There is no need for accusations. I do not think anyone is flaming PFI here
Quite opposite - I always valued their work highly and am their admirer. I only expressed my surprise after reading the article about Blaine, where the reporter took a course with PFI and was describing his progress while mentioning terms "cycles of purge breathing" and "exhalations to purge carbon dioxide".
If I was ever flaming someone, it was the author of the article, not PFI. You should read all those comments of people (who have no clue about freediving and the safety involved) how they were all eager to know how to increase their breath-holds with the "cycles of purge breathing" and "exhalations to purge carbon dioxide". I found publishing such material a very dangerous deed that may bring some unsuspected kids to a tragedy (despite the final sentence warning people not to try it at home).
This was the reason I
asked whether it is true that PFI teaches hyperventilation. So do you really think that trying to find out whether they do it or not, is
flaming? Howard answered that two DB members who recently took a PFI course were taught to do 15 hyperventilations before statics. I do not know if they lied or misunderstood the instructions, but am happy that others claim they do not teach hyperventilation or purge breathing to wash out CO2.
As for other courses teaching hyperventilation to varying degrees - yes, I know there are certainly some. As I wrote for a newbie it is the simplest and the most impressive shortcut to breath-hold times he never expected to do. However, personally I prefer teaching newbies in our club the exact opposite - normal or slightly higher CO2 level for the breath-hold. It is certainly the less comfortable way, but I believe that it reduces oxygen consumption and protects you against blackout much better.
