Berra On The Background And Benefits Of KAATSU, The Original BFR

For who? Competitive athletes
For what? Strength, functional movement, mobility

Yoga Berra is one of the greatest catchers in American baseball history and a popular Hall of Famer. He once said, "Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical."

Something similar can be said of KAATSU because KAATSU is a catalyst for many beneficial biochemical reactions that occur in the brain while enabling the physicality of the body (muscle, bones, ligaments, tendons) to improve.

Berra's granddaughter is Lindsay Berra, a former Major League Baseball reporter and ESPN Magazine writer who specializes in fitness.

She wrote about the background and benefits of KAATSU Fitness in the October 2020 issue of Men's Health Magazine (US edition see Blood Rush article here).

In her article, Berra writes about the origins of KAATSU the original BFR. "Yoshiaki Sato, Ph.D., M.D., a Japanese bodybuilder, sat in an hours-long Buddhist ceremony in the Seiza posture, thighs folded onto his calves. When he stood, he felt his calves throbbing. He theorized that this was due to restricted blood flow and spent the next 20 years working to re-create the feeling by wrapping his muscles with bike-tire tubes, ropes and judo belts (with uneven success)."

To be precise, Dr. Sato worked relentlessly and experimented constantly between 1966 and 1995, developing the KAATSU protocols Then in the mid-1990's, he began collaborating with Professor Ishii at the University of Tokyo, and then later with cardiologists Dr. Nakajima and Dr. Morita at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Ultimately, Dr. Sato and his collaborators tested KAATSU on over 7,000 cardiac rehab patients, developing the safe protocols that are used today.

Berra continued, "Only when Dr. Sato attached pneumatic bands to a digital control system did he find he could consistently and safely restrict blood flow. He dubbed his machine the Kaatsu (Japanese for “additional pressure”), and it remains one of a handful of tools that deliver proper and precise pressure to restrict blood flow. These tools cost serious coin. (The Kaatsu runs $900, and the units used by NFL teams are as much as $5,000.) But that hasn’t stopped Mark Wahlberg, Lakes center Dwight Howard, and many others from turning to BFR for an edge."

The KAATSU equipment that she refers to is the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 device [shown above with 72-year-old Dr. Sato]. The device that costs more is the Delfi Portable Tournique System for Blood Flow Restriction.

"KAATSU and Delfi are very different systems," explains Steven Munatones, CEO of KAATSU Global. "When the wide bands of the Delfi unit are used, you can see how the device is a modified tourniquet that is designed to occlude blood flow.

In contrast, nothing about KAATSU is about restricting blood flow, especially arterial flow into your arms or legs. The narrow elastic, stretchable bands of the KAATSU equipment allows freedom of movement so athletes can throw balls, musicians can play instruments, businesspeople can type emails, and others can easily do everything from household chores to physical therapy.

With the wider tourniquet bands, the increased girth of the arms pushes hard against the unforgiving cuffs that serve to occlude arterial flow which is why a Doppler device is required. You do not want to occlude too much which is why the occlusion rate is always monitored. In contrast, when occlusion is not a part of the equation, like with KAATSU, this risk is eliminated. This was one of the outcomes of the decade-long study of KAATSU at the University of Tokyo Hospital by cardiologists."

Berra described the benefits in her article, "The promise is enticing, and BFR’s mechanism is based in sound physiology.

Lifting heavy weights forces your muscles to contract so tightly that they briefly trap blood, causing the sought-after pump.

That natural blood flow restriction also causes lactic-acid build-up, triggering the release of muscle-building proteins and hormones, like HGH and insulin-like growth factor. BFR mimics the effect of heavy weights, causing the body to release the same proteins and hormones. When done properly, with a device that monitors the pressure in your arteries, it can increase muscular strength and growth, according to 2019 research published in Frontiers in Physiology.

Berra understands the need to be safe. She writes, "Message boards claim you can DIY bands and skip precise tracking, but experts disagree. At worst, you’ll tighten the bands too much, risking nerve and vascular damage. Leave them too loose and BFR won’t work, says Adam Anz, M.D. of the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida. To achieve the effects of BFR, you must completely compress your surface veins, he says, trapping that blood in your muscles. That’s difficult to do without equipment and constant monitoring."

"With KAATSU Fitness or KAATSU Therapy, however, you do not have to completely compress your surface veins - not even close," explains Munatones. "The arterial blood flow continues uninterrupted and the venous return is only slightly modified [see image below]."

"While occlusion training advocates recommend fully occluding blood flow, KAATSU Specialists would never do that.

And we work with people with all kinds of stages of health in several dozens of countries up to the age of 104," says Munatones.

As Berra explains about antiaging, "BFR may help combat sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass.

According to a 2019 Sports Medicine review, older adults utilizing BFR achieved more muscle hypertrophy than those doing classic resistance training."

That is certainly true, as described is this post about the oldest client of KAATSU Fitness, doing the original BFR:



Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

A Transformation With KAATSU, The Original BFR, From The Loss Of A Father And Husband

For who? Widows, widowers
For what? Parasympathetic nervous system, stress relief

"

"I am trying to remain steady in a world with so much chaos," said Tina Newman after one of her recent KAATSU sessions.


The 56-year-old Southern California native has been a popular aesthetician for nearly 30 years. Her studio is warm and inviting and she has worked very hard to establish her reputation.

For years, she juggled raising two children with her clinic and it was never easy.

But then she was hit with a double loss, made even more traumatic because they were unexpected. The two men in her life, her tennis-loving, retired orthodontist and father Dr. Ernie Follico, and her stoic, gentle musician husband who long served as a captain in the police force in the City of Newport Beach, both passed away.

She took it hard as they were both larger-than-life personalities with charisma that filled every room they entered. They took care of Tina and made her feel like a princess. She explains, "After the loss of my father and my husband, I had a tough time. I still am, but am getting better at dealing with the pain. , "When people see me at the store or around the neighborhood, they think that I lift weights and spend hours in the gym. But I just use my KAATSU bands with simple movements - sometimes without anything while I just move - or with balls and resistance bands.

The emotional pain was one thing to deal with, but I also faced excruitiating physical pain in my forearms. The pain nagged me constantly and the only thing that doctors recommended was to work less. But with the loss of my father and husband, I dove into my work even more.

But with KAATSU the original BFR, I do not feel the pain anymore. I don't know how to explain it, but the pain just went away."


She does KAATSU twice per day.

Sometimes, all she does is relax after work and let her KAATSU Cycle 2.0 do all the mechanical work while lying or sitting down. "It is so relaxing," she says.

Other times, she will ride her bicycle with the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit rhythmically inflating and deflating her KAATSU Air Bands at gentle pressures. Other times, she will get on a bench in her garage and simply go through the motions of doing butterfly or backstroke. "I never expected to get these muscles in my back. I used to be self-conscious of my musculature. But now as I approach my 60's, I know it is healthy.

And what is best is that my skin is tightening up. I could not even imagine that benefit - but I will take it," she laughed with a twinkle in her eye.

As a result of her new body and gradually brighter outlook on life, she described her new path going forward. "I am learning to love myself again, regain self confidence, and have a sense of calm. It has proven to be one of the hardest comebacks after the death of Ernie and Tim. I owe so much of this to KAATSU. I am able to deal with my PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome)."

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 28th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who established KAATSU At Home workouts, aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She used the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 31st


KAATSU At Home Workout on September 1st


KAATSU At Home Workout on September 2nd


KAATSU At Home Workout on September 3rd


KAATSU At Home Workout on September 4th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU, the Original BFR

KAATSU Fitness On The Go With David Tawil

For who? Road warriors, competitive athletes, executives, travelers
For what? Travel, jet lag, insomnia



KAATSU Master Specialist David Tawil travels frequently between Tokyo and Tel Aviv, teaching KAATSU to individuals, professional athletes and military personnel in Europe, North America, Israel and Japan.

Tawil demonstrates a few of the various ways how he integrates KAATSU the original BFR into his travel - for business or pleasure - by getting a full workout in his hotel room without any special equipment.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU Isometrics: Benefits In Strength, Speed, Stamina

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Speed, strength, stamina, isometric exercises



One of the most surprising places to realize the benefits of KAATSU is an economy-class seat in an airplane.

Similarly, the benefits of KAATSU the original BFR can be realized while you are sitting down to watch a movie.

In both cases, you can do isometric exercises by repeatedly pushing your arms against an immobile armrest or placing the palms of your hands and pushg against one other. These isometric exercises engage your muscles without movement and nearly eliminate any wear and tear on your joints.

There are many kinds of isometric exercises that you can do with KAATSU Air Bands on either your arms or your legs:

* sit down and extend your legs out and hold while contracting your muscle
* wall squats
* do a heel raise and hold
* stand up and lift one leg and hold
* do biceps curls and hold while contracting your muscle
* do triceps extension and hold while contracting your muscle
* grasping your hands together and pulling apart
* hold yoga poses
* planks
* chest press against a wall
* holding a push-up position
* lying down with your legs straight and your arms at your side while holding your head off the ground

Isometrics engages more muscle fibers than the movements with normal movement - and like KAATSU, can be done anywhere anytime while pushing or pulling against an immobile object or another body part. KAATSU augments the benefits while presenting fewer risks than traditional exercises with movement.

You can also work on a muscle from different angles and with different pressures or different degrees of tension. During isotonic and isokinetic movements, peak tension is only reached during a very small portion of the movement. But by holding a specific position under maximum tension, especially with KAATSU Air Bands on, the tension - and benefits - increase.

Additionally, and contrary to common thinking, isometrics can recruit the most fast-twitch muscle fibers during training. That is, you can get faster by not moving if your time under tension is maximized.

Additionally, isometric exercises can be effective at improving your cardiovascular fitness. During isometric exercises, the capillaries and veins (which hold 70% of your total blood volume in your body) are squeezed by the muscle fibers. This temporary and moderate stress forces your body to adapt and it responds by building more blood vessels and improving the elasticity in your blood vessels.

If you are waiting in a car and have your KAATSU equipment with you, throw on your KAATSU Air Bands on your arms or legs, and do some creative isometric exercises while just sitting. Build strength, speed and stamina with KAATSU isometrics.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 27th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 26th


KAATSU At Home Workout on August 25th


KAATSU At Home Workout on August 24th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 20th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 19th


KAATSU At Home Workout on August 18th


KAATSU At Home Workout on August 17th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 14th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 13th


KAATSU At Home Workout on August 10th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 3rd


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on August 4th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 30th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 27th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 28th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 31st


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

Great Leg Workout With KAATSU, The Original BFR

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes, ice hockey players, speed skaters
For what? Functional movement, strength, stamina, speed



For athletes who play football or fútbol, speed skate or row or cycle, generating powerful leg power and drive are common among elite athletes.

One example of how to do so is using KAATSU the original BFR with KAATSU Air Bands on the upper legs on a slide board. After a few or several sets of KAATSU Cycles, the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 can be detached from the bands and then used in various sets on the slide board - see above.

Another intense KAATSU program that Japanese Olympic speed skaters developed for speed and power was used by Hiroyasu Shimizu, a 1998 500m speed skating Olympic champion and 5-time world record holder from Japan. While only 162 cm in height (5'-3"), the power and size of his thighs are renowned.

He used the following 5 basic exercises with KAATSU Air Bands:


6 Types of Exercises:
1. Squats
2. Leg Curls
3. Leg Lunges
4. Calf Raises
5. Slide Board

Key Points:
* Focus on doing "non-lock exercises" where the knees are never fully extended and the muscles are constantly engaged with the KAATSU Air Bands on.
* Keep the rest period between sets and between exercises to 20 seconds maximum.
* Build the lactate levels to the highest levels possible.
* Do 3-4 sets of each exercise to failure (maximum effort).
* Failure on each set should be reached earlier and earlier (i.e., 24-40 repetitions on the first set in each exercise; >20 reps on second set; >10 reps in his third set; 1-2 reps on fourth set.

Details:
1. SQUATS
Do deep, quick non-lock squats until failure where the knees are kept at less than 90° throughout the 4 sets.

2. LEG CURLS
Do quickly paced leg curls until failure where the legs were kept at less than 90° throughout the 4 sets.

3. LEG LUNGES
Do deep walking leg lunges where athlete "walks" forward with (or without) a bar bell resting on the shoulders (or dumb bells in his hands).

4. CALF RAISES
Do 4 sets of calf raises with weights on the shoulders and toes in a starting position elevated above the heels (i.e., while standing on a small step or a step board) so the calves are worked.

5. SLIDE BOARD
Skate back and forth on a slide board in a deep squat, occasionally with weights resting on his shoulders.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Clinical Safety Of KAATSU, The Original BFR

For who? Cardiac rehabilitation patients, Baby Boomers, retirees
For what? Vascular elasticity, cardiac rehabilitation, recovery























Steven Munatones of KAATSU Global reported, "After reading the published paper, Clinical safety of blood flow-restricted training? A comprehensive review of altered muscle metaboreflex in cardiovascular disease during ischemic, I recall the decade-long research on KAATSU that a team of experienced cardiologists at the University of Tokyo Hospital conducted on over 7,000 cardiac rehab patients between 2004 and 2014.

If this decade-long study had not been successful, KAATSU the original BFR would have never been introduced outside of Japan. If the KAATSU protocols had caused any untoward issues with these older cardiac rehab patients, KAATSU Global would have never been established in the United States - or anywhere.

After 10 years of studying, testing and researching the passive use of KAATSU Cycles and documenting the applications and limitations of KAATSU equipment, it is very clear that BFR equipment and BFR protocols noted in the published literature are different."

In the aforementioned paper, the authors note that "blood flow restriction training (BFRT) requires the inflation of a pneumatic pressure cuff or a tourniquet positioned proximal to the exercising muscle before, and during, the bout of exercise."

KAATSU Difference: KAATSU flexible, narrow pneumatic bands is neither a blood pressure cuff or tourniquet and were never designed or engineered to occlude blood flow. In fact, with the help of a Masimo MightySat Finger Pulse Oximeter, one can easily see how blood flow is never occluded with the KAATSU Air Bands.

"Low-intensity BFRT with resistance training promotes comparable increases in muscle mass and strength observed during high-intensity exercise without blood flow restriction. BFRT has expanded into the clinical research setting as a potential therapeutic approach to treat functionally impaired individuals, such as the elderly, and patients with orthopedic and cardiovascular disease/conditions."

KAATSU Difference: For cardiac rehab patients, only KAATSU Cycles are performed. While BFR refers to sustained constant pressure while trying to build muscle mass, KAATSU Cycles are repeated intermittent inflation and deflation of the bands without a focus on building muscle mass.

"BFRT is a method of exercise training that involves execution of low-intensity resistance exercise combined with blood flow restriction (LIBFR) provided by an inflatable cuff or a tourniquet placed proximal to the exercising muscle."

KAATSU Difference: With the KAATSU Cycle, the limbs do not have to move and exercise is not a requirement or even an expectation for cardiac rehab patients doing KAATSU.

"In general, the external cuff pressure applied is set relative to the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP; i.e., the pressure required to cease blood flow to a limb), which is sufficient to produce partial restriction of arterial inflow and full occlusion of venous outflow."

KAATSU Difference: The pressure of the KAATSU Air Bands are not related to or dependent upon the arterial occlusion pressure. Most definitely, the full occlusion of venous outflow and the partial restriction of arterial information are not neither the goals of KAATSU nor part of its applications and protocols.

"A large survey in Japan with BFRT [note: authors refer to KAATSU Specialists] instructors from 232 facilities did not verify any major event, such as cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarct, or thrombosis in 120,000 subjects with a large variability of demographical and clinical characteristics (e.g., older adults and people with obesity, diabetes, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases). Reported side effects were generally minor, including transient numbness or dizziness, subcutaneous hemorrhage, and itchiness."

KAATSU Difference: This survey of Japanese KAATSU Specialists is accurate ("Use and safety of KAATSU training: Results of a national survey"); however, none of the Japanese instructors had access to the currently available automated KAATSU Cycle function of the KAATSU Master 2.0, KAATSU Nano and KAATSU Cycle 2.0 units. The survey was conducted in Japan over 15 years ago before the current-generation equipment was developed. In 2014 as a result of the decade-long study, KAATSU Global only sells equipment with the automated KAATSU Cycle function.

In the case of transient numbness or dizziness, the KAATSU Air Bands should be immediately removed and the patients should be well hydrated before and only do the automated KAATSU Cycles. In the case of subcutaneous hemorrhage and itchiness, the KAATSU Air Bands should be removed and reapplied at a lower pressure. For these reasons and others, KAATSU tightness (pressure) is never a function of AOP.

"However, care should be taken with general assumptions about BFRT safety given the paucity of long-term prospective trials with clinical populations, and the possibility of some remaining adverse effects that are still largely overlooked in the literature."

KAATSU Difference: An important result of the 10-year study of 7,000 cardiac rehab patients in Japan was that KAATSU is not used on patients who have experienced acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, ventricular tachycardia or severe arrhythmia, serious case of cardiac insufficiency (NYHA class IV), serious aortic stenosis, acute pulmonary embolism or lung infarction, and acute myocarditis or pericarditis.

Questions? Contact KAATSU Global at info@kaatsu.com.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU The Original BFR At The 2020 Digital Running Show

For who? Runners, triathletes, competitive athletes
For what? Recovery, rehabilitation, strength, flexibility



KAATSU Global CEO & Co-founder Steven Munatones presented the KAATSU the original BFR and various KAATSU running applications at the 2020 Digital Running Show, an entirely virtual running convention (previously called the National Running Show).

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 24th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 23rd


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 22nd


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 21st


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 20th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

Jonty Skinner Talks About Skill Acquisition With KAATSU, The Original BFR

For who? Student-athletes, competitive athletes, Olympic athletes
For what? Functional movement, technique, KAATSU At Home



Jonty Skinner was inducted as a coach in the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

But the South African first made his name in the international sports world as the fastest sprinter in the world [see below].

He would have been one of the gold medal favorites in the 100m freestyle at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games if his home country of South Africa were not banned due to its apartheid. Ineligible to compete in the Olympics, he had to showcase his speed in a shallow pool in Philadelphia.

He broke the world record - and was joyfully congratulated by his rivals, a tribute to his journey and obstacles that he overcame to become the fastest man in the water.

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, Skinner set a new standard in 49.44 to set the world record.

Upon his retirement as the world's fastest sprinter, Skinner has long established another great legacy, this time in coaching.

He is a scientifically-minded, analytically-oriented coach whose career 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, 2012-2019) 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, the original BFR, here, produced by Floswimming. Skinner also shared his more recent thoughts about KAATSU the original BFR and how athletes can accelerate their skill acquisition in the video above.



Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 17th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 15th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 14th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 13th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

KAATSU Cycling To Help Recover From High Lactate Levels

For who? Swimmers, student-athletes, competitive athletes, triathletes
For what? Recovery, stength, coordination, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU Aqua







































Robert Griswold is an American Paralympic swimmer (a medalist) who has cerebral palsy. He is an experienced KAATSU user and does KAATSU Cycles before and after his races as part of his pre-race warm-up and post-race cool-down. He also uses KAATSU Aqua in his workouts.

Griswold’s Anaerobic output (pain tolerance) is extremely high; he averages 16.4 mmol/L after his 100-meter backstroke races and 17.9 mmol/L after his 200-meter individual medley. Those are his two signature races that he should win in next year’s Paralympic Games.

Those lactate levels are rarely reached even by other world-class athletes.

Griswold’s highest recorded post-race lactate level is 21.9 mmol/L, measured after his 200-meter individual medley race in Mexico City performed at high altitude. He had to be carried off the pool deck by the medical staff. They told Griswold that if anyone else on the American team reached those levels that they would have to take them to the hospital.

After Griswold’s races, he swims about 1500 meters in the warm down pool (taking over 24 minutes to cool down to a 2.0 mmol/L level which is deemed to be normal.

But by doing KAATSU Cycles (repeated and intermittent pressure on and pressure off of the KAATSU Air Bands, Griswold only swims 400 meters and saves significant time to get his lactate level down to 2.0 mmol/L.

He reports about the original form of BFR, “KAATSU saves me 20 minutes per race warm down and I felt a lot better. This is important because I had the 100m backstroke and the 200m individual medley A finals only 10 minutes apart in Berlin earlier this year. I did KAATSU Cycles between the races and this was the only reason that I was able to get on the starting blocks for the second race. I was at 18.8 mmol/L after the 200m individual medley.”

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 7th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on July 10th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 9th, part 1


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 9th, part 2


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 8th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 6th


KAATSU At Home Workout on July 1st


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 30th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

3 Applications Of KAATSU For Athletes

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, performance, recovery



Sprinters, middle-distance athletes, and distance specialists train differently, and have different body types, training strategies, and mindsets. This is true in running, swimming, cycling, speed skating and many different types of sports.

But all athletes can effectively and efficiently use the 3 basic applications of KAATSU the original BFR:

*Level 1: KAATSU Cycle
*Level 2: KAATSU Performance
*Level 3: KAATSU Recovery

Level 1: KAATSU Cycle:
The KAATSU Cycle is a convenient, easy-to-use, automatic mode that requires no physical movement. It can be done anywhere (e.g., office cubicles, airplane seats, sofas at home, desks at school) anytime (e.g., before or after workouts), on the arms and separately on the legs. Before a workout, physical movement like stretching or an easy jog or calisthenics while the KAATSU Cycle mode is on can also be used.

During the KAATSU Cycle mode, the KAATSU Air Bands remain connected to the KAATSU equipment (KAATSU Master 2.0, KAATSU Nano or KAATSU Cycle 2.0 units) and automatically inflates and deflates to pressures between 0 - 500 SKU.

It is recommended that athletes start with lower pressures on their first KAATSU Cycle set (e.g., Group Low on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or Level 1 on the KAATSU Master or 100 SKU on the KAATSU Nano). The second and subsequent sets can be increasingly set to higher pressures (e.g., Group Medium and Group High on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or Level 2-5 on the KAATSU Master or 150-400 SKU on the KAATSU Nano).

The KAATSU Cycle mode helps increase the vascular tissue elasticity and prepare the athlete for movement and a vigorous workout.

Level 2: KAATSU Performance
The KAATSU Constant mode is ideal for any kind of athletic performance. After inflating the KAATSU Air Bands to your optimal SKU pressure, the bands are untethered (disconnected) from the KAATSU equipment so athletes can work on their starts or anything else from swings of a golf club to turns in a pool, especially after 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets have been completed.

KAATSU Performance is the most intense form of vigorous exercise and is highly aerobic. Athletes should always remain well hydrated before and during KAATSU - and should always monitor their CRT (Capillary Refill Time) and should immediately take off the bands if they feel lightheaded or uncomfortable.

Above is a short clip of elite sprinters working on short bursts of speed on a handful of hill runs in the KAATSU Training mode. Middle-distance and distance runners and swimmers can also utilize the KAATSU Training mode. They can combine distance (or duration) with pace, interval and pressure or KAATSU DPIP.

KAATSU DPIP
DPIP = Distance (or Duration) + Pace + Interval + Pressure

KAATSU Air Bands are inflated to an optimal SKU pressure so athletes can achieve a certain pace in a specific interval over a set distance or duration.

For example, a runner can run 8 x 400m at 2-minute intervals at a 1-minute pace with the KAATSU Air Band set at 100 SKU pressure. Swimmers can swim 8 x 100m at 1:45 intervals at a 1:20 pace with the KAATSU Air Band set at 100 SKU pressure.

Once this initial KAATSU DPIP set can be repeatedly achieved at 100 SKU (keeping the distance, pace and interval constant), the runners and swimmers can then increase their SKU pressure to 110 SKU. After the second set at 110 SKU can be repeatedly achieved (keeping everything constant), the runners and swimmers can then increase their SKU pressure to 120 SKU. They can continue to increase the pressure - or alternatively, increase their distance (or duration) or pace, or decrease their interval.

The SKU pressures used during the KAATSU 3-point Exercises are dependent upon the appropriate Base SKU and Optimal SKU pressures.

Level 3: KAATSU Recovery
After a hard strength-training session, a vigorous workout, or a competition, athletes can use the KAATSU Cycle mode to efficiently flush out lactate from their major muscle groups, enabling them to recover well in time for their next workout or competitive event.

The KAATSU Cycle mode is convenient and easy-to-use for post-workout recovery. The athletes can just sit and apply the KAATSU Air Bands to their arms and then their legs - or vice versa.

Some athletes prefer to do repeated KAATSU Cycle sets with the same SKU pressure. Other athletes prefer to start with a higher pressure and then decrease their pressure on subsequent sets. Other athletes prefer to do the opposite; they start with lower pressures and then increase their pressure on subsequent sets.

It is recommended that athletes start with lower pressures on their first KAATSU Cycle set (e.g., Group Low on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or Level 1 on the KAATSU Master or 100 SKU on the KAATSU Nano). The second and subsequent sets can be increasingly set to higher pressures (e.g., Group Medium and Group High on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 or Level 2-5 on the KAATSU Master or 150-400 SKU on the KAATSU Nano).

The highest pressures that can be obtained are generally among athletes between ages 18-30 and decrease for both younger and older individuals. Dr Jim Stray-Gundersen explains, "There is an overlay of 'physiologic' age that modifies the chronological age. That is, older athletes who may have stiff, damaged arteries, should use relatively low pressures. Keep in mind what one is trying to do with KAATSU is find your optimal amount of venous outflow impediment so that otherwise easy exercises become unsustainable."



























Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 29th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 26th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 24th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 23rd


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 22nd


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 19th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 18th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Stroke Survivors Do KAATSU, The Original BFR

For who? Stroke survivors
For what? Cardiac rehabilitation, mobility, functional movement



Rehabilitation and a positive mindset are critical to recovering from a stroke.

Strokes can vary in type and severity, and recovery from a stroke is difficult and often seems overwhelming. There are many stroke patients who incorporate KAATSU the original BFR in their rehabilitation.

Al is one example. The Southern Californian experienced a stroke in 1999 and he began KAATSU in June 2020 - and saw immediate improvement in his pain management and mobility.

These are the standard KAATSU protocols that he, his KAATSU Master Specialist Dave Carlson, and other stroke survivors follow:

1. Only use the KAATSU Cycle mode. Do not use the KAATSU Constant mode.
2. Use conservative (i.e., low) pressure in the beginning and at the start of each KAATSU Cycle session. This would be Low on the KAATSU Cycle 2.0, KAATSU C3, and KAATSU B1.
3. Be able to put a single finger between the KAATSU Air Bands on your skin.
4. Your skin should have a pink or red tone to it with your KAATSU Air Bands on; your skin should not appear blue, gray or white. The goal is to have blood engorged in your limbs; the goal is not to prevent blood from going into your limbs.
4. Put your KAATSU Air Bands over your clothing.
5. Be well hydrated before and during each KAATSU session.
6. After you become accustomed to KAATSU over a period of 2-4 weeks, you can use KAATSU frequently (1-2 times per day) for optimal and quick improvement.
7. Do 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets per session. For example, you can do:
(a) 3-6 sets of the Low pressure, or
(b) 3-6 sets of Progressive KAATSU Cycle sets where you do a few sets on Low pressure, 1-2 sets on Medium pressure, and if you wish, then 1-2 sets on High pressure
8. First, do KAATSU on your arms. Then, do KAATSU on your legs. But never wear the KAATSU Air Bands on both your arms and legs together.
9. Do simple movements with your KAATSU Air Bands on your arms in the KAATSU Cycle mode (e.g., Hand Clenches, Biceps Curls, Triceps Extensions, Ball Squeezes, Holding and Writing with a Pen). Do not attempt push-ups or lift weights with your KAATSU Air Bands on your arms.
10. Do simple movements with your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs in the KAATSU Cycle mode (e.g., Toe Curls, Toe Raises, Sitting Heel Raises, Standing Leg Curls, Quadriceps Contractions, Easy Walking). Do not attempt to lift or press weights with your KAATSU Air Bands on your legs.
11. In the beginning, you can place the KAATSU Air Bands only on your affected limbs. That is, if your right arm is affected by the stroke, use the KAATSU Air Bands only on the right arm.

These protocols have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and its use should be evaluated by your own physician before use.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

The KAATSU Choice: Higher Pressures Over Heavy Weights

For who? Baseball players, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength



"Your legs are stronger than life..." said New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. He was explaining his condition after a tough KAATSU leg workout with ESPN sports broadcaster Jessica Mendoza in an ESPN interview.

Mendoza tried KAATSU with Cespedes and Mike Barwis, an early adopter of KAATSU, at the Barwis Methods Training Center in Port St Lucie, Florida.

Personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and exercise physiologists believe that optimal muscle building requires lifting of weights or doing resistance exercises. This leads to DOMS (Delayed-onset muscle soreness) that is felt after a hard workout and acute muscle soreness that is felt during or immediately after a workout.

Conventional wisdom is that the heavier the weight and/or the more repetitions or time in the gym, the larger and faster muscles will develop.

The muscle-building process leads to DMOS where the muscle fibers are damaged while weight lifting, and leads to the secretion of HGH (Human Growth Hormone) that results in muscle recovery, growth and size.

Practically, this means that if you are bench pressing 50 kg in 3 sets of 12 repetitions, and then gradually increase the weight to 55 kg in 3 sets of 12 repetitions, then not only are you psychologically satisfied with your performance, but you are also getting stronger and most probably bigger in size.

And usually sore for a while after every weight training session.

Figuratively speaking, a strength and conditioning coach wants their athletes to lift more weights over more repetitions.

Let’s imagine that those weights are rocks. Let’s place those rocks in a bucket and ask the athlete to lift those imaginary buckets.

If the coach wants to increase their weight of that bucket, he will add another rock. But at some point, the bucket will be filled and no more rocks can be added.

But what if those rocks were replaced by sand? Rocks are clearly heavier than sand. But, if we filled the bucket with sand - tiny particles of little rocks - the overall weight of the sand-filled bucket will be even greater than a bucket filled with larger, heavier rocks.

Now imagine the coach wants to increase the weight of the bucket for his athlete. He cannot add another rock, but he can add some additional sand.

The sand enables micro increases of weight in a way that rocks cannot. This can enable the coach to help his athlete very gradually and very minutely increase the weight and performance gains.

Now figuratively imagine, a clever coach used powder instead of sand in his imaginary weight training bucket. Powder is obviously lighter than sand and significantly lighter than rocks. But powder enables the coach to very precisely and gradually increase the weight and strength of his athlete.

Essentially, the sand and the powder enables a more precise means to very incrementally increase the strength and performance of an athlete.

Using KAATSU is similar to this analogy of using rocks versus sand versus powder.

KAATSU equipment enables strength and conditioning coaches to very precisely and MUCH more frequently increase the strength and size of their athletes in addition to their speed and stamina.

The preciseness and specificity that is enabled by KAATSU the original BFR is unparalleled. With KAATSU equipment, one pressure point increase is the figurative and literal amount that is equivalent to a single grain of sand or tiny bits of powder. For elite athletes who seek victory by being only incrementally faster, better, and stronger than their opponents, KAATSU - or the equivalent of adding sand or powder to your bucket - can be the incremental difference.

Likewise, for a stroke victim or a paraplegic who is striving to make only slight incremental improvements in their movements or strength, KAATSU enables the tiny increases in their Quality of Life. Performed regularly and ideally daily for less than 20 minutes per day, these incremental increases in performance and in the Quality of Life makes significant changes in the lives of healthy athletes and injured individuals.

Some younger and some male athletes frequently want to lift heavy weights with their KAATSU Air Bands on.¹ But it is not necessary to get bigger and stronger. The real key is two-fold:

* do KAATSU Cycles before and during the strength-training session
* finish off with some KAATSU Training
* increase the SKU pressure of the KAATSU Air Bands in the KAATSU Cycle and KAATSU Training mode instead of adding resistance (weights) to your lifts<sup>2

1</sup> As shown with New York Mets' Yoenis Céspedes in the ESPN report above.
² If you want to feel some resistance, you can use very light weights (e.g., water bottle or light dumbbells) and/or contract your muscles in the both the positive and negative directions.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Tightening The Skin With KAATSU Beauty

For who? Work-at-home employees, mothers
For what? KAATSU Beauty, skin care, KAATSU At Home

Optimal movements to help improve and tighten loose folds of skin due to surgery and significant weight loss include the exercises with KAATSU Beauty are described below. Tightening the skin and underlying muscle will take some time, but improvement is best achieved by doing 2 KAATSU Beauty sessions per day with 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets on both your arms and legs:

Upper Body with KAATSU AirBands on your Arms
> in the KAATSU Cycle mode

1. Extend your arm outwards from your body and rotate your arms clockwise and counterclockwise. Keep your arms in the same position, approximately at shoulder height, but twist your wrists as far as possible in the clockwise direction and then in the opposite (counterclockwise) direction. Move your arms slowly rather than quickly.
2. Let your arms hang naturally downwards from your body while you walk and alternately rotate your arms in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
3. Do the Standard KAATSU 3-Point Arm Exercises that include Hand Clenches + Biceps Curls + Triceps Extensions, optimally performed slowly.

Lower Body - KAATSU AirBands on your Legs
> in the KAATSU Cycle mode
1. Walk comfortably. Optimally and ideally, you can walk barefoot on the sand or, alternatively, on grass or uphill.
2. Do Standard KAATSU 3-Point Leg Exercises that include Standing Heel Raises + Standing Leg Curls (bringing heels to buttocks) + Non-lock (Partial) Quarter Squats. One set is performed with toes pointed inwards; another set is performed with the toes pointed outwards; last set is performed with the feet pointed straight (normally).

Core - KAATSU AirBands on your Legs
> in the KAATSU Cycle mode
1. Balance on one foot for xx seconds. Do 3 times. Then balance on the other foot for as many seconds as you can. Repeat 3 times.
2. Walk comfortably with a small book on your head.
3. Play with a Hula Hoop.
4. Stretch your legs and lower back normally.

Chin and Jaw - KAATSU AirBands on your Arms
> in the KAATSU Cycle mode
1. Repeatedly pronounce vowels ("...a-e-i-o-u...") with exaggerated movement of jaw and mouth.
2. Move your head upwards and downwards slowly.
3. Turn your head left and right.
4. Rotate your head left and right.

For more information on aesthetic applications of KAATSU Beauty, visit here and here and here.

​Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU For Explosive Strength And Vertical Leap Increase

For who? Basketball players, volleyball players, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Vertical leap, functional movement, strength






























Aaron Gordon, an NBA basketball player from the Orlando Magic, is considered one of the most athletic players in the NBA. His dramatic dunks have captivated fans for years.

John Murray of Murray Athletic Development first introduced KAATSU the original BFR to Gordon who uses the KAATSU Master unit.

Like Gordon, athletes who focus on basketball, football, soccer, rugby, volleyball, and many other sports focus on explosiveness, acceleration, agility, and their vertical leap abilities. This is where use of the KAATSU Cycle and KAATSU Training modalities can make incremental differences and help athletes reach their true potential.

In a test witnessed by Dave Durden, the 2020 USA Olympic Swim Team coach and 5-time NCAA Coach of the Year, one of the University of California Berkeley Assistant Athletic Performance coaches wanted to focus on KAATSU effects on performance. Steven Munatones recalls the test with Joel Smith, "Joel was not focused on recovery or rehabilitation with the KAATSU equipment, but rather on performance. So he did 3 KAATSU Cycles, with progressively higher pressures, on his arms. We walked right over to the gym after the 12 minutes of KAATSU Cycles was finished in order to shoot 5 free throws - without a warm-up. 3 shot were beautiful swishes, 1 ball bounced around the rim and went in, and 1 ball bounced out.

Joel responded, 'I felt very good, more fluid, with a greater mind-body connection.'

KAATSU passed the initial performance test, however rudimentary it was.

Then we did one more KAATSU Cycle on his leg at a fairly low pressure. We tested his vertical leap with a vertical leap measurement device in the Haas Pavilion on the Cal campus. Even without a warm-up, he leaped 26.0 inches; he said 'It was a lifetime best'. Joel was surprised, but I was not because not only were his vascular tissue with his limbs were made more elastic with the KAATSU Cycles on his arms and legs, but he had already done 16 minutes of KAATSU Cycles and a hormonal response was well underway.

Joel said that in order for KAATSU to be scientifically and statistically valid that he needed to leap at least one inch more than his best. We took up this challenge. The next two sets of KAATSU Cycles were done with a higher manual Base SKU and higher Optimal SKU levels while he did 2 more KAATSU Cycles with the KAATSU leg bands (at 350 SKU).

He walked up to the vertical leap measurement device and jumped again. 27.2 inches.

He did it again and leaped 27.5 inches. He leaped a fourth time and did 27.5 inches again. It was 1.5 inches greater than his max. Test passed."

Detailed training recommendations for increasing one's vertical leap over the course of a short duration (1-2 weeks) or over the duration of a season include the following:

1. Do 6 KAATSU Cycles on the arms at progressively higher pressures to warm-up or work on the arms (optional, if time is limited). Remove KAATSU Air Bands from the arms and place KAATSU Air Bands on the legs.
2. Do 6 KAATSU Cycles on the legs at progressively higher pressures to warm-up the legs ((e.g., Group Low > Group Medium > Group High > Pro Low > Medium > Group High.
3. During the first 3 KAATSU Cycles, simply stretch or walk around. During the last 3 KAATSU Cycles, begin some easy and light jumping.
4. Remove KAATSU Air Bands from legs.
5. Do some aggressive jumping or vertical leap drills.
6. Place KAATSU Air Bands on the legs at a sufficiently high pressure.
7. Do vertical leap drills until legs are burned out. Remove bands, rehydrate and stretch a bit.
8. After fully recovered, do a few more vertical leap drills to complete working on explosiveness and vertical leap.

Kevin Perrott, PhD of OpenCures explains a bit what happens biochemically after sets of KAATSU Cycles:



Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 16th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 15th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 12th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 11th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 10th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 9th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 8th


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 5th


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

Effects Of KAATSU On Post-lockdown Performance

For who? Swimmers, competitive athletes, triathletes
For what? Speed, strength, stamina, KAATSU At Home, KAATSU Aqua



Chris Morgan, head coach of Gator Swim Club in Massachusetts and the 2008 Swiss Olympic swim team coach, discussed the effects of doing 3 months of home-use KAATSU the original BFR and backyard pool workouts on his athletes' immediate and short-term post-lockdown performance in the swimming pool.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

Mobility And Movement Improvements With Older Users

For who? Work-at-home employees, retirees, Baby Boomers
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home



Samuel Amorim, the leading KAATSU Master Specialist in Brazil and many other KAATSU Master Specialists around the world are helping their older patients improve their mobility and range of motion after doing repeated KAATSU Cycles.

In many cases, the older patients purchase their own KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit and continue to make significant improvements after they can use the equipment at the comfort of their own home, optimally twice per day using the KAATSU Cycle mode.

Amorim initially warms up his clients and patients with the KAATSU Cycle while they are sitting and stretching. Then, they do a variety of exercises following the standard KAATSU protocols with resistance bands.



Additional KAATSU Brasil activities are posted on both Facebook and Instagram where KAATSU the original BFR can be seen being performed by people of all ages.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU The Original BFR At The Digital Running Show

For who? Runners
For what? Recovery, strength, stamina























Following the postponement of The National Running Show London to 2021, the Digital Running Show will be held online on June 13th - 14th 2020 in partnership with Children with Cancer UK.

KAATSU Global will present its original BFR principles and how the KAATSU Cycle and KAATSU Constant modes are used by sprinters, hurdlers, middle-distance runners, distance runners, ultra-marathon runners, triathletes, extreme athletes and recreational runners for performance gains, rehabilitation purposes, and recovery from vigorous training sessions and competition.





For more information, visit nationalrunningshow.com/digital.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global

KAATSU At Home With Laurel Kuzins Using The KAATSU Cycle 2.0

For who? Work-at-home employees, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Functional movement, strength, flexibility, mobility, KAATSU At Home

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 4th


Laurel Kuzins is a KAATSU Functional Mobility Specialist from Santa Monica, California who leads the daily KAATSU At Home workouts starting at 3 pm California time / 6 pm New York time Mondays through Fridays on Zoom or Instagram Live. These KAATSU workouts are aimed at Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). She uses the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

KAATSU At Home Workout on June 3rd


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 2nd


KAATSU At Home Workout on June 1st


Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU the Original BFR

KAATSU Beauty For Hands, Arms, Shoulders, Neck

For who? Mothers
For what? KAATSU Beauty, skin care, stress relief





























Some protocol examples of KAATSU Beauty for your hands, arms, shoulders, and neck are below:

KAATSU Beauty Application: For individuals with arthritis or cold hands
Purpose: To increase the blood circulation in your hands and arms

Movement #1: Sit down for your first KAATSU Cycle with KAATSU AirBands on your arms. Allow your upper body to warm-up with the gradual pressure of the automatic KAATSU Cycle on your arms.
Movement #2: Slowly and gently rotate your shoulders forwards, and then backwards, during the next KAATSU Cycle.
Movement #3: Slowly and gently stretch your forearms, biceps, triceps, and shoulders.
Movement #4: Slightly, slowly and gently twist your outstretched arms.
Movement #5: Move your fingers like you are playing the piano or typing quickly on a keyboard.
Movement #6: Place a golf ball or tennis ball between the palms of your hands and slowly roll the ball between both of your palms.
Movement #7: Place chopsticks in your dominant hand and repeatedly try to pick up small objects. Then place chopsticks in your non-dominant hand and repeatedly try to pick up small objects.






























Application: For individuals with aging skin, stiff shoulders or to improve musculature
Purpose: To increase the blood circulation in your shoulders and neck

Movement #1: Sit down for your first KAATSU Cycle with KAATSU AirBands on your arms. Allow your upper body to warm-up with the gradual pressure of the automatic KAATSU Cycle on your arms.
Movement #2: Perform the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for your arms. Slowly do Hand Clenches, then Biceps Curls and then Triceps Extensions while doing 2-3 KAATSU Cycle sets.
Movement #3: Slowly move your head as much as you can left and right, up and down, and around in circles - as long as there is zero discomfort. If you begin to feel dizzy or uncomfortable, stop immediately. If you can move your head even slightly without any discomfort, then move as far (or as little) as possible. Do not move to the point of discomfort.
Movement #4: Slowly and gently rotate your shoulders forwards, and then backwards, during the KAATSU Cycle mode.
Movement #5: Slowly and repeatedly annunciate vowels ("a-e-i-o-u") in an exaggerated fashion. You can do so in front of a mirror or while laying down.

Post-application and KAATSU Finisher:
Movement #1: After these movements above, put the KAATSU AirBands on your legs and do casual walking with low pressure. You can walk inside your home or outside.
Movement #2: As you sit or lie down, you can repeatedly contract, and then release, the muscles of your legs for a few seconds at a time.
Movement #3: Perform the standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for your legs. Slowly do Heel Raises (sitting or standing), then Leg Curls and then Non-stop Quarter Squats while doing 2-3 KAATSU Cycles.



Copyright © 2014 - 2020 by KAATSU Global