Saturday, November 13, 2021

Why Chris Hemsworth Did Not Continue Using KAATSU - Basic KAATSU Protocols Were Not Followed


When experienced KAATSU Master Specialists first saw famed actor Chris Hemsworth do KAATSU on Instagram, they cringed (see here) and shook their heads.

The flood of emails and texts from around the world that were sent to KAATSU Global headquarters were a clear indication that the Australian actor best known for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was incorrectly doing KAATSU and was not following basic, well established, and proven KAATSU protocols.

Jackson Thomas of Insider recently wrote an article (Chris Hemsworth has stopped using blood-flow restriction to build his arm muscles, side effects can be 'quite painful') that described Hemsworth's KAATSU experience.

As the experienced KAATSU Master Specialists know well, KAATSU is not meant to be painful; KAATSU is meant to be gentle on the body. In particular, the Progressive KAATSU Cycle mode provides a rhythmic, progressively incremental pressure and decompression pattern that builds muscle very effectively and efficiently. KAATSU is certainly not meant to be used with heavy weights or cause extreme discomfort.

"A KAATSU workout can certainly be intense for some athletes and actors who wish to quickly transform their bodies, but it is never meant to be painful," explains Steven Munatones who has been doing KAATSU since 2001. "Pain should have been a clear signal to Chris that his use of KAATSU was wrong, especially for a first-time user.


The commonly held premise, primarily demonstrated and explained online YouTube, that KAATSU restricts blood flow is wrong. There is certainly a moderation (slowing down) of venous flow from the limbs back to the torso, but there is no occlusion - or at least, there is not meant to be restriction or occlusion when people properly, safely and optimally do KAATSU. This concept of restriction and occlusion is a very unfortunate result of flat-out wrong information that is often posted online and marketed by young trainers and social media savvy BFR promoters on Instagram and YouTube.
"

In the above image of an arm with the KAATSU AirBands on at a high SKU pressure (300 SKU), you can see the arterial blood flow remains unimpeded and the venous return is only slightly moderated when the AirBands are inflated in a gradual, progressively incremental pattern.

Hemsworth's trainer Ross Edgley described KAATSU as "...one of the most uncomfortable training methods I’ve experienced but part of the puzzle in growing Thor’s arms to look like the legs of a racehorse. Don’t try this at home unless you have yourself a professional pain guru."

"Pain should NOT part of the KAATSU journey. There is no need for pain gurus in the KAATSU community. Pain should have been an immediate signal to stop," said Munatones. "Chris also did not do Progressive KAATSU Cycle sets, the standard protocol. This is THE key essence of the entire KAATSU principle. In Chris' Instagram post, you can see when the KAATSU AirBands were placed on his upper arms, he immediately opened and closed his hands. Then, Chris started right into lifting heavy weights with the AirBands placed on too tightly - this was another wrong step. His frowning facial expressions were indicative of his extreme discomfort. These indicate that occlusion was setting in - as opposed to engorgement which is what KAATSU users want. KAATSU users want the blood IN the limbs; not OUT of the limbs.

We can confidently assume that if Chris had checked his CRT (Capillary Refill Time) on the palm of his hands by firmly pressing his thumb into the base of his palm, the blood would refill quite slowly; certainly slower than the recommended 1-2 seconds.

This slow CRT on the palm of his hands is a clear, visual indication that arterial flow is being significantly impeded. That is, blood flowing from his torso to his arms through his brachial artery is being occluded and there is insufficient blood circulation to his arm.

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel supplying blood to your upper arm, elbow, forearm and hand. It starts in your upper arm, just below your shoulder, and runs down through the crease in front of your elbow. This artery is purposefully occluded when you get your blood pressure taken. When this artery is sufficiently compressed (as with an inflated blood pressure cuff or improperly applied KAATSU AirBands), blood flow is occluded - an unsafe practice.

Experienced KAATSU Master Specialists often talk about the KAATSU Smile. The Smile is the usual and expected outcome of users after their KAATSU sessions. In contrast, Chris's pain clearly showed on his face throughout and after his KAATSU session. He was uncomfortable and not happy. There is a clear difference between the discomfort due to intensity of KAATSU movements and the lactate build-up and the pain of misuse. Damage to soft tissue and our joints and ligaments is far different than the physiological discomfort from metabolic waste build-up.

KAATSU is - simply put - not a tourniquet or blood pressure cuff or occlusion bands. KAATSU AirBands were never designed or manufactured to cut off or restrict any blood flow. Ever. This was not the invention of Dr. Sato. Rather, KAATSU equipment was specifically designed and manufactured to do quite the opposite, in fact. Properly applied KAATSU AirBands in the KAATSU Cycle mode leads to greater blood circulation and a hormonal response precisely because the vascular tissue becomes more elastic with gradual, gentle KAATSU Cycle sets. The blood engorges the vascular tissue - it is not occluded as is implied with the acronym BFR: Blood Flow Restriction
."

But, for too many years, trainers and coaches have pushed occlusion and pain are part of BFR training. They augment their campaign with images of young, fit, chiseled models. While occlusion and pain may be a part of BFR because of their tourniquets, cuffs and occlusion bands, these outcomes are not part of proper, safe and optimal KAATSU.

"That is why KAATSU is used by so many people over the age of 50 - and by the U.S. military and professional athletes," says Munatones. "Their goals are not only quite specific - to be able to train, recover and rehabilitate anywhere anytime, but also because KAATSU is gentle and gradual, a daily KAATSU regimen is easily sustainable and convenient to use for people of all ages." When occlusion and pain are not part of the equation, and KAATSU pressure is gently, temporarily, and gradually applied - as has always been the KAATSU Cycle protocol, then the body acts and responds differently than what Hemsworth experienced. The seminal long-term research that was performed over a 10-year period between 2004 and 2014 at the University of Tokyo Hospital under the guidance of cardiologists proved these outcomes."

In the image above, you can see the upper arm of a competitive collegiate soccer player (in his early 20's) with the KAATSU Air Bands on a constant KAATSU pressure of 300 SKU (approximately equal to 300 mmHg). This amount of pressure is not recommended for a vast majority of people, but even at these high and sustained pressures, the KAATSU Air Bands do not occlude any arterial blood flow - and the pressure only very slightly modified the venous blood flow back to the torso.*

This is how KAATSU is properly, safely and optimally used.

There are three major players in the market originally created by Dr. Yoshiaki Sato in Tokyo: the devices designed and manufactured by KAATSU Global, Inc. (e.g., KAATSU Nano, KAATSU Master 2.0, KAATSU Air Bands, KAATSU B1, KAATSU C3, KAATSU M3, KAATSU C4, and KAATSU B2), the Delfi Portable Tourniquet System for Blood Flow Restriction marketed by Johnny Owens, and B Strong as marketed by Dr. James Stray-Gundersen.

There is much confusion and misunderstandings in the marketplace about the difference in equipment and protocols for these three leading products and approaches.

The Delfi product identifies total occlusion pressure and then applies a specific percentage of that pressure during its applications. In contrast, the KAATSU products are not designed to even remotely approach occlusion pressure.

B Strong is occasionally used on all four limbs at once - something that KAATSU users would never do...because it is unnecessary, proven after 10 years of focused researched at the 22nd Century Project at the University of Tokyo Hospital by cardiologists and KAATSU inventor Dr. Sato.

This fact was identified by Professor Alyssa Weatherholt of the University of Southern Indiana, Professor William VanWye of Western Kentucky University, and Johnny Owens of Owens Recovery Science (the exclusive distributor of the Delfi Portable Tourniquet System for Blood Flow Restriction equipment).

They presented a study called Pressure Needed to Achieve Complete Arterial Occlusion: A Comparison of Two Devices Used for Blood Flow Restriction Training [see here].

The researchers concluded a wider cuff of the Delfi Portable Tourniquet System for Blood Flow Restriction is able to restrict arterial blood flow at significantly lower pressures compared to the narrow cuff [KAATSU Air Bands] using the KAATSU Master. The key finding of this study is as follows:

We were unable to achieve complete arterial occlusion in any participant with the KAATSU cuff.”

The KAATSU equipment was designed and is specifically manufactured to avoid arterial occlusion in the limbs. This fact is precisely why KAATSU was originally defined by Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, the KAATSU inventor, and leading Japanese cardiologists at the University of Tokyo Hospital as a Blood Flow Moderation (BFM) device.

While the vernacular nuance between BFM and BFR may be overlooked by many (venous flow modification versus arterial flow restriction), the modification of venous flow is critical to understanding the safety and goal of KAATSU as certified KAATSU Specialists understand.

"There is no part of the KAATSU protocols that includes as part of its protocols - or tries to achieve - arterial occlusion. This is why KAATSU is definitely not occlusion training, tourniquet training, O-training, or any kind of blood flow restriction modality," explains Steven Munatones. "This is why KAATSU equipment does not use cuffs or bands that are specifically designed to occlude or manufactured to restrict arterial flow. KAATSU Air Bands are not tourniquets or blood pressure cuffs. Rather, the stretchable bands are designed with flexible, elastic air bladders that inflate inwards towards the limb at very moderate pressures to minimally modify venous flow.

This pressure is gentle on the body and uniform because the limb is evenly and safely compressed by a bed of air. This principle and practical engineered solution leads to blood pooling in the limb - not arterial occlusion. This fact was independently determined by researchers and the leading Delfi proponent of BFR
.

Furthermore, the patented KAATSU Cycle allows normal arterial and venous flow every 20 seconds which means it is safe, effective and gentle for people of all ages (including up to 104 years - see here).

In summary:

1. The purpose of KAATSU equipment and its protocols is a reduction in venous flow via blood flow moderation, a term first coined in the 1990s by Dr. Sato and Doctors Nakajima and Morita, cardiologists at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

2. The pneumatically controlled KAATSU Air Bands is designed to achieve a reduction in venous flow is a very different approach from BFR and its widely-promoted use of blood pressure cuffs that are specifically designed to achieve limb occlusion.

3. When the KAATSU equipment is used, its users agree to follow the specific protocols as defined by its inventor, Dr. Sato. Specifically, KAATSU protocols and equipment are designed not to occlude.

4. The stretchable, pneumatically controlled KAATSU Air Bands are not (blood pressure) cuffs. A cuff is a term that refers to devices specifically engineered for limb occlusion.

5. KAATSU Specialists understand the importance of users to know both their Base SKU pressure and their Optimal SKU pressure while using in the KAATSU Cycle and KAATSU Training modes. To refer to KAATSU pressure without reference to both Base SKU and Optimal SKU pressures is misleading.

There is another paper written by Jeremy P. Loenneke, Christopher Fahs, Lindy Rossow, Robert Thiebaud, Kevin T. Mattocks, Takashi Abe, and Michael G. Bemben (Blood flow restriction pressure recommendations: a tale of two cuffs) that addresses this subject from another perspective.

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, November 6, 2021

John Doolittle And Reden Dionisio On The Brave And Faithful Podcast



Reden Dionisio, President & CEO of Fortis Et Fidelis®, interviewed KAATSU Global Chief Revenue Officer John Doolittle on the BRAVE AND FAITHFUL PODCAST.

Dionisio explains the foundation of his podcast, “To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible. We have insightful conversations with our brave and faithful military veterans and service members.

Fortis is the Latin word for strong, brave. Fidelis is the Latin word for faithful, loyal. To learn more, visit here.

The podcast with Navy SEAL Captain Doolittle is here on Apple and here on Amazon for the Fortis Et Fidelis® channel.

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Monday, November 1, 2021

KAATSU Strong for Amputee Marine Justin Sponaugle


For who? brain injury survivors, paraplegics, quadriplegics, amputees, car accident victims
For what? recovery, strength building, functional movement

Justin Sponaugle is a US Marine whose lower left arm was recently amputated.

Operation Healing Forces granted him a new KAATSU C3 and Sponaugle is putting it to good and immediate use.

John Doolittle, a retired Navy SEAL captain and CRO for KAATSU Global explains, "The mission of Operation Healing Forces (OHF) is to help active-duty and recent veteran wounded, ill and injured Special Operations Forces and their families with mental, physical and emotional healing. Its goal is to help them return to the fight or transition successfully into civilian life."

Sponaugle is one of those individuals with a specific need.

Sponaugle said after his initial use of KAATSU, "After only two KAATSU Cycles (about 12 minutes of pressure on and pressure off on the KAATSU C3 unit), the bone doesn't hurt as much and I can definitely move it with a whole lot less pain.

KAATSU improves the circulation on my amputated arm which results in better sensor contact inside my prosthetic - which enables me to move my prosthetic much more efficiently.

At night, before bed, my neuropathic pain is significantly reduced after the KAATSU Cycles.

I have better circulation, better control, and it feels good. This is absolutely amazing and impressive. KAATSU Strong
."

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, October 30, 2021

125 Different KAATSU At Home Workouts With Laurel Kuzins

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

KAATSU At Home Workout #1


Laurel Kuzins is an experienced yoga, Pilates, GroupX instructor, and 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) and active and aging Baby Boomers. She used the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 during the KAATSU At Home workouts.

She led KAATSU At Home workouts during the pandemic lockdowns and work-at-home orders. These KAATSU workouts are for both aging Baby Boomers and for Competitive Athletes (high school + collegiate + Olympian + professional + fitness + masters). Kuzins believes that helping people to feel their best is her life's purpose. She created a diverse range of workouts striving to make fitness fun and accessible for everybody no matter what stage of your health journey you are on.

A native of northern California and former water polo player, she received her Bachelor's Degree from University of California Santa Cruz.

Note: Kuzins added optional active stretches between some of the exercises. Modifications are offered as well as 1-2 bonus exercises (3x with 30 seconds on + 20 seconds rest).

KAATSU At Home Workout #2


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Various KAATSU At Home Workout Exercises
KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
Stretching/ mobility
Lateral wrist curls
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Tricep Dips
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Push-ups
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Forearm plank walk
1 minute
Heart rate boost
swimmers
x planks
Jump rope

KAATSU Air Bands on Legs
Stretching/mobility
Heel lifts
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Heart rate boost
swimmers
x planks
Jump rope
Sumo "wall" sit pulse
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Static lunge knee drops
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 4
Single leg Romanian deadlift
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 4 (two/side)
Squat Walk
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Killer core
Overhead seated leg lift to knee in
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Bicycles (optional straight leg)
40 seconds on, 20 seconds rest x 3
Stretch

KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
Warm up stretching
Fingertip press ups
- 30 seconds x 2
Heart rate boost
- 30 seconds each
Reverse lunge
Ankle taps
Mountain Climbers
Diamond push-ups
- 30 seconds x 2
Star plank
- 1 minute
Shoulder mobility exercises + Stretches

KAATSU Air Bands on Legs
Static lunge heel raises
- 30 seconds / side
Heart rate boost
- 30 seconds each
Reverse lunge
Ankle taps
Mountain Climbers
Bear Marches
- 30 seconds x 2
Heart rate boost
- 30 seconds each
Reverse lunge
Ankle taps
Mountain Climbers
Sumo squat hold arm swing
- 30 seconds x 2
Core
30 seconds each
Ins and outs
- R ride oblique crunch
- L side oblique crunch
Leg mobility and stretch work

KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
Shoulder CARS (controlled articular rotations)
Standing spine warm-up
Wrist Circles
- 30 seconds/side x 4
Tricep Extensions
- 30 seconds x 2
1. Moderate
2. Fast
Biceps Curls
- 30 seconds x 2
1. Moderate
2. Fast
Side plank rotations
- 30 seconds x 2
1. normal
2. optional leg lift
Heart rate boost - 30 seconds each
- Run in place
- Cross jacks
- Frog jumps
Forearm plank Spidermans
1. Moderate
2. Fast

KAATSU Air Bands on Legs
Active stretching
Sumo squat heel raise
- 30 seconds/side x 2
- 3rd set = both heels
Heart rate boost - 30 seconds each
- Run in place
- Cross jacks
- Frog jumps
Lateral lunges
30 seconds/side x 2
Heart rate boost - 30 seconds each
- Run in place
- Cross jacks
- Frog jumps
Forward lunge to squat
- 30 seconds/side x 4
Figure 4 bridge
- 30 second/side x 4
CORE
30 seconds each
- lying oblique crunch r/l
- hollow body hold
Stretching

KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
Neck CARS (controlled articular rotations)
Spine warm-up
Upward wrist curls
- 30 seconds x 2
Crab toe touches
- 30 seconds x 2
1. Slow motion
2. FAST
Forearm plank punch
- 30 seconds x 2
1. Slow motion
2. FAST
Floor push-up to back extension
- 30 seconds x 2
Heart rate boost - 30 seconds each
- scissor punch jacks
- Squat + reach
- high leg oblique kicks

KAATSU Air Bands on Legs
Active stretching
3 part heel raise
- 30 seconds x 2
Heart rate boost - 30 seconds each
- scissor punch jacks
- Squat + reach
- high leg oblique kicks
Curtsy lunges - 30 seconds/side x 4
- 1st round step back
- 2nd round optional static
Jump slam half burpee
- 30 seconds x 2
Reverse lunge + Twist - 30 seconds/side x 4
- 1st round normal
- 2nd round option to hold leg up @ center for balance
Heart rate boost - 30 seconds each
- scissor punch jacks
- Squat + reach
- high leg oblique kicks
CORE
30 seconds each
- side plank reach right, left
- hollow hold variation
Stretching

KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
Seated stretches + mobility work
Quadrupled palm to fingertip pushups
30 seconds slow
30 seconds fast
Tricep Extensions
30 seconds slow
30 seconds fast
Bicep Curls
30 seconds slow
30 seconds fast
Pike work
30-second plank to pike walk
30-second pike push-ups
1-minute forearm plank play
Heart rate boost
30-second heel touch to butt kicks
30-second sumo squat reaches
30-second overhead jack to jumping jack

KAATSU Air Bands on Legs
Split lunge calf work --> hamstring stretch
30 seconds/side x 2
Heart rate boost
30-second heel touch to butt kicks
30-second sumo squat reaches
30-second overhead jack to jumping jack
Front Lunge to lateral leg lift
30 seconds/side x 2
Criss-cross squat jumps
30 seconds moderate
30 seconds FAST
Half Burpee surfers
30 seconds
20 seconds
10 seconds
Core (30 seconds each, 2 minutes total)
Butterfly sit-up punches
Paused bicycle crunch
Double leg circles (to the right, then left)

KAATSU Air Bands on arms
Mobility work
- wall or floor slides
- shoulder mobility with towel or broom
- cat/cow
- active spinal rotation
Forearms
30 seconds/wrist - side to side movement
30 seconds/wrist- circles
Tricep extensions
30 seconds slow
30 seconds fast
Bicep curls
30 seconds slow
30 seconds fast
Forearm plank rotations
30 seconds normal
30 seconds + arm reach
30 seconds + leg lift
Plank walk out/in
30 seconds x 2
Lying down press up
30 seconds x 2
Heart rate boost
1 minute - happy feet --> jacks

KAATSU Air Bands on legs
Calf raise squats
30 seconds x 2
Lateral bear crawl
30 seconds normal
30 seconds + butt-to-heels
30 seconds + push-up
Heart rate boost
1 minute - happy feet --> jacks
Squat ups and downs
30 seconds right leg
30 seconds left leg
Plank jacks to frog jumps
30 seconds x 2
Lunge lower and lift
30 seconds x 2 Core Work
30 seconds Roll up to toe touch
30 seconds seated rotations
30 seconds reverse crunch

KAATSU Air Bands on arms
• Upper body stretching/mobility work
• Crab walk - 30 seconds x 2 with 20 seconds rest
Heart rate boost series 1 - 30 seconds each:
1. tuck jumps
2. Pendulum swings
3. Jog with double overhead punch
Diamond push-ups 30 seconds x 3 with 20 seconds rest as follows:
1. Normal pace
2. Slow motion
3. As fast as possible
Heart rate boost series 1 - 30 seconds each:
1. tuck jumps
2. Pendulum swings
3. Jog with double overhead punch
• Biceps curls - 30 seconds x 2
• Lateral plank walk - 60 seconds straight

KAATSU Air Bands on legs
• lower body stretching/mobility work
• Sumo squat calf raises 30 seconds x 2 with 20 seconds rest
• Quadrupled hip range of motion exercise - 1 minute/ side
Heart rate boost series 1 - 30 seconds each:
1. tuck jumps
2. Pendulum swings
3. Jog with double overhead punch
• Squats - 30 seconds x 3 with 20 seconds rest, as follows
1. regular
2. single leg lift
3. jump squats
Oblique heart rate boost 30 seconds/side for 1 minute total
Alternative burpees - 30 seconds x 3 with 20 seconds rest, as follows
1. Step up
2. Jump
3. For speed!

Balance work - 2 minutes (1 per side)
Oblique heart rate boost 30 seconds/side for 1 minute total

Core Work 90 seconds total, 30 seconds off the following:
1. Seated leg circles (30 sec each direction)
2. Finger to toes upper ab crunch

Stretching

KAATSU Air Bands on Arms
- wrist curls 20 seconds - 2 sets
- tricep dips (on floor or chair) 3 sets - 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest
- forearm plank with shoulder extension 3 sets - 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest as follows
1. Slow motion
2. Moderate
3. Fast
- push ups 3 sets, 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest as follows:
1. Normal
2. Slow motion
3. Hold each one at the bottom for three seconds

KAATSU Air Bands on Legs
- "Jump rope" - 2 sets, 30 seconds each, as follows:
1. up and down
2. side to side
- Active Mobility Work - "world's greatest stretch" - 30 seconds/side
- Reverse Lunges 3 sets - 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest, per side as follows:
1. Normal
2. Normal + pulse at the bottom with hovered knee for 10 seconds
3. Optional forward kick + reach
- Heart rate boost (30 seconds each)
Jumping jacks
Ice skaters
Side kick with optional punch
- Cossack Squats - 3 sets - 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest as follows:
1. Normal
2. Hands behind head
3. (20 seconds normal) + isometric hold on each side for 10 seconds
- Heart rate boost (30 seconds each)
Jumping jacks
Ice skaters
Side kick with optional punch
- Spiderman pushups - 3 sets, 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest, progress into them as follows:
1. Mountain climbers with knee to tricep
2. Spiderman pushups
3. Spiderman pushups (20 secs) with 10 seconds knee to tricep pulse and the end on each side
- Heart rate boost (30 seconds each)
Jumping jacks
Ice skaters
Side kick with optional punch
- Core Work 90 seconds straight through
1. ins and outs (30 seconds)
2. bicycles (30 seconds)
3. butts off the floor
Active Stretching - length depending on time

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Monday, October 18, 2021

United Wings of Liberty 5k Fun Run/Walk/Roll/Swim/Ruck



United Wings of Liberty is organizing its 2nd Annual Virtual 5k Fun Run/Walk/Roll/Swim/Ruck. The event is held between October 12th and November 20th. The overall winner receives a free 4-day/3-night stay in Orlando, Florida.

For more information and to register for US$35, visit here.

United Wings of Liberty's mission is to connect veterans to the resources that are available and vetted in order to provide their desired treatment. KAATSU user Joe Lowrey explains, "We unite patriotic companies and non-profits that support our Veterans and empower their mind, body and spirit. Our united patriots and volunteers provide the momentum that helps us drive progress and success.

If you are able to get five other participants to sign up, you’ll receive a full refund. Participants are asked to record, take a photo of your results, and then simply upload here. All proceeds will go towards Veterans in need of rebuilding their lives after serving our country
."

Participants can walk or run or roller skate or swim or ruck (walking with weight on your back/shoulders) the 5 km.

Randy Miller of National Defense Radio interviewed Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient Joe Lowrey and Navy SEAL and Air Force Academy graduate John Doolittle on the National Defense Show earlier this year.

Lowrey was an ice hockey goalie who graduated from Long Beach Wilson High School in Southern California. An extraordinarily fit and driven individual, Lowrey enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman during his senior year in high school as his immediate response to the 9-11 attacks.

Lowrey attended basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and spent six years serving in various locations until he became a Staff Sergeant and qualified for the Special Forces assessment and selection process. He completed Basic Airborne Training at Fort Benning and Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he earned his green beret and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group.

Lowrey was deployed twice to Colombia and Afghanistan where he was wounded by a PKM machine gun round during an intense firefight against Taliban insurgents on July 7th 2014. A bullet pierced his Kevlar helmet, entered his skull and exited his brain on the other side. His fellow Green Berets rescued him from the firefight and were told that Joe would not live long as part of his brain was removed.

Lowrey remained in a coma for a month and then began his recovery initially at Walter Reed Hospital, and then at the Palo Alto Polytrauma Rehabilitation Unit, California Casa Colina, and Centre For Neuro Skills in California. Ultimately, he was medically retired from active duty, but his injuries left him without movement on the left side of his body and limited movement on his right side.

This Purple Heart recipient and retired U.S. Army Green Beret Sergeant 1st Class joined Navy SEAL captain John Doolittle on the radio show.

In the first photo shown on the left, Doolittle is positioned on the far left without a helmet.

In the second photo shown on the left, Doolittle. who has een badly injured after 13 orthopedic surgeries over his 25-year military career, is with his graduating Navy SEALs class standing on far right in first row.

Doolittle served in the Navy after graduating from the Air Force Academy and culminated his career as a decorated captain in the Navy SEALs with numerous overseas deployments and 13 orthopedic surgeries during this 25-year career.

Both Doolittle and Lowrey use the KAATSU C3 to improve their blood circulation and improve muscle tone as well as relaxing before bedtime for improved sleep. Lowrey religiously does two KAATSU sessions per day, every day: a KAATSU Walking session in the morning and a KAATSU Nighttime Protocol in the evening before bed where he incorporates red light therapy with his repeated KAATSU Cycles with his C3 unit.

Both Doolittle and Lowrey focus on Progressive KAATSU Cycles where they start on low pressure settings and gradually increase their pressure levels so their vascular tissue becomes more and more engorged to the point their limbs become beefy red in color.

Lowrey's improvement has been significant, both physically and cognitively. Even after overcoming his horrific injury, he is gradually working towards walking a 5k distance himself.

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Do You Get Cramps During Games? How Can KAATSU Help?

For who? Football, basketball, soccer players, student-athletes, competitive athletes
For what? Muscle cramps, stiffness, lack of mobility

There are many athletes who get cramps during games whether they play football, basketball, soccer, or any other type of sport.

Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary and painful contraction of muscles, particularly in the calf. Though cramps are not a medical emergency, cramps can make it temporarily extremely difficult or impossible to use the affected muscle.

Cramps can be caused by long or intense periods of exercise, particularly in warm weather, overuse of a particular muscle, dehydration, or muscle strain.

In addition to avoiding dehydration and stretching, athletes can - and should - do Progressive KAATSU Cycle sets before their warm-up and games. Even with adequate hydration by an experienced and well-trained athlete, they may still occasionally experience cramps.

In these cases, start Progressive Single-limb KAATSU Cycle sets on the affected limb can effectively and efficiently (quickly) resolve the problem. In games like football, basketball, and soccer, the athletes do not have to miss much of their game if they have KAATSU equipment on the sidelines or bench and are helped by an experienced trainer.

Essentially, the repeated, gradually, increasingly progressive engorgement of blood in the vascular system helps increase the elasticity of the vascular tissue.

Dr. Cory Keirn explains, "There are a few reasons why KAATSU Cycles helps. The easiest is that KAATSU Cycling helps push out lactate and brings in new blood with fresh ATP and energy. Of course, some scientists are now thinking that muscle cramping could be due to over neurological stimulation instead of metabolic waste build-up. Basically, the muscle is working so hard that the nerves can't stop firing. KAATSU Cycles helps lower muscle tension with the external pressure cycles. Simply put, it is like foam rolling, but on a much bigger level."

Protocol
*Hydrate.
*Place the KAATSU Air Band on the affected limb to begin Single-limb KAATSU Cycles.
*Start Progressive KAATSU Cycle sets on a low pressure setting. The athlete can do 2-4 sets as they wish.
*As the athlete starts to feel less pain and be more comfortable, gradually increase the pressure to medium (and high) settings (if they can tolerate higher pressures).
*Ideally, the Progressive KAATSU Cycle sets are also performed before warm-up or the game itself if weather conditions or game situations exist that may lead to cramps.

Photo above shows Danny Woodhead who used KAATSU Cycles to recover in unprecedented time from a torn ACL (read here).



Patent
Based on the original KAATSU know-how and US patent #9,775,619 (Compression and decompression control system and vascular strengthening method).

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Monday, September 27, 2021

KAATSU Plantar Fasciitis Protocols



For who? Individuals with plantar fasciitis or heel pain
For what? Pain relief, functional movement, mobility, balance

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that is caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot and connects your heel bone to your toes.

Most people who have plantar fasciitis recover in several months with treatment that includes resting, icing the painful area, and stretching along with taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) that can ease the pain and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. Stretching and strengthening exercises or using special devices may relieve symptoms.

KAATSU users have an additional modality and tool to use if they do a series of exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and to strengthen lower leg muscles.

KAATSU Plantar Fasciitis Protocols: 1. Always start with the KAATSU Cycle mode, following the Progressive KAATSU Cycle protocols (i.e., start with low pressures and then gradually increase to high(er) pressures - even if you do not "feel" anything).
2. Always be well-hydrated before and while doing KAATSU KAATSU Cycle sets.
3. Always start KAATSU Cycle sets on your arms, then do KAATSU Cycle sets your legs.
4. Always have good KAATSU color while doing KAATSU Cycle sets (i.e., have a pinker or redder skin color).
5. Always feel comfortable doing KAATSU; never feel uncomfortable or lightheaded. If you feel uncomfortable or lightheaded at any time, immediately remove the bands.
6. Always start off with conservative pressure and gradually increase.
7. Always feel free to do simple movements during KAATSU; you do not have to do intense or vigorous exercises.
8. You can incorporate KAATSU into your standard physical therapy exercises and movements.
9. You can do up to 6 KAATSU Cycle sets on both your upper and lower limbs during each session.
10. You can do 1-3 KAATSU sessions per day as your time permits.
11. You can do either Single-Limb KAATSU Cycle sets on only one leg - or Standard KAATSU Cycle sets on both legs. That is, you can focus on only one leg at a time if your plantar fasciitis is painful on one side only.
12. Always start conservatively with KAATSU: either with low pressure or only 1 KAATSU Cycle set per day.
13. You can gradually increase the number of KAATSU Cycle sets over the course of several days or weeks.
14. You can do various kinds of movements - or no movement at all while you are sitting down or studying or working.
15. You can do Standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises on your arms (e.g., Hand Clenches, Biceps Curls, Triceps Extensions) or other movements (e.g., Foot Rotations, Balancing on One Foot, Stretching, Walking, Standing Up and Sitting Down) with your KAATSU equipment.
16. Be patient and do KAATSU Cycles regularly and consistently.

For Pain Relief:
* Do 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets with the KAATSU Air Bands on one or both legs while you are sitting.
* You can also do 3-6 KAATSU Cycles while doing KAATSU Aqua exercise or stretching gentle.
* Some people very gently roll the bottom of their foot with a golf ball while they are doing the KAATSU Cycle sets for additional relief.



Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Saturday, September 25, 2021

KAATSU at the 36th World Congress of Sports Medicine in Athens, Greece


The 36th World Congress of Sports Medicine is currently being held on September 23rd - 26th in Athens, Greece and includes presentations on KAATSU, the pioneer of BFR therapy.

The Congress, organized by the International Federation of Sports Medicine / Fédération Internationale de Médécine du Sport (FIMS), may be watched virtually via www.fims2020.com.

Under the motto of Sports Medicine promotes active lifestyle, the focus will be on genetics, molecular biology, sports, and wearable technologies, including KAATSU Global products. Presentations on anti-doping, sports medicine advances in obesity and diabetes treatment, nutrition, metabolism and exercise, sports cardiology, KAATSU, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic are scheduled.

On Saturday, September 25th, Chairpersons James Bilzon of the University of Bath and Professor Yannis Pitsiladis of the University of Brighton will oversee the following presentations:

● Professor Borja Muñiz-Pardos of the University of Zaragoza: KAATSU, the past, present and future of blood flow restriction (BFR)
● Dr Ifigeneia Giannopoulou of the University of Brighton: KAATSU: an alternative form of exercise training for elite athletes, the military, the elderly, and the general population
● Mike Miller, CEO of the World Olympians Association: World Olympian Health Study


After inventing KAATSU Constant in 1966 and the KAATSU Cycle principles in 1973 in Japan, we have launched decades of academic research. I am humbled that Doctors Pitsiladis, Muñiz-Pardos, and Giannopoulou from the University of Brighton are presenting KAATSU at this prestigious conference to the world's leaders in sports medicine,” said Dr. Yoshiaki Sato, the inventor of KAATSU.

Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Captain John Doolittle explains, "We were able to meet the professors and explain KAATSU first-hand before the pandemic hit last year. Then, under the direction of Professor Pitsiladis, they used and tested the KAATSU equipment - as did Mike Miller of the World Olympians Association, and dozens of active and retired Olympians throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They understood the mechanism, applications, and the future potential for KAATSU while we were quarantined during the pandemic. 11 KAATSU users stood on the awards podium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics & Paralympic Games which was great to see.

Concurrently, we are widely expanding its use with the U.S. military and our fastest growing demographic: women and men over the age of 50. The future of expanding KAATSU to many more athletes and people of all demographic groups around the world is very bright."

For more information, visit www.fims2020.com.

About Professor Yannis Pitsiladis
Yannis Pitsiladis is a professor in the Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease at the University of Brighton. He is a member of the International Paralympic Committee Scientific Awards Committee and Scientific and Education Commission, the International Olympic Committee Medical and Scientific Commission, International Olympic Committee Medical Commission, and the International Sports Medicine Federation chairperson of the Scientific Commission.

About Borja Muñiz-Pardos, PhD
Borja Muñiz-Pardos, PhD is a senior research fellow at the FIMS Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine at the University of Zaragoza in Spain. His research centers on human performance with a focus on sports integrity and the investigation of ergogenic aids such as sports drinks, brain stimulation, altitude training, doping with erythropoietin, blood-flow restriction training and wearable technologies. His research on the physiological and metabolic responses of blood-flow restriction training and its effectiveness as a training and rehabilitation modality is conducted in partnership with the World Olympians Association.

About Ifigeneia Giannopoulou
Ifigeneia Giannopoulou, PhD is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Brighton. She was a Lecturer in Applied Physiology at Strathclyde University and a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology and Sports Nutrition at the University of Athens. Her research is focused on the effects of exercise and diet on health, specifically on abdominal obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation and on clinical populations such as obese individuals, type 2 diabetes patients, and peri- and post-menopausal women.

About Mike Miller
Mike Miller is the first Chief Executive Officer of the World Olympians Association, a group of over 100,000 retired Summer and Winter Olympic athletes who promote the Olympic ideals, educate against doping and drug use, and serve as positive role models. He was the former Chief Executive Officer of the International Rugby Board, overseeing 3 highly successful Rugby World Cups. He also served as the Head of Sports at Channel 4 UK and the Controller of Television Sport at the BBC, and as a member of the European Broadcasting Union Sports Group Executive Bureau. He sits on the Advisory Board of the World Academy of Sport.

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Are You A Warrior Or A Romantic?

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



A U.S. Navy SEAL with 26 years of service, William Branum is the founder of Naked Warrior Recovery and a KAATSU Master Specialist in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He asks a simple question, "Are you a Warrior? Or are you a Romantic?"

His answer, "You can be both...but you need to know the difference between the two. A warrior is someone who has a goal...has a mission. Their purpose is to complete that mission: Planning, Preparation, Execution.

A Romantic is someone who ONLY dreams about a goal or a mission, but never takes action. Be a warrior!
"

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Monday, September 20, 2021

KAATSU Cycle and KAATSU Constant to Enhance Your Game of Golf

For who? Baby Boomers, retirees or athletes who enjoy golfing
For what? Improve your golf game by increasing your strength, mobility, flexibility, and stamina

The myriad skills used in golf are complex and can be improved with KAATSU.

KAATSU modalities can be used by golfers to improve their strength, mobility, flexibility, and stamina.

The strength in your lower body, core, upper body, and hand grip can be enhanced with a combination of the KAATSU Cycle and the KAATSU Constant modes. Your posture and swings for drive shots, iron shots, pitch shots, chip shots, and putts can also be enhanced with a combination of the KAATSU Cycle and the KAATSU Constant modes.

Former Japanese golf professional Teruo Sugihara was one of the first professional golfers to transform his career later in life by incorporating KAATSU into his training - which is especially remarkable because he first had to recover from prostate cancer in 1997, using KAATSU daily. By 2006 at age 68, he became the oldest player to make the cut in a top-tier Japanese tour event.

His final Japan Golf Tour appearance came at the 2010 Mizuno Open in Nishonomiya, Japan. This same year, he co-authored a book called KAATSU Golf with KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato.

There are many valuable lessons in his innovative use of KAATSU that he has shared with golfers of any age, but especially with older golfers and those who are recovering from cancer.

Sugihara-san used KAATSU to improve his overall health and his golf game specifically. His book written in Japanese, called KAATSU Golf, describes how he used KAATSU to:

* strengthen his upper body
* improve his swing
* enhance his mobility during his swing
* increase his grip strength
* improve his leg strength with squats and practice swings
* enhance his overall strength and club head speed

Young or older golfers can use the combination of KAATSU Cycles and KAATSU Constant with the following protocols:

1. Always start with the KAATSU Cycle mode, following the Progressive KAATSU Cycle protocols (i.e., start with low pressures and then gradually increase to high(er) pressures - even if you do not "feel" anything). Then go to the KAATSU Constant mode.
2. Always be well-hydrated before and while doing KAATSU KAATSU Cycles and KAATSU Constant.
3. Always start KAATSU on your arms, then do KAATSU your legs.
4. Always have good KAATSU color while doing KAATSU Cycle sets (i.e., have a pinker or redder skin color).
5. Always feel comfortable doing KAATSU; never feel uncomfortable or lightheaded. If you feel uncomfortable or lightheaded at any time, immediately remove the bands.
6. Always start off with conservative pressure and gradually increase.
7. Always feel free to do simple movements during KAATSU; you do not have to do intense or vigorous exercises.
8. You can incorporate KAATSU into your standard golf practice and exercises.
9. You can do up to 6 KAATSU Cycle sets on both your upper and lower limbs during each session.
10. You can do 1-3 KAATSU sessions per day as your time permits.
11. You can do either Single-Limb KAATSU Cycle sets on only one leg or arm - or Standard KAATSU Cycle sets on both limbs. That is, you can focus on only one limb at a time if you wish or if you are feeling discomfort or pain on one side only.
12. Always start conservatively with KAATSU: either with low pressure or only 1 KAATSU Cycle set per day.
13. You can gradually increase the number of KAATSU Cycle sets over the course of several days or weeks.
14. You can do various kinds of movements - or no movement at all while you are sitting down and waiting to get on the course or range.
15. In addition to doing KAATSU Constant with your golf club in your hands, you can also do simple Standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises (e.g., Hand Clenches, Biceps Curls, Triceps Extensions) or other movements (e.g., Head or Foot Rotations, Balancing on One Foot, Stretching, Walking, Standing Up and Sitting Down, Handwriting) with your KAATSU equipment.
16. For exercises, you can begin with the KAATSU Cycle mode. For focus on putts, drives and chip shots, you can use the KAATSU Constant mode.

For Grip and Upper Body Strength:
* Do 1-3 KAATSU Cycle sets with KAATSU Air Bands on your arms while you are repeatedly squeezing a squeeze ball or tennis ball or your clubs.
* Do Standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises with KAATSU Air Bands on your arms (e.g., Hand Clenches, Biceps Curls, Triceps Extensions) while doing 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets with the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms.
* Do KAATSU Stretching on your upper body while doing KAATSU Cycle sets.

For Core and Lower Back Strength:
* Do 3-6 KAATSU Cycle sets with the KAATSU Air Bands on your legs while you are walking, gently swinging your clubs, alternately twisting left and right at your waist.
* Do Standard KAATSU 3-Point Exercises with KAATSU Air Bands on your legs (e.g., Heel Raises, Non-lock Quarter Squats, Standing Hamstring Curls).
* Do KAATSU Stretching with your lower body while doing KAATSU Cycle sets.
* Sit up straight in chair and repeatedly stretch your arms and hands upwards in a long, slow stretch.
* Balance on one of your feet until failure - and then repeat on your other leg. Repeat that sequence until exhaustion.
* Balance on one foot while moving water bottles in your hand or do KAATSU Walking while balancing a book on your head.

For Stamina:
* Do comfortable KAATSU Walking, either in the KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Constant mode on level ground, on the sand, or on a treadmill for up to 15 minutes.
* Do comfortable KAATSU Cycling, either in the KAATSU Cycle or KAATSU Constant mode on a stationary or recumbent bicycle for up to 15 minutes.

For Swings:
* After you have completed KAATSU Cycle sets, untether the connector tubes and do KAATSU Constant with the KAATSU Air Bands on your arms while you practice your drive shots, iron shots, pitch shots, chip shots, and putts.
* After you complete KAATSU Constant on your arms, continue with KAATSU Constant with the KAATSU Air Bands on your legs while you practice your drive shots, iron shots, pitch shots, chip shots, and putts. Arms are first; legs are last.

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Robert Griswold Wins His Second Gold Medal At The Tokyo Paralympics

Robert Griswold wins his second gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in the S6 100m butterfly - 20 years after Dr. Sato's seminal presentation on the use of KAATSU for individuals with congenital cerebral palsy.

The 24-year-old American, originally from New Jersey, said, "I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who has helped me make this dream possible. Since I was a little boy, I have worked and sacrificed for this dream of representing my country at the highest level possible. The last few days have felt unreal and I have spent every free moment reflecting on this journey.

I am so touched by all of the messages and notes that I have received from so many and I just want to thank you for all the support I am only halfway through competition and I am excited to continue representing Team USA
."

S6 100m Butterfly Final - Results:
Gold: Robert Griswold (USA) 1:02.03
Silver: Feng Yang (China) 1:03.20
Bronze: Denys Dubrov (Ukraine)1:03.23
4th: Guanglong Yang (China) 1:03.26
5th: Haijiao Xu (China) 1:03.42
6th: Alberto Amodeo (Italy) 1:04.31
7th: Luis Armando Andrade Guillen (Mexico) 1:04.55
8th: Gabriel Cristiano Silva de Souza (Brazil) 1:05.38

For American viewers, the race can be seen here.

   

 
At the 2001 KAATSU Training International Symposium in Tokyo, KAATSU inventor Dr. Yoshiaki Sato explained the innovative KAATSU Cycle protocols that he used with one of his patients, Mr. Kato who has congenital cerebral palsy [see photos above]. Both Dr. Sato and Mr. Kato impressed the audience with Mr. Kato's physiological improvements.

One of the few foreign participants in the Symposium was American Steven Munatones who had just begun to being mentored on KAATSU by Dr. Sato.

Dial forward to 2017 when Griswold called Munatones and asked about KAATSU. Griswold, similar to Mr. Kato, has congenital cerebral palsy in Tokyo. He was in the middle of training for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and wanted to start KAATSU in order to improve his strength, flexibility and mobility.

Griswold has been doing so ever since. Utilizing the patented KAATSU protocols created by Dr. Sato and first utilized by Mr. Kato, Griswold started to see significant improvements as he had hoped.

Griswold dreamed of standing on top of the awards podium in Tokyo and hearing his national anthem. He did that twice in Tokyo. 20 years after Mr. Kato had wowed the participants in the 2001 KAATSU Training International Symposium, Griswold similarly impressed with a world record setting performance to win the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

"Robert has always impressed me, both in and out of the water," remarked Steven Munatones.

Griswold's road to gold was a long time coming. "From a young age, I knew I was different when I was in the playground. But when I got in the swimming pool, I felt like everyone else. I was just six years old at the time and it was so much fun to be able to compete in a sport, something that I'd never had the opportunity to do before."

Griswold exudes positivity and goal-setting and is a role model for many. "Don't give up on yourself. Just because you're at a disadvantage doesn't mean you should look at yourself that way. My cerebral palsy affects my general coordination, walking, running, jumping. It also affects my hands a little bit and my fine motor skills.







































Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global

Roll On With KAATSU, The Fitness Fan That Erupted In Tokyo

Rich Roll writes, "We love to celebrate Olympians as superheroes. It’s important to remember they are human beings." In his podcast #619, Roll discusses various themes related to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Author, commentator and conversationalist Adam Skolnick describes the new fitness fan that has erupted in Tokyo: KAATSU. Listen to their conversation from 1:28:41 when Skolnich talks about KAATSU and answer Roll's questions.



Copyright © 2014 - 2021 by KAATSU Global