Thread: Bodybuilders grow five times faster in hypoxia gym

Bodybuilders grow five times faster in hypoxia gym

The air we breathe contains 21 percent oxygen. If bodybuilders train in a room where the oxygen concentration has been reduced to 16 percent, their muscles grow 4-6 times faster than normal, according to research by Akinobu Nishimura.

Reduce the oxygen supply to muscles when they make intensive contractions, and the anabolic growth stimulus after exertion rockets. That is, put briefly, the principle behind Kaatsu training.

But Kaatsu training, if you don't know what you're doing, is not without risk. What's more, it looks as though healthy strength athletes benefit more from regular training than from Kaatsu training. Nevertheless, the principle is interesting. You could, for example, train in a room with a lower oxygen concentration. This increases the body's anabolic response, according to a 2010 Japanese study. It's not clear from this study, however, whether bodybuilders gain more muscle mass in this way.

According to Nishimura's study, though, this is the case. He got 7 male students to training their biceps and triceps muscles for 6 weeks under normal circumstance [normoxia], and 7 other students to do the same in an oxygen-depleted room [hypoxia]. You can buy a small room like this – including a compressor – from a supplier such as Alticube. [hypotec.jp]



The test subjects just trained one arm. The figure below shows that the size [CSA] of the triceps and, underneath, that of the biceps increased by 7.3 and 9.9 percent respectively as a result of training in the oxygen-depleted room [Hyp-Ex]. The untrained arm in the hypoxia group [Hyp-N] did not increase in size, but the trained arm in the normoxia group [Norm-Ex] did, although the increase in the CSA was not statistically significant.

Prince,

Hypoxia Gym

The hypoxia gym is interesting but a unfeasable. Thus, I don't ever seeing that being a reality unless you have some money.

Kaatsu Training

This is definitely one of the most interesting training method that come along. There is definitely something to it. I can tell you that from practical experience...more on that later.

Risk

As you noted, there is little risk to healthy individuals. The training research has stated that.

The Kaatsu Principle

The principle of Kaatsu is by shutting off blood flow to the muscle with a tourniquet moderately applied to the legs or arms.

Once the tourniquet is released the "dammed up blood" floods the muscles creating an anabolic enviroment.

One of the best articles on this is, "Practical Occlustion Training". http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/ABCocclusionpaper.pdf

Bodybuilder's Kaatsu Training

The irony is bodybuilders have performed a form of Kaatsu Training since the beginning of time.

Bodybuilders place the muscle under long periods of "Time Under Tension" when performing an exercise set in which constant tension is placed on the muscle throughout the entire set.

Bench Press Example

In performing a bench press, bodybuilders will stop short of locking the weight out at the top of the movement.

In lowering the weight, they stop short of allowing the bar to reach the chest. Then push the bar back up.

Maintaining A Constant Contraction

By performing a bench press, any movement this way, the muscles involved remain in a constant muscle contraction. Thus, the "Time Under Tension" can be 30 seconds or longer.

Contracted Muscles Shut Down Blood Flow

During a muscle contraction, blood flow is restricted to the muscle.

The restriction of blood flow to the muscle is basically the same as the Kaatsu Method of moderately applying a tourniquet.

Post Exercise Set

As with the Kastsu Method, once the bodybuilding set is stopped, the "dammed up" blood floods the muscle.

Isometric Kaatsu Training

Another method of applying the Kaatsu Principle is to to perform a isometric.

Again, the muscle contraction against an immovable objects restricts blood flow to the muscles involved.

Bodybuilders Posing

Bodybuilders who pose/flex are bascially performing an isometric...which restricts blood flow. Thus, this is another form of Kaatsu Training.

"The Three Stages of Truth" Arthur Schopenhauer

My first reation to Kaatsu Training was pretty much like everyone else. I went through Schopenhauer's three stages.

1) Ridicule

2) Violent Opposed

3) Accepted as being self-evident.

My Personal Experience

I was reluctant to start tying a tourniquet to my leg or arm. So, I began with the "Bodybuilding Kaatsu Method" and "Isometric Kaatsu Method" which I have used and was familiar with.

I then moved on to the Kaatsu Training Method of applying a tourniquet.

Incredible Pump

Appling the tournquet and training with it on provide an incredible pump.

Once you take the trouniquet off, the muscles are flooded with blood. You can feel that pump hours later.

"It will Never work, if you Never try it." Croxdale

The only way to really understand how this works is to try it.

Entry Method

My recommendtion to Kaatsu Training is to start with something more traditional, that you are familiar with...such as the "Bodybuilding Kaatsu" or "Isometric Kaatsu" Method.

These method are quite similar to the Kaatsu Training Method of applying a tourniquet.

If you curious, then try the Kaatsu Training Method of applying a trouniquet.

If not, just stick with what you feel comfortable with...the "Bodybuilding Kaatsu" or "Isometric Kaatsu" Method.

Kenny Croxdale