[tylerz]

Sebastian, hahah I know the feeling!

Well I can offer what data I have so far:

Before I heard about freediving, contractions, hyperventillation (2 years ago) I was holding my breath after a friend I was jogging with asked how long I could hold my breath for (I was already diving with no idea of what freediving was). First try was 2:12 or something. A couple months later I was between 4:30-5:00. A couple months later, my first session of freediving training I managed a dry 5:00. Half a year later I did over 8 minutes. This was without almost any training, except repetitive dry statics and exploration of very different techniques. Since then I regularly do 7+ and today have managed 7:55 with a nose-clip and another person timing me.

My girlfriend within a month of my teaching her static techniques, achieved 5:40.

A friend I quickly showed some technique to, achieved 4+ on his third try in one sitting.

None of us are training in any extreme or advanced way. I have a pretty good endurance level from when I was young. But am just beginning to do some actually body training again.

If I were to guess, I would say the biggest element, for us at least, is that we all pick what we eat rather consciously, enjoy outdoor activities, do yoga/stretching/meditation.

On top of that, I regularly do dry statics and am not scared of contractions. I have now done 4+ minutes of contractions multiple times (5-7). I persist to explore different breath-up techniques that break the norm. And I notice greatly how day to day stress/activity and food intake greatly affects my performance. I have had days recently where I samba at 6:00minutes dry.

The only other thing I can think of is that watching my heart-rate these days as I lie down just before the static, my best static times generally coincide with my heart-rate being at 39-46 bpm in the evening or early morning (when I do most my statics).

Mid-day and sitting, I think my heart-rate is more likely to be 50-56 bpm.

To conclude, I do not think I would recommend focus on training, if you are an above average fit person, to achieve the greatest improvements in statics if by training you mean physical exercise (cardio). I think more importantly is nutrition, relaxation, and repetitve dealing with low O2 and high CO2. That being said if your heart-rate and metabolism is high, then lowering those first alongside nutrition would be most important I would think. This could be done quickly, possibly through relaxation techniques and nutrition alone. Yet we are all different of course.

Cheers,

Tyler