I’m a fan of The Lord of The Rings. I grew up with it, but we never used the acronym “LOTR” when I was introduced to it in grade 4. For those wondering what “TLOTRS” is, let me say that it has nothing to do with Tolkien 😉
We’re headed to Japan, also known as “The Land of the Rising Sun”, hence the acronym. It’s hard to believe that Dr. Sato conceived of KAATSU in 1966 and started using it in his clinic starting in 1973. This year marks the 50th anniversary of KAATSU’s clinical use, so we’re really pleased to be able to make the trek to Japan to see how it’s being used there.
One thing I have learned is that there are many, many places in Japan offering KAATSU training. We want to explore how KAATSU is being used and how it’s become a standard part of the physical fitness, rehabilitation, athletics, and wellness industries. From small KAATSU “studios” to gyms, aethetics, and rehabilitation, we’re wanting to see as much as we can while we’re there.
I’ve often been asked why there are so few KAATSU practitioners in Canada. Part of the answer to the question is that KAATSU’s had a pretty low profile, but I think another piece of the puzzle is that practitioners don’t know how to incorporate KAATSU into their business models. That is why we want to see how it’s being used in Japan. There’s a strong business case to be made for adding KAATSU into Canadian physical training, therapy, and athletic performance centres.
Ten more sleeps until we head to TLOTRS! Oh, and of course, we’ll be using KAATSU’s jetlag mitigation protocols to get the most out of our trip. Stay tuned to our blog and social media feeds to stay up to date on what we find on our travels!