Amino acid supplements?

[StarKodama]

Hi! I do Shinkyokushin in Yokohama, Japan, and all of my sensei and senpai take this supplement called Amino Vital. I'm still a n00b so I can't post a link, but the URL to the product's website is amino-vital dot com. My sensei says that if you take it before training you won't be as tired and will have less muscle aches.

I've been taking it for a few months now and my muscles aren't as tired as they were before, but I'm wondering if it really works or if it's just working because I want to believe that it is. The stuff's pretty expensive too. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of product? How did it work for you? OSU!

[ksan]

Your sensei is right. They help you recover more quickly from a workout and maintain your stamina during a workout..

There is loads of stuff on amino`s out there..
try:
http://www.ajinomoto.com/amino/eng/sports_print.html

Osu

Ksan

[Kris]

A lot of people at my dojo takes Creatine before training so I started too. Feel it helps me endure more.

ps I am in Yokohama too!

[StarKodama]

I'm sorry, I tried to send this as a private message to Kris, but evidently I'm too much of a n00b to do that either. ;D So please forgive me for posting it here:

...
Wow, you're in Yokohama too? I've been here for almost three years now, doing Shinkyokushin for two, and I still know hardly any foreigners doing karate here. So let's be friends! =D

I looked over your website, your style looks really tough!! I could never do that. I have a blog too where I ramble about karate almost every day, please check it out if you have time: starkodama dot livejournal dot com.

Very nice to meet you! OSU!
...

And thank you everybody for your feedback regarding the amino acids! I'm glad to hear that they really do work..

[helenosch]

Originally Posted by Kris

A lot of people at my dojo takes Creatine before training so I started too. Feel it helps me endure more.

I'd watch out with Creatin if I were you. You might endure more, but I've seen just a report about Creatin in Sports at Olympia level and how the doctors noted that it has the tendency (feel free to correct me since Science is a wonderful thing just to be proven wrong, especially such observations) to make you more suspectible to injury and that although your muscle-mass increases (something with having more fluid in it) you get slower.
Like I said, just what I read but I thought it was sincere enough...

[ksan]

Originally Posted by helenosch

I'd watch out with Creatin if I were you. You might endure more, but I've seen just a report about Creatin in Sports at Olympia level and how the doctors noted that it has the tendency (feel free to correct me since Science is a wonderful thing just to be proven wrong, especially such observations) to make you more suspectible to injury and that although your muscle-mass increases (something with having more fluid in it) you get slower.
Like I said, just what I read but I thought it was sincere enough...

Heard that about creatine too... we had an info meeting about creatine with the national organisation and a nutrition specialist a few years back and he advised that fighters who were already in the top of their weight class (weight wise, 68-69 and 78-79 kilo`s) didnt start using because of weighing problems specially after long term use....

Osu

Ksan

[Kris]

Thanx for the info on Creatine. I will be careful. I want to gain a few kilos of muscle, but if loss of speed is the price to pay I am not sure it will be worth it.

What the guys at the dojo do is that they take Creatine before training and then protein (powder or capsules) after training. This to endure more to stress to the muscles and then build them up with protein. (I think...)

[Azimuth]

If you decide to take creatine , than go for a liquid solution and not the powder cause there are cases known where people get kidney problems due to crystal build up . Don't go over the normal 6 week period and give your body some rest before starting a next session .
Known side effects :
Nausea, stomach upset, dizziness or weakness, loose stools, diarrhea, and weight gain are the most common creatine side effects, and generally occur with creatine dosages greater than 5 grams a day. Another creatine side effect sometimes reported is muscle cramping. Strains and sprains can occur (perhaps even muscle tears?) when individuals over enthusiastically and rapidly increase their workout regimen before their tendons and ligaments have adapted to the increase in muscle size and power.
Long-term side effects of daily creatine monohydrate ingestion, especially in high dosages, are currently not known. There is a possibility that excess creatine can put stress on the kidneys and liver. Creatine converts into creatinine which, in high dosages, could act as a toxin.

see for more info
http://www.raysahelian.com/creatine.html

[helenosch]

Taking proteins right after training helps you to keep and build up muscles, if it happens about 30 minutes right after training. But i think you shouldn't exceed the 1g/kg body weight rule (that's what I got told at least). It doesn't matter what you take: Fruit and bread are also good resources of protein but if you're lazy like me, go for the shakes since they are pretty much just what you need without the effort of calculating everything