Mountain training.

**MEGALEF** · Posted On: 5/10/2006 12:49am

What exactly does on do on top of a mountain, alone for half a year that makes you a better fighter??

**Mr. Jones** · Posted On: 5/10/2006 12:52am

I don't really know. But I do know that Mas Oyama did it and Ueshiba did it for a while.

**CanucKyokushin** · Posted On: 5/10/2006 12:53am

**Tshin** · Posted On: 5/10/2006 1:10am

"what happens on the mountain, stays on the mountain"

but more to the point, I know that High altitude training will give you much more endurance. Here is something I took from a site.

The longer term changes are

1. a decrease in maximum cardiac output a decreased maximum heart rate
2. an increased number of red blood cells
3. excretion of base via the kidneys to restore acid-base balance. (Unfortunately, the net result is that you have less tolerance for lactic acid.)
4. a chemical change within red blood cells that makes them more efficient at unloading oxygen to the tissues.
5. an increase in the number of mitochondria and oxidative enzymes.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR ATHLETES

1. Diet - A high carbohydrate, low salt diet allows for better adaptation and less risk of "mountain sickness". Some people experience significant decline in appetite and the resulting loss of muscle mass may hinder performance. Iron is used to make hemoglobin and the demand for making more red blood cells may require iron supplementation -- especially in women and vegetarians. Megadoses of vitamins are not helpful and are potentially dangerous.
2. Fluids - Because mountain air is cool and dry you can lose a lot of water so be sure to maintain adequate hydration.
3. Alcohol - It is best to avoid alcohol consumption during the acclimatization period since it appears to increase the risk of "mountain sickness".

WORKOUT INTENSITY - This will necessarily be lower until adaptation can occur. Pushing your workouts too hard may increase your risk of overtraining or injury. Additionally some people just do not adapt as well as others. There is not one workout program that is appropriate for everyone -- just like at sea level. It is best to keep a log in which you rate fatigue during workout and at rest, morning resting heart rate, weight, and mood. Correlate this with the intensity of your workouts and this will help mold a flexible routine that is right for you.

**Mr. Jones** · Posted On: 5/10/2006 3:28am

It's really popular in fiction too.

**Shillelagh** · Posted On: 5/10/2006 1:55pm

Originally Posted by Canuckyokushin

Well..........

I love that movie, especially that part(the training montage and the subsequent fight scenes).

**Jeice** · Posted On: 5/13/2006 10:26pm

Why would training at altitude decrease your tolerance for lactic acid?

**Xeo** · Posted On: 5/14/2006 12:46am

As far as I can tell, there is a split in thinking about this: some people think that it will have benefits due to the body's adaptation to high altitude,

("The body adapts to the relative lack of oxygen by increasing the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin.")

Others, however, believe that these benefits are lost after time spent back down on the ground...."Scientific studies have been performed but have yielded apparently conflicting results, as some tests appear to show that altitude training has no effect whatsoever, while other tests seem to demonstrate an improvement in athletic abilities"

Quotes taken from Wikipedia,... and it may be interesting to note that Fedor Emelianenko is a proponent of High Altitude Training, and goes to Kislovodsk, Russia a few times a year.

Aside from all that though, it's still pretty cool, you have scenery, and solitude...

**Xeo** · Posted On: 5/14/2006 2:50am

Actually, seeing as how Wikipedia seems to be getting less reputable by the minute, especially now due to the editing of the Bullshido.net article, here's another link that goes into quite a bit of detail:

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coach...4/rushall2.htm

Outside Wikipedia backup for Fedor's H.A.T :-

http://www.pridefc.com/pride2004/new..._05_0817_a.htm

**Xeo** · Posted On: 5/14/2006 2:54am

Since Wikipedia seems to be getting less reputable by the minute, especially with the whole Bullshido.net Article change, I figured i'd show some outside sources.

In-Depth Altitude Training: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coach...4/rushall2.htm

Fedor Altitude Training:
http://www.pridefc.com/pride2004/new..._05_0817_a.htm