Nowadays, the topic of increasing testosterone levels has become quite popular mainly because men tend to experience testosterone reduction as they age. This sex hormone is commonly present in males and in low amounts in females. Testosterone helps to boost muscle mass, body strength, bone mass, and regulate libido among other benefits. As such, reduced levels of this hormone can cause reverse effects including erectile dysfunction, increased fatigue, fragile bones, decreased strength, and increased body fat among others.
Since Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a form of martial art that involves ground fighting and grappling, having a healthy bone mass comes in handy. Therefore, increasing testosterone can be beneficial to individuals involved in this sport. Joe Rogan recently talked about about how he was testing a way to boost his testosterone naturally by taking Ice baths before and not after a workout like many people had done.
He followed the example of Dr Thomas P Seager who found out that by adding ice baths before his workout, his total testosterone jumped from 728 ng/mL (which is very good) to 1180 ng/mL, which is almost unheard of in a 52 year old.
Seager found the scientific evidence of this claim from this 1991 article from Japan.
In recent studies, when participants were exposed to cold before their workout, researchers noted a surge in testosterone and LH levels. Conversely, post-exercise cold exposure led to the expected decline in testosterone. This highlights the intriguing potential of cold plunge tubs in enhancing exercise performance and recovery.
Because he was doing my ice bath, and then his workout, he had stumbled onto exactly the right regimen the Japanese study said should boost his T-levels.
You can read all about Dr Seager’s discoveries HERE.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: you can be slow and unathletic and still kick butt in Jiu-Jitsu.