Technique when lifting without a belt...

[spatts]

I know what you're talking about and it's not the same thing. When you are going for reps, you have to breathe. When you are going for max effort, you can hold the breath in this position to use it to your advantage. I wouldn't want to "leak" breath and then get just shy of locking it out, and have my core too deflated for the extra demand. I know some very experienced lifters that can exhale really hard at their sticking point with great success in blowing through it, but again, not the same as the typical "in on concentric out on eccentric" rep breathing.

 

[killa in manila]

during my chest workouts ,while i'm doing seated bench press
if i'm lifting heavy and keeping my breath in till i finish the push i get the biggest headache and i can't workout for 2-3 days
the pain starts behind my neck and it goes alll around to the top of my head till behind my left eye,can anybody tell me why does this happen?thanks!

 

[pillsbury]

um, i really wouldn't advise keeping your breath in for more than 1 rep...

 

[Thaibox]

The inhale and exhale during the concentric and eccentric portions of the lift respectively has been developed as the generally accepted breathing technique for repping. But, for power...if you want to pull off a single for example, Spatts is correct(imagine that ) Exhaling during the explosion will sap your core strength.

 

[coolcolj]

Why should there be a special technique? I just lift, the body knows how.

 

[pillsbury]

when lifting max poundages, your core is one of the most essential and important factors in making a lift, especially in the squat...it can make or break you, that is why it is so important to have a strong core. air works in the same manner that a belt does; compression of the core

it not a matter of lifting the weight, it has more to do with stablization and distribution of the weight

 

[bignate73]

Why should there be a special technique? I just lift, the body knows how.

exactly.

the transverse abdominus (which is actually being expanded if pressed outwards as indicated earlier) will contract in most individuals thus stabilizing the core. a person shouldnt conciously expand thier abs, they should allow the load and movement to do so under ECCENTRIC contraction of the tva. the point is not to use exclusively the diaphragm, but the whole core "container". ie the sides and bottom of the box too, which are the tva/obliques and the lower pelvic wall. all too often i see this misconception. if someone is training to rely on the belt, then they would push out. if you are training to use your own weight belt (core) you pull in and allow the internal and external abs to stabilize by creating the smallest internal abdominal capsule possible. the pressure of the load will obviously force the abs to "slip" slightly or press out, but better under muscle control then to be at the end of your muscle's contraction and rely on connective tissue strength alone (which is what happens when your abs are already pushed out).

i cant believe this is still perpetuated.

 

[spatts]

Bignate, I don't know what you thought I meant, but that IS what we do. We contract, and then the natural "pressing out" occurs due to the weight (generally as soon as it's unracked):

Before I ever used a belt I did this because I was more comfortable flexing my abs and then pressing out of against the ab wall (as opposed to a belt).

You can "suck in," contract, hold air, and "press out," all at the same time.

 

[Nelson Montana]

What you're talking about is essentially what anyone would do when attempting to lift a heavy weight - hold their breath. It's a natural response because it increases contraction. (Of course when training a newbie they often have to be reminded to exhale).

Lifting belts are completely useless. They do nothing. Something that is wrapped around itself can not provide support. It would have to be fastened to something else. It's an illusion -- a feeling of security because it's compressed. It also holds a certain danger. The belt can impinge on your pleura when squatting. Throw it away. It's garbage.

 

[Nelson Montana]

And by the way, back n the 1960's almost all Olympic lifters used belts. In the last Olympics the totals dwarf what anyone accomplished in the 60's and almost none of the lifters used belts. Why is that? Did they forget? Are the coaches not as smart as they used to be? No. They now know belts are nothing but a hinderence. Maybe you should call the Olympic commitee and tell them they're doing it all wrong.