Breathing and Abdominal Bracing for Strength |

[@elliottsteele]

Really focused on this during heavy squats today and wow, made the weights feel lighter than usually because of better stability. Thank you Chris

[@NeonBornSpartan]

I love you chris

[@annettetibbetts4229]

NeoSpartanHesperos9 he loves you like a friend.

[@ketsi3079]

@@annettetibbetts4229 maybe he loves you more than just a friend

[@muddywaters2006]

I've come back and watched this video probably 4 times now over the last 6 months. Makes such a huge difference!!

[@CyberEmy]

I just found your channel, this is pure gold. You are my new inspiration Chris. True warrior.

[@MrsJNeilson]

Glad I've found your videos! As a yoga teacher and a weight lifter, I can appreciate your amazing tips for both worlds!

[@AreYouDaft09]

This has made a world of a difference to my squats. I used to never brace my core (didn't know how to) and looking back it's almost as if I was just flopping around in my squats. I feel so stable in the hole now and can lift heavier. Before I often good morning'ed the weight out of the hole and kept increasing the weight...the vicious cycle of bad form ensued, contributing to my disc injury.

[@XenoChristAmmu]

Wow, this helped me a lot. I cannot thank you enough. A world champion and a really great teacher!

[@yves6851]

Thank you very much. Have been working on this with my trainer and physiotherapist, but the allegory of being ready for 1000 pounds dropping from the sky made it finally clear. Enjoying your videos a lot.

[@jacksonsmith8170]

Thanks for the lesson on breathing Chris. Your suggestions have made a very noticeable difference on my main three lifts. Appreciate all the videos you post! Cheers.

[@KTMONEY100]

The best thing about chris duffin, is he implements all the stuff he talks about. There are quite a few people out there with so much talk using all these super long technical medical terminology.....yet they cant lift shit. You can tell Chris is not only educated, but very experienced as well. When he explains something, it's direct, true, and very applicable. No pseudo bro science bullshit over here. Thanks for the vids Chris, your a hell of an athlete!

[@chrisduffin8513]

thanks man

[@travispower3845]

This is seriously good stuff man. I learned this a few years ago and made me feel so much safer doing the back squat. For me it easily added 50 lbs to my squat - taking me into the 400s. I don't power lift but when I really push myself in the squat during a workout my abs will be sore the next day. I imagine myself being a pedestal, with a wider base than top, almost like a pyramid but not pointy. The core is not as wide as my hips which are not as wide as my feet. I see a lot of people with weak form and they can never really lift more than 1 to 1.5x body weight. I think this has a lot to do with it.

[@captainfaldior]

so good to see someone highlighting how important this is for lifting, but I really hope no one goes away from this thinking they know how to brace. this demo is a great idea, but IMO not enough clarification and not enough checking that people get it.

[@sujoysarkar7414]

thank you chris for making this tutorial.👍

[@Wisey_83]

This is all great stuff Chris. Was just alerted to it all through a mate. Awesome.

[@crz666]

great info sir!!! its been a couples months watching your videos and helped big time. thank you very much

[@anthonyzhang4918]

I was biking home from my workout today and I noticed that I was trying to practice this on my bike without thinking about it. Great stuff!

[@Alan_Page]

I passed out before I did my lift.

[@ddelaporte64]

Before squatting I've gotten so light headed I almost fell over. Its easy to hyperventilate before a lift when your blood is pumping and you're breathing deep over and over, too much CO2 in your brain

[@JustinHSV17]

Best one i've seen so far. Thanks

[@MadScientistDuffin]

wow... this is an oldy... people said i was crazy for this stuff back then now its common coaching.

[@TheGunsling3r]

I really appreciate your advice, knowledge, passion and intensity. thanks for your helpful videos.

[@joeyvelez2806]

I saw this yesterday waiting for class. I tried doing what you explain and nearly let one rip. I squatted today and hit some weight I always belt and wrap up for without a belt. Thanks for explaining so well!

[@mikaelgrund4014]

Awesome! Exactly what I've been looking for.

[@MuscleManMarcus]

Wow man I'm just now seeing this. I'm in chemistry right now (I'm a sports science student) and I already feel a difference. I can't wait to try it with my squats. But this is this kind of stuff that I want to teach. If already Leared a lot from watching 3 of your videos. The way your prime your body in an almost dynamic/ neurological fashion is dope as hell. This is very informative. Thank you

[@tropicalpalmtree]

such a great teacher, i envy people who get to train under chris' guidance

[@physicalorigami]

Hi Chris, thank you for making and posting this. I'm a novice lifter competing in my third meet next month and consistency in breathing is something I'm always trying to understand better and improve as it seems to underpin everything. Will be trying these ideas out in the gym tomorrow and in the future. Thanks, Dan

[@Fullchaos40]

Thanks for this video, I can honestly say I've been practicing my breathing and bracing but couldn't quite get it right. This information you gave just suddenly made it click.

[@miskokinoo]

@Chris Duffin Thanks alot, Chris! Today I PRed on deads because of your tips. A hell of a difference it made and felt. I'd been deadlifting for 2+ years not knowing I wasn't bracing my core right.

[@nickadado1087]

Amazing explanation Chris! So simple yet so misunderstood. Thanks for this, has helped me in every aspect of strength training.

[@StudioVehga]

This helped a lot. Thanks.

[@MadScientistDuffin]

Glad it helped!

[@Ebvardh]

I just started training and I did it reflexively, didn't even know it had a name, but I knew I was doing something because it helps me really sink in the squat and push through the overhead press.It was actually weird for me how the overhead press left my torso incredibly sore.

[@scrumpoxjnr]

Great information. Thank you.

[@vutran6768]

is there a written up/text version of this? Sometimes it's hard to hear what you were saying due to the video quality...It'd be great if you have a text version as well. I'm still a bit confused about the breathing you were trying to teach us here (esp at 2:18 when you said to breathe from the bottom??) How do you fill the air at the bottom but nor your chest?

[@maryellenweaver3819]

good coaching right there...

[@happygoluckyirish]

Great video, thanks a lot for posting! I only squat 400 at 181 but this made a night and day difference when i did this today. I don't have a coach or a training partner and have struggled with consistency greatly. This seems to have really remedied that a great deal it must have been a big contributing factor.

[@chrisduffin8513]

glad to hear!

[@aliannab2009]

Thank you man, really appreciate the help.

[@miahmcbride5415]

This video is fucking awesome. Awesome cues. PR's from this. Thank you Chris.

[@rockenjoshy]

Awesome, thanks!!! I hit a 15lb PR with this advise! I didn't realize my stability is so weak.

[@Daniel34310]

Nobody is talking about this stuff Chris and as you said it's really important. Could you elaborate more on the role of the diaphragm and how to improve your core stability?

[@keaganmurray5149]

How do you control where you pressurize to avoid a hernia?

[@chrishayes5755]

deep breathe into the gut / pressurize then push down to the pelvic floor and lock everything in HARD and TIGHT. hernia can happen if you pressurize but don't lock in tight, or if you fail to do either. (my 2c)

[@jeremyholley1980]

Interesting stuff.cool video

[@kwfuller5848]

Is this a in-depth a description of the valsalva manoeuvre? I have been bracing similarly. Im going to watch more of vids and listen close. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. I have just come across your channel from the squat U Instagram.

[@krisdapiton9473]

I'm afraid I'm having trouble grasping the technique of "pressurizing the oblique" and not breathing in a way that your gut "sticks out" in the front. Help?

[@birdbraINCorporated]

so brace and push out, but not through the belly to avoid a hernia?

[@mallvin2000]

C0RKY ya I didn’t quite get that too

[@SimplyLift]

Great vid!

[@Guilherme-yv5lu]

This helped a lot my squat! Thanks !! Before, I thought it was optimal to keep my lower back arched to get to the right position and for safety of the lower back. I would love to see more videos from you in the style of: How to get tight as f* to deadlift a lot !! :) Love your content

[@chrisduffin8513]

Guilherme Pinto thanks for feedback. more videos ill be coming.

[@keshavabetts]

Hey Chris, just wanted to say thanks. Your coaching videos are amazing! I watched this one and went and set a 50 lbs PR on my squat (I'm still very new to powerlifting, but still)!!

[@VincentLegent]

Brandon campbell army checking in. Great video!

[@chrisduffin8513]

Vincent Legent glad to have you

[@LjekarnaDajkovic]

Chris in this 2015 video looks 20 years younger than now, 2019... (?)

[@Lewis_Thinks]

This is why I always make sure iv had a shit before I squat. Lol

[@chrisduffin8513]

Lewis Majid ha! Make sure you are not pushing air towards anus however. thisis bad

[@Lewis_Thinks]

Im still new to powerlifting and its taking me a bit of practice to to get my core braced everytime I squat. Iv always struggled with getting my beathing right in other sports too.

[@shawndayvis6169]

First thing on my checklist on leg day is SHIT.....it's just funny cuz I am actually looking at my checklist and I thought I was the only one....thanks . My gf laughed but she's probably upstairs shitting right now cuz it's leg day

[@JoaoKorreiaa]

is it normal to feel like passing out when youre hitting those heavy weights and doing this? on the squat im fine, deadlifts seems i get light headed , sometimes hard others light

[@femi9879]

John yeah I get really light headed on heavy deads too... Only on weights for doubles/singles.

[@MikeGubisch]

John late reply but it’s normal. It’s due to your blood rushing through your system the second u relax after a heavy single. Doesn’t happen on bench cuz you’re laying down.

[@DrewLSsix]

- Kilo- I have taken to releasing the tension over at least a 3 count while concentrating on strong breaths. Letting everything go at once after a big effort has almost taken me down more than a few times!

[@nsimainyang1699]

Hey Chris, this bracing video was great, I have a question though. Kelly Starrett talks about flexing your abs and then putting air into your diaphragm after the abdominals are flexed. Do you do this? Or do you just brace into your obliques for tightness. Sorry if my question doesn't make much sense. I can clarify anything that doesn't seem clear. Thanks

[@steeping]

Did you ever find out much more about that technique? I've seen it discussed a few other places, but it is much less common than the "big air, then brace" method.

[@TiberiusStorm]

I find it incredibly difficult to stay braced during the decent and in the hole of a heavy Squat!

[@kubazjutuba]

great video

[@troygrimes3542]

Chris, Can you brace yourself before you bend down to pick up the bar or should you always bend down grab bar and then brace? Your channel is a blessing!

[@tripster3041]

God fucking damnit Aaron...

[@KestDZ]

Thank you! More about the bench!!

[@chrisduffin8513]

I've got one filmed just have not posted yet.

[@KFrench1123]

Hey Chris, I was wondering if I could get your thoughts on the Laynee Restorative Breathing Method. I have recently become aware of how important proper breathing is but the only professional help I can find in my area focuses on this method. Thanks!

[@crackheadjoe1663]

Your the fuckin man Chris!!!!!

[@milosceklic9830]

hey chris duffin what is your view on multiply powerlifting what is the point of it

[@mitchelldepierre6720]

I get this really painful sensation in my head after I brace really hard. Like I’ll go down in the hole and and come back up and when I release the brace, I get this painful head rush basically. Will this go away?

[@kyle-morrismhuruyengwe9360]

Mitchell de Pierre i used to get it but I squat with my mouth slightly open and it stopped.

[@YKA9989]

Hey Chris, I am a fairly new lifter, just got my Olympic bar a few weeks ago. I am working my way through the 5x5 strength program to build up my numbers. I really liked this video. I find that I am easily able to follow your breathing and bracing instruction. I can flair my obliques just like you showed. However, I do find that as soon as I lower down into the bottom third of my squat I feel like I can't maintain this sort of tightness/stability in the abdomen, and it is followed by buttwinking at the bottom. I watched your video on that, but I am just curious if this is something that will go away as I gain core strength or is it related to something else. Its hard to judge without seeing a video I know, but just curious on your thoughts of maintaining bracing throughout the lift.

[@TruthRightHere]

Does this breathing technique apply to deadlifts aswell?

[@johngarzone6092]

Back in the days before Chris became too strong for shoes to contain him 🤘

[@roycelee6840]

Hey Chris just to clarify, so for abdominal bracing, I take a deep breath , push my stomach out, pressurize the obliques and I'll be all set to lift?

[@RevoltingRudi]

hey chris,i am not sure if i understand you correctly. so i have breath down to the belly, chest being flat, but not pushing out the belly?

[@MrPreZidentZ]

How to you do it without pushing out on your stomach?

[@chrisduffin8513]

MrPreZidentZ you need to push out.

[@bigtonutz]

chris im really trying to get this are you saying there are two types of breathing that are used? breathing into the belly and then the other which is more advanced breathing for really heavy lifts? im confused here. are you blow against the belt?

[@chrisduffin8513]

bigtonutz There is diaphramitic breathing which you should be doing all day. Then there is the advanced bracing strategies that are on top of that discussed here.

[@kaoshjerte]

How the fuck can you dislike this video?

[@HammertownWins]

Jacob Nielsen I have personally liked the video. But the sound is pretty bad, so it's sometimes hard to hear what he says, for me. That could be a reason.

[@sulezraz]

3:30

[@soulution24]

I did the bracing and now I have butterflyes in the gut wich reminds me of anxiety before an exam

[@rolloq3741]

Same here. Did it also make your erections stronger? lol

[@Yndiax]

epic

[@danshepard6851]

Wish I could have seen this sooner. Irritated something because of bad breathing technique.

[@ssi-cc4dx]

Wot di fock

[@daylejanzendayao1255]

Sorry but i didn't understand anything at all he's talking about alot of things, Cant he just explain it in a simple way?

[@sloppyjonuts9162]

Ohhh kay Ribcage down ok i get it