Ciencia

REVIEW ARTICLE

The history and future of KAATSU Training
Y. Sato
Int. J. Kaatsu Training Res. 2005; 1: 1-5

Correspondence to:
Y. Sato, Department of
Ischemic Circulatory
Physiology, The University of
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Kaatu.sports@nifty.com
See end of article for
author affiliation

KAATSU training involves the restriction of blood flow to exercising muscle and is theculmination of
nearly 40 years of experimentation with the singular purpose of increasing muscle mass. KAATSU
Training consists of performing low-intensity resistance training while a relatively light and flexible cuff
is placed on the proximal part of one’s lower or upper limbs, which provides appropriate superficial
pressure. KAATSU Training should not be confused with training under ischemicconditions which
has previously been reported (Sundberg, 1994). KAATSU Training does not induce ischemia within
skeletal muscle, but rather promotes a state of blood pooling in the capillaries within the limb
musculature. Applied basic and clinical research conducted over the past 10 years has demonstrated
that KAATSU Training not only improves muscle mass and strength in healthy volunteers, but alsobenefits patients with cardiovascular and orthopedic conditions.
Key words: muscle hypertrophy, restriction of muscular venous blood flow, rehabilitation, Kaatsu
Master

INTRODUCTION
It is expected that by the year 2014 one quarter of
the Japanese population will be at least 65 years old
(National Institute of Population and Social Security
Research, 2004). Due to the potential enormousburden in federal health care costs associated with the
increased number of older adults, the Japanese
government has made it a priority to address these
age-related health issues. Moreover, changes in
federal health care regulations are expected to
increase the number of older individuals categorized
as requiring nursing care, which will increase the
number of bed-ridden older adults.These changes in
health care regulations are being hotly contested,
since the reclassifications will increase the number of
physically inactive older adults who will ultimately
rely more on the health care system in Japan.
It is my opinion, based on personal experience with
parents who required nursing care, that the number
of dependent older Japanese should decrease, not
increase. Personalobservations regarding the positive
effects associated with KAATSU Training have
included the witnessing an older wheelchair-bound
individual regain the use of his legs as well as another
individual regaining sensation, both of which have
helped me realize my role in this process. I am
confident that KAATSU Training may be the ultimate
prophylactic against physical disabilities, and that itwill contribute significantly toward the government’s
goal of preventing a surge in the number of older
individuals who require long-term nursing care in
Japan (Sato, 2004b). In this brief overview, the
history of KAATSU Training including important past
events, theoretical and technological issues related to

training methodology, and future plans are presented.

Numbness Induced bySitting Straight
I started my own form of resistance training during
my first year of junior high school after seeing a body
builder on TV for the first time. In the fall of 1966,
which was my last year at high school, I received the
inspiration for KAATSU Training while attending a
Buddhist memorial. During the mass my leg became
numb as a result of the position I was sitting in
(straightback while kneeling on the floor). I started
massaging my calf and noticed that the swelling and
discomfort in my calf area was similar to the
sensation I experienced after performing strenuous
calf-raise exercises. I attributed this swelling
sensation to decreased blood flow and theorized that
this muscle swelling and altered sensation may be
caused by, or associated with reduced blood...