAATSU Cycle
































































Questions from KAATSU users around the world from all walks of life and various ages come in frequently. Below are answers and advice to 20 common questions:

Q1. KAATSU temporarily traps interstitial fluid in the legs and arms. Could this make an already swollen knee or elbow worse?
A1. The movement of the limbs during exercise actually makes swelling less.

Q2. What type of fatigue factor (adrenaline release) is associated with KAATSU? Is there a recovery period required?
A2. We know adrenalin, Human Growth Hormone, IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor), and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) are released during a proper KAATSU session. These are marker hormones and what has been studied. There are likely others. Recovery from KAATSU is quicker than other maximal work for a variety of reasons. For example, intense weight lifting causes microscopic tears to form in the fiber and connective tissue of muscles. With proper rest and nutrients, the muscles slowly rebuild over the following days, but full repair can take a week. With KAATSU, there is not microscopic tears due to lifting weights against gravity.

Q3. Does the law of diminishing returns apply? Will we expect to hit plateaus? Can KAATSU be used twice per day or even more?
A3. KAATSU Cycle can be used twice and even three times per day, especially if you are rehabilitating from injury or surgery. But even if you are training twice per day, KAATSU can be briefly incorporated into each workout if you follow proper KAATSU protocols. We think there are relatively few plateaus.

Q4. Are there studies analyzing the amounts of Growth Hormone or other chemical responses as a result of KAATSU?
A4. Yes, consult the research section on the www.kaatsu-global.com website here (e.g., Rapid increase in plasma growth hormone after low-intensity resistance exercise with vascular occlusion).

Q5. Is there research or documented cases which demonstrate KAATSU effectiveness on rehab, including muscle tears?
A5. Yes, consult the research section on the www.kaatsu-global.com website here (e.g., (e.g., Three cases of disuse syndrome patients who improved by KAATSU training).

Q6. What are the effects of KAATSU on contusions or bruises?
A6. If you have a large contusion on your body, it is best to do conservative KAATSU Cycle on the other limbs (e.g., if you have a bruise on your left leg, you can do KAATSU on your right leg and both arms).

Q7. What sort of data is available which supports the claims that KAATSU can increase muscle strength?
A7. Yes, consult the research section on the www.kaatsu-global.com website here (e.g., Muscle fiber cross-sectional area is increased after two weeks of twice daily KAATSU-resistance training).

Q8. Is the cascading release of Growth Hormone enough to strengthen muscle without the tearing down of muscle fibers? How do we know?
A8. Yes, the Growth Hormone cascade is one critical part of strengthening muscle. Tearing down of muscle fibers is not necessary for improved strength. In other words, KAATSU enables you to avoid the microtrauma in muscle fibers and connective tissue, but with the naturally resultant biochemical reactions in the body, the muscle can grow in size and strength.

Q9. Should exercises be alternated to prevent possible plateaus?
A9. It is best to incorporate a wide variety of exercises and movements for the arms, legs and core while doing KAATSU sessions. The exercises are vary during each KAATSU session.

Q10. Does it matter if my leg exercises are more intense than the arm exercises?
A10. Generally, you can get a 'failure' signal on both your arms and legs to an equal degree. Some people (including many males) feel this more intensely in their arms and others (including many females) feel this more intensely in their legs. But this phenomenon may occur because some males push themselves more intensely on their arms and some females push themselves more intensely on their legs.

Q11. My capillary refill time (CRT) is a bit different in the center of my palm compared to the meaty area of my palm when I firmly push down with my thumb.
A11. Standard KAATSU protocol calls for firmly pressing down on the meaty area of your palm and then releasing to see the capillary refill time. This is the best visual evidence of the extent of blood engorgement. After releasing your them, count the seconds before the area is refilled with blood. It is good for the CRT to be fast (under a second), but it should always be faster than 3 seconds (as in a count of "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three). You can also use the Masimo MightySat™ Finger Pulse Oximeter. When you first put on the Masimo MightySat™ Finger Pulse Oximeter on your non-dominant ring finger, check your Perfusion Index. When this Perfusion Index decreases about 25-40%, you have reached your Optimal Pressure.

Q12. What is suggested response when subject complains of discomfort during treatment?
A12. If the discomfort is within the exercising muscle, that is what is supposed to happen. That indicates the muscle is being adequately trained without the need for vigorous weight lifting. But if there is any unusual pain, stop the KAATSU session. For an individual with pain near their injuries or joints, the KAATSU session and movements should either be avoided or adjusted. If only one limb is causing the pain, you can still use KAATSU on the other limbs. It is also very important to focus on KAATSU Cycles as opposed to the KAATSU Training mode.

Q13. Midway through treatment, a patient notified me of drugs in her system (i.e., painkillers for migraines). Could this make her less sensitive to treatment and is it acceptable to proceed?
A13. It is likely OK to proceed. However, if a patient is highly medicated (or inebriated) that you would not normally do regular exercise, then they should avoid doing KAATSU in this state. The same logic holds true for illness. If a patient is so sick or feverish that they would not normally do regular exercise, then they should also avoid doing KAATSU in this state.

Q14. Can the KAATSU leg bands be used on a stationary bike? What, if any, recommended protocols are suggested?
A14. Yes, using with a stationary bicycle (or a rowing machine or treadmill or elliptical machine or step machine) can provide a great aerobic workout. You can incorporate either the KAATSU Cycle mode or the KAATSU Training mode with all of these types of equipment. For example, you can spin for 1 minute (cycling) at a pressure where it is difficult to complete the full 60 seconds, then rest for 30-60 seconds. Then repeat this 3-5 times. If you use the KAATSU Cycle mode, you can spin for 30 seconds (while the KAATSU Air Bands are inflated) and then rest when the bands are deflated. These kinds of high intensity and interval training provide excellent short KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Training workouts.

Q15. Are there contraindications post surgical? How soon after surgery can you begin?
A15. No, KAATSU Cycles can be safely started 3 days post op. In fact, under medical supervision at Veterans Affairs Hospitals, post-op patients begin KAATSU Cycles the day of surgery.

The only recommended caution is not to put KAATSU Air Bands over a fresh wound and do not do exercises that cause pain in the operated area.

Q16. Could my Optimal SKU Pressure differ from my left arm to my right arm? Some athletes have a dominant arm so that seems reasonable.
A16. In most cases, yes the athlete's Optimal SKU Pressure differs between their left and right arms. For athletes with slight differences in their strength, agility or speed on/toward one side versus their other side, KAATSU can be most effective if you put a slightly higher Base SKU Pressure or Optimal SKU Pressure on the weaker limb. This will help strengthen the weaker limb and make the athlete's body more uniform/equal on both sides.

Q17. Are there listed standard protocols for trying to achieve certain goals?
A17. This is a more complicated question as every athlete or individual is different with different strengths and weaknesses. There are differences even between how KAATSU can be more effectively used during the off-season, pre-season, mid-season and championship season. For example, perhaps the athlete needs to focus more on stamina building in pre-season and more on speed in mid-season and technique in the championship season. These differences may dictate different pressures, durations, movements and interval in the training.



























Q18. Can you do the KAATSU Cycle on both of your arms and legs at the same time?
A18. No one should simultaneously do KAATSU Training or KAATSU Cycles on their arms and legs together. Users may think they are being more efficient by doing arms and legs at the same time, but they are actually being much less efficient by doing so. Additionally, doing KAATSU on your arms and legs together introduces the risk of becoming lightheaded and fainting.

Signals from your muscle groups to your brain as a result of KAATSU are much more effective if they are coming from one location. This is why we only do KAATSU on the injured leg instead of doing KAATSU on both legs if one leg is injured.

In the same way, if we have signals simultaneously coming from both arms and both legs, this is a reduction of impactful signals by one-fourth - it is not an increase in signals by four. This testing was performed many years ago at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Q19. Why should you do KAATSU on your arms first and then work on your legs?
A19. One of the reasons you should do your arms first is because the nerves of your arms and the capillaries in the arms are much closer together compared to the anatomy of your legs. The engorgement of your capillaries in your arms "wakes up" or "warms up" (i.e., stimulates) your nervous system much faster and more effectively than the engorgement of your capillaries in your legs. Therefore, your leg workout will be better after your arms have gone through the KAATSU Cycles.

Q20. Should we workout our small muscles first before our larger muscle groups - or vice versa?
A20. We encourage doing KAATSU on the smallest muscles first and then gradually move to the larger muscles. This is why we do KAATSU first on the arms, and then on the legs.

In the standard arm KAATSU 3-Point Exercises, we start off with the forearms, then go to the biceps, and then the triceps.

In the standard leg KAATSU 3-Point Exercises, we start off with the toes, then go to the calves, and then the hamstrings and quadriceps.

This concept is also true for competitive sports like swimming. If you are doing different strokes but want to focus on backstroke (for example), first do the other strokes and then finish off with your backstroke sets.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: KAATSU And Cancer

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, cancer survivors
For what? Strength, recovery

Since 2014 when KAATSU Global first started distributing its equipment in the United States, questions arose whether or not KAATSU is safe and effective for patient who had survived bouts of cancer.

Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, the inventor of KAATSU, answers with an emphatic yes. "Of course, every patient should check with their own physician. Fundamentally, if a patient is allowed to do exercise by their physician, then they can safely do the KAATSU Cycle following the standard KAATSU protocols."

The American Cancer Society reports that exercise is important when it comes to cancer: "Exercise may lower cancer risk by helping control weight and strengthen the immune system, and it can boost quality of life during cancer treatment."

A 2016 study from researchers at the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute linked exercise with a lower risk of 13 specific types of cancer. The study was published May 16th in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study found that "leisure-time physical activity was associated with a significantly decreased risk of not only these 3 cancers, but also esophageal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, and myeloid leukemia. In addition, physical activity was strongly associated with a decreased risk of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, as well as cancers of the head and neck, rectum, bladder, and lung (in current and former smokers)."

Walking 20 minutes per mile is considered moderate exercise.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week (or a combination of these). The organization suggests that these recommendations can be reached by walking for 30 minutes 5 days per week during your lunch break.


Dr. Sato lectures frequently about how KAATSU enables moderate exercise to be achieved with less time and lower intensity - an especially important factor for the aging Baby Boomer population. "The onset of cancer is related to the weakening of immunity. Growth hormone, which is secreted in large amounts with KAATSU, has an effect on improving immunity. Unless your own physician recommends no exercise or physical activity, then KAATSU is often done by cancer patients or cancer survivors."

He recalled the experiences of two patients. "When KAATSU was performed by a patient with ovarian cancer metastasized to the lung, the tumor marker - immunosuppressive acidic protein which is a factor that weakens immunity - was significantly reduced.

In addition, Teruo Sugihara, a Japanese professional golfer [shown on left], developed prostate cancer at the age of 60 years, started doing KAATSU, and then continued with his golfing career.

KAATSU can be performed in short durations - up to 20 minutes at a time.

This is true no matter what your age or gender is. You can do KAATSU with no special facilities or equipment; just walking casually with KAATSU leg bands."

If patients are particularly weak, de-conditioned, significantly overweight, or unmotivated to do any kind of vigorous exercise including doing KAATSU Walking outside, they can comfortably do the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises in the KAATSU Cycle mode in the comfort of their home or office.

Because moderate exercise is beneficial for those who wish to prevent cancer or those who currently have cancer, KAATSU Cycle is an effective, efficient and sustainable form of exercise.

Of course, if moderate exercise causes pain, leads to a rapid heart rate or shortness of breath for the cancer patient, then the intensity, type or duration of exercise should be stopped, changed or modified. But exercise - or KAATSU Cycles - are safe and possible during cancer treatment.

Too much rest - as may be advised by family members - can actually lead to a loss or reduction of body functions, muscle weakness, and reduced range of motion. But, in general, the medical community understand the benefits of being as physically active as possible during cancer and after its remission.

This is especially true if a patient was previously physically active, but it also holds true for those who previously lead sedentary lives and then were diagnosed with a form of cancer. Moderate exercise helps the patient maintain or improve their physical abilities (from walking to lifting objects), maintain or improve their balance and therefore lower the risk of falls and broken bones, reduces or eliminates muscle atrophy, lessens the risk of osteoporosis, improves blood circulation to the lower body and reduces the risk of blood clots (especially with KAATSU Walking using the KAATSU Cycle mode), can lessen bouts of nausea and fatigue.

In other words, moderate exercise and KAATSU can help maintain or improve the quality of life during cancer or after its remission.

KAATSU enables cancer patients to realize the same or more benefits of moderate exercise in less time and lower intensity. The KAATSU Cycle can be performed anywhere anytime by anyone. It can be performed in short durations (i.e., under 20 minutes) regardless of age or gender, with no special facilities or equipment (other than the KAATSU Air Bands).

The KAATSU Cycle can be used in lower SKU pressure levels so as to reduce intensity relative to moderate or vigorous exercise, but the benefits to the musculoskeletal and vascular and endocrinological systems remain. The repeated changes in pressure and its effects on the musculoskeletal and vascular systems is very good for human health and immunity.

Ideal movement in the KAATSU Cycle mode include walking, balancing on one foot, stretching, and KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on the lower body (i.e., Toe Raises, Heel Raises, Leg Extensions, Standing Leg Curls, Quarter Squats) and upper body (i.e., Hand Clenches, Biceps Curls, Triceps Extensions), aqua therapy or aqua walking - all done slowly and deliberately with good KAATSU CRT (Capillary Refill Time). Less optimal KAATSU exercise include lifting weights, running, vigorously spinning or cycling, push-ups, pull-ups or burpees. In other words, intense vigorous exercises with KAATSU are significantly less beneficial and should be avoided.

KAATSU exercise and SKU pressure should be appropriate for the cancer patient based on what is safe for them and what they have previously done in the past. KAATSU movements should be something that is sustainable (i.e., enjoyable to do over the long term). So to ask a patient to start KAATSU Stretching or KAATSU Walking when they have not done either of those exercises in the past is suboptimal. But if they like yoga and walking outdoors, then KAATSU Stretching or KAATSU Walking would be ideal.

That being said, during cancer treatment, the duration and intensity of the exercise and KAATSU will probably be less (time) and lower (intensity) than before. That is, if a KAATSU user were accustomed to using the PRO MEDIUM and HIGH levels on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit before cancer treatment, then perhaps they can do the same, but use the GROUP MEDIUM and HIGH levels. Or instead of doing an hour class of spin or aerobics, perhaps they only do 20 minutes of KAATSU Walking or 15 minutes of KAATSU body weight movements.

For older patients or those with osteoporosis or peripheral neuropathy, KAATSU balance exercises and KAATSU 3-Point Exercises while sitting and using the KAATSU Cycle mode are ideal.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Pre- And Post-ACL Surgery Protocols

For who? Baby Boomers, competitive athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, rehabilitation, recovery, ACL surgery
























































Before and after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, KAATSU the original BFR can be effectively and efficiently used by patients of all ages and abilities.

KAATSU enables prehab before the ACL surgery and rehab immediately afterwards the ACL surgery in order to help improve blood circulation, prevent blood clots from forming in your legs, and to prevent muscle atrophy.

KAATSU Specialists can use the following protocols to incorporate KAATSU into pre-ACL and post-ACL surgery rehabilitation.

With the approval of your physician and therapist, patients can begin KAATSU as soon as surgery is scheduled and return to KAATSU soon (72 hours) after the ACL surgery is completed if there are no complications. The patient can also do KAATSU Cycles on their other uninjured limbs (i.e., healthy leg and both arms) throughout the prehab and rehabilitation period.

The standard protocol includes the following:

KAATSU Equipment
›› Use either the KAATSU Master 2.0 or the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 (or the KAATSU B1 or KAATSU C3 or KAATSU AI) together with the KAATSU Air Bands.
›› The KAATSU Air Bands may look like a tourniquet or blood pressure cuff, but they are specifically designed and manufactured to allow arterial flow to continue and only moderate the venous flow.
›› Because KAATSU has systemic effects, it is recommended to do KAATSU both on the arms first and then the legs no matter when the injury or surgery is located.

Important Points
›› Be well-hydrated before and during KAATSU.
›› Always follow KAATSU protocols (i.e., always have Capillary Refill Time within 3 seconds with no occlusion).
›› You should experience no lightheadedness, or no numbness or whiteness in your limbs. If you do, immediately take off the KAATSU Air Bands. ›› Always do KAATSU Cycles on first on both your arms and then your legs.
›› Proceed with KAATSU 3-point Exercises (first on your arms and then on your legs) and do KAATSU Cycles while doing traditional physical rehabilitation exercises, if allowed by your physical therapist.
›› KAATSU Cycles can be done daily, even 2-3 sessions per day during prehab and rehabilitation or recovery from the ACL surgery.
›› Even if you do not "feel" anything, always begin with the low SKU pressures on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 (i.e., Group LOW) or KAATSU Master 2.0 (i.e., Level 1). You do not have to feel anything if you can see the tone of your arms or legs becoming pinker or redder. You want the blood to start being engorged in your limbs. You do not have to generate significant amounts of lactate.
›› After doing a few low-pressure KAATSU Cycles, you can begin to increase the SKU pressure on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 (i.e., from Group LOW to Group MEDIUM and GROUP HIGH) or KAATSU Master 2.0 (i.e., from Level 1 to Level 2, 3, 4 and 5).
›› Never experience pain in the joint, tendon, bone or injured areas while doing KAATSU Cycles. If so, remove or reposition the KAATSU Air Bands.
›› Always use the correct form in any movements.
›› Rest between sets and between exercises should be less than 30 seconds.
›› Always breathe normally throughout the KAATSU Cycle.
›› You can do KAATSU Cycle daily, but limit your KAATSU sessions to 15 minutes on your arms and 20 minutes on your legs during each session.
›› The KAATSU Cycle (i.e., 30 seconds of pressure on + 5 seconds of pressure off) will help prepare (“warm-up”) your muscles, veins and capillaries before you do anything more strenuous in your physical therapy session.
›› In order to avoid atrophy especially in your legs, you can regularly do the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on your legs (see below). Nothing has to be performed quickly; slow and steady in the KAATSU Cycle mode is more effective.

KAATSU Cycle Movements
›› With the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or KAATSU Master 2.0, select an appropriate SKU pressure level and do 3 sets each of the following depending on how the you feel and your range of mobility:

* Toe Curls or Toe Raises
* Heel Raises or Ankle Rotations
* Repeated Sitting Quadricep Contractions (i.e., tighten and relax, tighten and relax)
* Stretching (as you can)
* Stationary Spinning (as you can)
* Standing and Walking (as you can)

›› You can do the same KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on your healthy leg and the following KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for your arms, performed slowly while contracting your muscles:

* Hand Clenches
* Biceps Curls
* Triceps Extensions
* Stretching

›› As you become more mobile, simple walking (especially in the sand at the beach or on a soft yoga mat) with the KAATSU Air Bands on is beneficial. You can even do this at your home or office as you walk back and forth in your room as you get stronger. If you regularly do these exercises, you should not see any muscle atrophy.

›› Your skin should turn pink or reddish as your limb should experience an engorgement of pool in the limbs.

This information on KAATSU, the Original BFR, is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or therapist.



































































Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Who, What, Where, When, Why of KAATSU

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

































































Who Uses KAATSU?
KAATSU the Original BFR has been used to date by individuals from all walks of life. The oldest KAATSU user in Japan was 104 years; the oldest KAATSU user in America is currently 89-year-old Kornelia Sprigg from Washington D.C. although there have been two men in their early 90's who previously used KAATSU.

KAATSU users have ranged from Peter Lansbury, PhD (Brigham Women’s & Children Hospital) and Dr. Gary Strangman, PhD (Neural Systems Group and NASA) of the Harvard Medical School and cardiologists Noriaki Naganuma, MD and Toshihiro Morita, MD at the University of Tokyo Hospital to medical professionals at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo in Brazil, China's Jilin University and Beijing University, Osaka University in Japan, and the University of Missouri and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Florida.

KAATSU users include many professional golfers and dozens of professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS as well as many Olympians and Olympic medalists in wrestling, ski jumping, swimming, water polo, volleyball, rugby, track and field, marathon running, marathon swimming, and boxing. Users in the United States include athletic departments at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels including the Air Force Academy, West Point, MIT and University of California San Diego. High school students and teams from football to swimming and water polo use KAATSU for athletic performance improvement, rehabilitation and recovery.

KAATSU users are numerous throughout the U.S. military in the Army, Navy and Air Force, especially among special operators (i.e., Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Green Berets, and Air Force Special Operators).

But the largest demographic of KAATSU users, by far, are aging Baby Boomers. Women over the age of 50 are the largest single demographic of KAATSU users both in Japan and the United States.

What is KAATSU?
KAATSU is often defined as BFR Or Blood Flow Restriction training. KAATSU is the original BFR, but KAATSU can be more properly described as Blood Flow Modification because the arterial flow (from the torso to the limbs) is not occluded and the venous flow (back from the limbs to the torso) is only slightly modified.

KAATSU is a safe form of venous modification that is induced by the tightening of elastic pneumatic bands around either the upper arms or upper legs for brief and repeated periods of time.

The inflation and deflation of the bands are controlled by either consumer-oriented handheld devices (e.g., KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or KAATSU B1 or KAATSU C3 or KAATSU AI) or larger clinical-use devices (e.g., KAATSU Master 2.0). The inflation and deflation sequence is based on protocols and algorithms developed by KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato and tested among thousands of cardiac rehabilitation patients at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Where Can KAATSU Be Used?
KAATSU can be performed or applied anywhere including at hospitals or physical therapy clinics, at home or school, in work cubicles and offices, while traveling in hotels or on airplanes, and in pools or the ocean.

KAATSU Air Bands are made from neoprene and are used by swimmers, water polo players, surfers, kayakers, SUP paddlers, rowers, and people doing aquarobics and aqua therapy.

When Can KAATSU Be Performed?
KAATSU can be done anytime from the time you wake up until shortly before going to bed.

KAATSU can be done while:

* doing physical therapy
* standing still or running
* sitting while typing emails or watching TV
* rowing or throwing
* hitting balls (golf or baseball)
* kicking (balls or during kickboxing)
* walking (the dog) or hiking
* while exercising or doing physical therapy
* cooking or cleaning
* packing or folding clothes
* recovering from a vigorous workout or jet lag
* before, between and after athletic performances or vigorous/lengthy training sessions including weight training workouts

5-20 minutes a session is sufficient to gain benefits and see results. KAATSU can be (and should be) done daily - even 2-3 times per day if time permits. This is especially useful when KAATSU is used for rehabilitation and as an augmentation to traditional physical therapy.

Why Do KAATSU?
The vast array of KAATSU protocols are used for:

1. athletic performance (e.g., improved speed, strength, stamina, range of motion, agility, technique)
2. rehabilitation of injured muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons
3. recovery from surgeries, jet lag, insomnia, vigorous and sustained physical activities, and athletic performances
4. wellness maintenance or improvement especially for deconditioned, bedridden or obese individuals, people leading primarily sedentary lifestyles, wounded warriors, paraplegics and quadriplegics
5. pain management and reduction, including lower back and joint discomfort

The inflated bands lead to a temporary and repeated engorgement of blood in either the arms or legs. This engorgement is a natural catalyst for myriad safe and healthful biochemical reactions in both your vascular system and brain.

In particular, NO (nitric oxide), IGF-1 (insulin growth factor), endothelial cells (VEGF or vascular endothelial growth factor), HGH (human growth hormone), testosterone, adrenaline, plasmalogens and ceramides are produced as a result of the different KAATSU protocols.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Cellular Mechanisms Behind Vascular Aging

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees
For what? Longevity, stamina, muscle tone





Rick Roll with David Sinclair, PhD

David A. Sinclair, Ph.D., A.O. [shown above] is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sinclair is best known for his work on understanding why we age and how to slow its effects, as he discusses above.

Many of the concepts and findings about key cellular mechanisms behind vascular aging and its effects on muscle health that Dr. Sinclair and his fellow researchers at the Harvard Medical School have identified are the same effects and findings that Dr. Yoshiaki Sato and his colleagues at the University of Tokyo Hospital discovered as a result of Dr. Sato's decades of research on KAATSU.

The 71-year-old Dr. Sato [shown on left] has used KAATSU daily for over 50 years. He practices what he preaches.

Anyone who meets Dr. Sato, the person who has done more cumulative KAATSU than anyone in human history, can see the long-term physiological effects of KAATSU - and many of the concepts that Dr. Sinclair is researching in the field of longevity.

"While Dr. Sinclair clearly illustrates the cellular mechanisms behind vascular aging in the video above, Dr. Sato's obvious healthful vascularity (he is often at 100 SpO2 with a low blood pressure, a great pulse and a constantly low respiratory rate (8-10 breaths per minute) and muscularity is entirely due to a lifetime of KAATSU," says Steven Munatones.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Arms Or Legs First?

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes, KAATSU Specialists
For what? Strength, stamina, functional movement, mobility, flexibility, recovery






























While doing KAATSU for your upper body and core and lower body is important, many users prefer to use KAATSU Air Bands only on their arms or only on their legs.

"In general, we find that many men - not all, but enough - like to do KAATSU only on their arms and completely skip doing KAATSU on their legs," says KAATSU Master Specialist Steven Munatones.

"Conversely, we find that many women - not all, but enough - like to do KAATSU only on their legs and don't do KAATSU on their arms. Since the benefits of KAATSU are systemic, there are still well-defined physiological benefits of doing KAATSU only on your arms or legs, but there are also clear advantages to doing KAATSU that focus on your arms, core and legs.

But we often receive questions if it is important to do KAATSU in a specific sequence. The standard KAATSU protocols, long ago tested, researched and proven by KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato and at the University of Tokyo Hospital, is to first do KAATSU on your arms, and then your legs."

The reasons for this specific order (i.e., first arms and then legs) are as follows:

1. Like any form of exercise, it is very important and most beneficial to warm-up and gradually get the body physiologically ready for effective exercise or rehabilitation.

This is best done first with the arms because the number and cumulative length of the veins and capillaries is less in the arms compared to the legs. We want to prepare - or warm-up - the arms first.

2. The KAATSU Cycle 2.0 and KAATSU Master 2.0 were designed to enable users to warm-up gradually. In the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, users can start off with the GROUP LOW level, and then subsequently progress to the GROUP MEDIUM, GROUP HIGH, PRO LOW, PRO MEDIUM and PRO HIGH levels. Later, they can then customize their KAATSU Training mode up to 400 SKU. In the KAATSU Master 2.0, users can start off with Level 1, and then subsequently progress to Levels 2, 3, 4, and 5. Later, they can then customize their KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Training mode up to 500 SKU.

3. Some people, if they first start with their legs and put their bands on too tightly and use them for too long (i.e., not abiding by standard KAATSU protocol), may get lightheaded because there is so much blood engorged in their legs and less blood in their head. But if they start off the KAATSU Cycle mode gently and gradually on their arms, and then do the KAATSU Cycle mode on their legs, then they give their bodies time to adjust and this potential issue is eliminated.

Of course, there are cases where either users may not be able (due to a disability or arm cast) to first do KAATSU on their arms - or there are cases where users only do KAATSU on their legs (for personal reasons). But if they start the KAATSU Cycle gradually on their legs (i.e., starting at low levels of pressure), then their bodies naturally acclimate to the pressure and their own preferred KAATSU regimen.

"Dr. Sato always works on his core after he does his legs," explained Steven Munatones. "This can be easily done if you do balance exercises as your core work. Your KAATSU Air Bands are already on your legs and you can transition easily from lower body work to core work by balancing on one leg until you lose your balance or too much fatigue sets in. Or you can do traditional core exercises like planks or sit-ups or something easier like walking slowly and with good posture and a book on your head."

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: The Three P's of KAATSU

For who? KAATSU Specialists, competitive athletes
For what? Strength, recovery



Former NCAA athlete and KAATSU Specialist Chris Dahowski understands the three specific areas of advantages and benefits of KAATSU for competitive athletes. He calls this concept, the Three P's of KAATSU:

* Physical
* Physiological
* Psychological

Physical
This is defined when the athletes are wearing their KAATSU Air Bands - either on their arms or legs - and are in either the KAATSU Constant or KAATSU Cycle mode.

The lactate build-up that inevitably comes with movement while the KAATSU Air Bands are on literally kickstarts the natural biochemical process in the body. When this movement becomes technically flawless with the KAATSU Air Bands on, this is the optimal way to start preparing the athlete for performance gains.

"After the athlete trains with technically flawless technique and builds that perfect movement into their muscle memory, even if they are not going all-out or at highly intense levels, this is the first part of our KAATSU the original BFR protocol," explains Olympic coach Chris Morgan. "Then, we ask the athletes to take off their KAATSU Air Bands and then replicate their technically flawless technique while working intensely and going all-out.

This can be done while improving free throws with a basketball player, swinging a golf club or baseball bat, or trying to improve times for an Olympic runner, swimmer or rower."

The raw use of the KAATSU Air Bands during technically flawless athletic movements, even without intensity of all-out exercise is the catalyst for improvement in speed, stamina, or strength. KAATSU introduces physiological changes in the body, a natural adaptation, while the mind-body connection is being refined.

Physiological
This is defined when the athletes are wearing their KAATSU Air Bands - either on their arms or legs - and are in either the KAATSU Training mode and going close to or at race pain or at their highest level of intensity and focus.

When the athletes start to feel the discomfort of their lactate levels increasing as they start to train faster and more intensely, profound changes in their neuromuscular system, vascular system and endocrinology system have already begun. Increases in endothelial cells and IGF-1, and significant release of nitric oxide and human growth hormone, occur naturally and enable the athlete to improve physiologically.

This is especially true if the athlete does KAATSU Cycles before and after each workout, and KAATSU Training within each workout.

Psychological
Coaches understand that their athletes' mindset is absolutely critical for self-confidence and positivity. If the athlete's mind is in the right place, then all their training and preparation will lead to improvement and achievement of their goals.

Morgan explains, "Instead of "race pace", I like to tell the athletes that they must become comfortable with "race pain". At every aerobically-based competition - whether it is swimming, running, rowing, or cycling - there comes a point where fatigue and discomfort come into play. The athletes feel that discomfort - or as they describe it as pain - and start to slow down and adjust their pace...downwards.

But with daily use of KAATSU Air Bands, they can become much more familiar with that race pain. With familiarity comes acclimatization and they learn how to deal with it psychologically."

Dahowski, who coaches dozens of teenage athletes and prepares them for NCAA Division 1 competition, has a unique view of how to optimally use KAATSU Air Bands during coaching of his high school athletes.

“We push our swimmers in fast-swimming sets for 12-18 minutes. Then we will build a social kick where the kids can grab their kick boards and talk as much as they want during specific times during a workout,” Dahowski explains. “But if they do not give it their all or slack off, then we subtract a minute from the social kick. So if we have a built-in 5 minutes of social kicking within a workout and they slack off, then we knock off a minute of their social kick time.

Believe me, when their social kicking time is reduced, the kids have a great way to focus.”

The social kick serves another purpose. It is a great way for Dahowski to gauge whether or not his athletes are reaching their potential.

“After a really hard set, they start their social kicking. But on the first 50, the kids are totally quiet, just kicking slowly with their kick boards. When they have really pushed themselves, they need time for their body – and minds – to recover. But by the 75, I start to hear murmurings and then by the 100, they are chattering like normal. This is a great indicator whether or not the intensity was there.

When I start to hear giggling, I know they are ready to go for the next (hard) time."

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Specialist Series: Much More Than Muscles

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees, competitive athletes
For what? Strength, stamina, speed, size, functional movement, recovery



A quick Google search of KAATSU will result in plenty of young men and bodybuilders focusing a muscle building.

This result - however desirable by those who want big biceps - is like purchasing a car for its radio. The car offers so many more benefits than simply listening to music. Similarly, KAATSU offers so many more benefits than building biceps.

Depending on the protocols and pressures used, KAATSU is useful for:

1. Improving stamina
2. Improving speed
3. Increasing strength
4. Increasing size
5. Improving sleep
6. Improving recovery
7. Improving metabolism

Key Points

Improving Stamina:
* In order to improve stamina, do KAATSU during aerobic exercise (e.g., running, jogging, walking, swimming, rowing, high intensity training, cycling, boxing) after an initial warm-up with KAATSU Cycles.
* Be very well hydrated before and while wearing KAATSU Air Bands.
* Select a specific distance/duration (e.g., 100 meters in a pool or 1 km on land or a 3-minute round), a relatively low SKU pressure for you (e.g., 150 SKU), and a pace/interval time (e.g., 5 sets of 100m swim every 2 minutes or 3 repeats of 1 km jogging every 4 minutes).
* Do this set within your normal workout routine.
* At the beginning, it is best to be very conservative and select parameters that you can achieve without maximum effort.
* Repeat this set at least 3 times per week until the pace/intensity becomes relatively easy with your given distance, pace/interval, and pressure.
* When the set can be performed moderately well, then slightly increase your SKU pressure and repeat the set at least 3 times per week (over the course of weeks) until the increased pace/intensity also becomes relatively easy.
* Continue increasing your pace/intensity and SKU pressure over a series of weeks or months.
* Always recover by doing KAATSU Cycles after your workout.
Note 1: you can think of this as high-altitude training. Every time that you increase the SKU pressure, it is similar to training at the same pace/interval over the same distance/duration at higher and higher altitudes.
Note 2: you can use this basic concept whether you are an Olympic runner or an older person simply trying to improve your stamina to climb a mountain or complete a local race.

Improving Speed:
* In order to improve speed, do KAATSU Training during sprint sets after an initial warm-up with KAATSU Cycles.
* Be very well hydrated before and while wearing KAATSU Air Bands.
* Select a specific distance (e.g., 20 - 200 meters), a relatively high SKU pressure for you (e.g., 250 SKU), and an intensity level.
* Do this KAATSU Training set within your normal workout routine.
* At the beginning, it is best to be conservative and select parameters that you can achieve with moderate effort.
* Repeat this set at least 3 times per week until your desired speed becomes achievable given your distance, pressure, and intensity.
* When you are satisfied with your speed levels, then slightly increase your SKU pressure and repeat the set at least 3 times per week (over the course of weeks or months) until your speed has reached the next plateau.
* Continue increasing your intensity and SKU pressure over a series of months.
* Always recover by doing KAATSU Cycles after your KAATSU Training workout.
Note 1: you can think of this as a means of maintaining your speed in a race. Every time that you increase the SKU pressure, it is similar to moving at the same speed later and later in the race.
Note 2: you can use this concept whether you are an Olympic runner or an older person trying to improve your speed in the game of tennis or basketball or swimming.

Increasing Strength:
* In order to increase strength, select a specific move or weight and a relatively high SKU pressure for you (e.g., 250 SKU) after doing an initial warm-up with 3-4 KAATSU Cycles.
* Be very well hydrated before and while wearing KAATSU Air Bands.
* Do 3-4 sets of the specific movement that you wish to improve upon - or do 3-4 sets with a very light weight (1-10 kg) that you wish to improve upon - with KAATSU Air Bands on.
* Do many repetitions on the first set (e.g., 30-80). This first set is called Priming The Pump.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only). Note that your muscles will be fatigued and you will not be fully recovered.
* Do as many repetitions as you can on the second set (e.g., 15-30). This total number of repetitions should be fewer than the first set.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only). Note that your muscles will be fatigued and you will not be fully recovered.
* Do as many repetitions as you can on the third set (e.g., 5-15). This total number of repetitions should be fewer than the second set.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only). Note that your muscles will be fatigued and you will not be fully recovered.
* Do as many repetitions as you can on the fourth set (e.g., 1-5). This total number of repetitions should be fewer than the third set.
* The second, third and fourth sets will be difficult and your muscles will be fatigued.
* But these sets are critical for building strength.
* Do this set within your normal workout routine.
* Repeat this set at least 3-4 times per week.
* When you are satisfied with your strength levels, then slightly increase your SKU pressure and repeat the same protocols at least 3 times per week (over the course of months) until your strength has reached the next plateau.
* Always recover by doing KAATSU Cycles after your workout.
Note: move relatively quickly while doing KAATSU.

Increasing Size:
* In order to increase size, select a series of specific exercises centered around that body part (e.g., biceps or glutes) after doing an initial warm-up with 3-4 KAATSU Cycles.
* Be very well hydrated before and while wearing KAATSU Air Bands.
* Do 3-4 sets of each specific exercise for that body part.
* Slowly do many repetitions on the first set (e.g., 30-80). Contract your muscles in both the positive and negative directions. This first set is called Priming The Pump.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only). Note that your muscles will be fatigued and you will not be fully recovered.
* Slowly do as many repetitions as you can on the second set (e.g., 15-30). Contract your muscles in both the positive and negative directions. This total number of repetitions should be fewer than the first set.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only).
* Slowly do as many repetitions as you can on the third set (e.g., 5-15). Contract your muscles in both the positive and negative directions. This total number of repetitions should be fewer than the second set.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only).
* Slowly do as many repetitions as you can on the fourth set (e.g., 1-5). Contract your muscles in both the positive and negative directions. This total number of repetitions should be fewer than the third set.
* Rest 20-30 seconds (only) and move onto your next exercise.
* The second, third and fourth sets will be difficult and your muscles will be fatigued and may start to quiver.
* Do this set within your normal workout routine.
* Repeat this set at least 3-4 times per week.
* When you are satisfied with your increased size, then slightly increase your SKU pressure and repeat the same protocols at least 3 times per week (over the course of months) until your size has reached the next plateau.
* Always recover by doing KAATSU Cycles after your workout.

Improving Sleep:
* In order to improve sleep, select a relatively mild SKU pressure for you while doing 3-4 KAATSU Cycles.
* You can keep the same pressure on 3-5 KAATSU Cycles, or you can slightly increase the SKU pressure on each subsequent KAATSU Cycle.
* As you are doing the KAATSU Cycles, you can do shoulder rolls (forwards and backwards), head rotations, or simply stretching - nothing vigorous with KAATSU Air Bands on.
* Do this protocol ideally within 1 hour of your planned bedtime.
Note: this is especially helpful when you cross time zones or must get up very early.

Improving Recovery:
* In order to improve recovery, do a series of 3-6 KAATSU Cycles at a comfortable SKU levels.
* Be very well hydrated before and while wearing KAATSU Air Bands.
* Stretch and walk slowly (even with the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms) or simply sit comfortably while doing these series of KAATSU Cycles.
* Repeat this recovery set after each vigorous training session or athletic performance.

Improving Metabolism:
* While doing KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Training while standing or sitting upright, your blood is shifted to the lower part of your body by gravity while the blood flow is naturally increased.
* Increased blood flow improves blood circulation and the volume of oxygen that is carried to the cells is increased to improve the metabolism.
* Diabetes is a disease in which insulin is not produced sufficiently; subsequently, levels of glucose in the blood are above normal.
* While doing KAATSU Cycle, insulin-like growth factor I - which lowers blood glucose levels, is secreted.
* KAATSU serves as the catalyst to secrete IGF-I and immediately lowers blood glucose level; the effect remains until the next day.

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