50m Dynamic Apena Question

[jcondon]

I was looking for some advice on doing a 50m underwater swim. Out of curiosity how long do you think you would need to be able to do a static apena to comfortably do a 50m underwater swim assuming your technique is not bad? Right now my best breath hold is a little over 2 minutes. Also does anyone have any advice for working up from 25m to 50m, like a little workout plan. Thanks a bunch

-james

[Brutta Borsa]

May I suggest a turn at the end of the pool?

Sorry you gave it away. A 50meter dynamic is mostly about being comfortable in the water and have a good technique. There’s a lot of good information in earlier threads use the search function.

Good luck BB

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by jcondon

I was looking for some advice on doing a 50m underwater swim. Out of curiosity how long do you think you would need to be able to do a static apena to comfortably do a 50m underwater swim assuming your technique is not bad? Right now my best breath hold is a little over 2 minutes. Also does anyone have any advice for working up from 25m to 50m, like a little workout plan. Thanks a bunch

-james

It all depends how efficient your technique is, how efficient your body is at utilizing O2 under exercise, and how relaxed you are. Bench marking your dynamics based on statics I think is not a good idea. Holding your breath while walking will give you a better idea of a dynamic performance.

If you search you'll find many tips on how to train. The more you train a muscle the more efficient it will become. After I finish all my apnea swims, I grab my snorkel and swim 500-600m of the same dynamic no fin but on the surface. It is a good way to concentrate on your technique and not worry about your breath. I was talking to a friend recently and he mentioned that he does a two cycle (pull-kick-pull-kick-breath), so for 2 pulls and 2 kicks you are holding your breath. You can also do walking apnea and static bike apnea.

Also make sure you are correctly weighted, search for info on neck weights if you do not already have one. It will make a big difference.

Good luck and make sure you to dive with a buddy

[jcondon]

Thanks for the advice guys! Unfortunatly I wont be able to use a neck weight because I am doing it for the military. I feel confident that I can do it however I have not pushed myself to the point of blacking out so Im not sure what my limits are. So I wanted to ease my way into so my spotter doesnt have to do their job. thanks again

-James

[Brutta Borsa]

Guy’s hmpf…
Aren’t military men supposed to be polite to women?

Try a search on tables to improve your static time. There are two types that will rapidly improve your breath hold time if done, and you will be much more relaxed in the water.

Again good luck BB

[jcondon]

Sorry my bad. I have a bad habit of refering to everyone as 'guys', in fact I've even got into trouble for that. I'll check out the tables. Thanx again

-James

[SanSan]

Hey James

If ur only goal is to swim under water I wouldn worry much about statics because they are not so closely related. It is fine to do some statics because of the CO2 tolerance so u can be more relaxed when doing dynamics.

We have a guy in our club who has never done more than 3:20 statics and mostly averages about 3 or less, but does 118m DYN and 90 DNF...

[Jon]

Keep your chin tucked and try not to look ahead at the wall too much- it increases your bodies stress and urge to breath.

I try to just look at the bottom, lane lines, and only look up when I know I'm at the end of the pool. If your doing it in a 25 mter pool really try and get your turns down so they are nice and smooth- huge waste of energy here if you don't do it right.

I don't know if statics will actuly help or not. My buddy has a much longer static than me, by a minute, but I have a longer dynamic than he does, by almost 25 meters.

You could also try some hypoxic surface swimming, breathing every third, fifth, sventh, or nineth stroke. This can be done in a "pyramid" fasion going harder to easier.

Try picking up a copy of Umberto's book and look at some of the ideas in there.

Jon

[island_sands]

Originally Posted by jcondon

I was looking for some advice on doing a 50m underwater swim. Out of curiosity how long do you think you would need to be able to do a static apena to comfortably do a 50m underwater swim assuming your technique is not bad? Right now my best breath hold is a little over 2 minutes. Also does anyone have any advice for working up from 25m to 50m, like a little workout plan. Thanks a bunch

-james

I manage just over 50m now.. but have never timed it... also depending on my energy levels sometimes it takes longer, i can feel it.

I also do what Jon does, look down at the lane lines.. and when i see the cross bar i know there is about two more strokes until i reach the wall to turn..

I wouldnt think that you could compare it to a static apnea being that you are using much more energy.

I dont use any neck weights but there again i don't use a weightsuit or anything, the pool water is boiling. Perhaps i should try it and see if there is a difference.

[Jon]

I've done it with, and without, a neck weight and with is much easier, but if you can't use it during your test it doesn't really pay to use it in training.

You might want to try and work out, or take a lesson from, the local Master's swimming club. They can help you out on your breast stroke and that will make it much easier- it's all about the technique.

The best thing you could do would be to get a buddy to spot you and work in the pool as much as possible- specificity is the key.

Jon

[Kars]

A few suggestions;

- improve breaststroke seperately from the legstroke. This why its easyer to find a more efficient strokemove.
- practice your posture and pushoff, adjust the amount of air you take in to level out allowing for a further glide.
-practise the turn and pushoff.
-practice bellybreathing, its much more efficient than chestbreathing, therefor leave your chest hanging while you prepair for a dive. Breath out deeep when you're feel ready, breath in starting from the lower belly and work your way upwards. Make sure you don't try the 100% full, it cost to much time and effort and you will have so much boilancy that you'll need so much more energy just to keep under. It's more importand that you have a good relaxed focus and a decent breath of air.
- Before showing off I always tell/remind myself/ my body the few key points.

- Have a divebuddy who knows rescue techniques, and also has a keen eye pointing out ideas for improvemens of posture, techniques, etc. And Have a lot of fun!

- Do both a freediver course to get you started and to learn how to be a thrustworthy buddy

---- aside from freediving ----
Oh james just take a look on www.prisonplanet.tv
Especially for the Bilderberg article.

Love, peace and water!

Kars,

[jcondon]

So I have been trying the walking apena and its pretty difficult. Do any of you practice this and if so how long can you usually do it for??

-James

[subaquaticus]

Originally Posted by Jon

Keep your chin tucked and try not to look ahead at the wall too much- it increases your bodies stress and urge to breath.

This is IMHO the most important advice to give...

99% of freediving beginners will "break" their neck looking ahead of them...

When I did my CWT in NIce, I was good relaxed until 25 m.... and then I looked ahead of myself to the target.... and I felt a sudden pain in my right ear, probably due to a lack of relaxation...

Being nicely stretched and relaxed is utmost important...

[watts]

jcondon. Before going over to Hawaii recently for my first comp i was doing some apnea walking. Not having that much spare time i was just doing 1 max attempt every couple of days and got up to around 1.45 which at the time was roughly what my dive times were like. Also tryed 1min walk 1 min rest which is quite taxing but a good workout.

Cheers Nathan Watts

[subaquaticus]

Originally Posted by Jon

You could also try some hypoxic surface swimming, breathing every third, fifth, sventh, or nineth stroke. This can be done in a "pyramid" fashion going harder to easier.

I often do apnea surface swimming (I would say hypercapnic surface swimming rather than hypoxic, since your body produces a lot of CO2), all the more since there is kind of "freediving ban"...

When lifeguards forbid "apnea", in fact they forbid underwater swimming ; anyway how would they be able to check whether you breathe while surface swimming ?

I often swim crawl 1/9, or 1/11 or even 1/13 (of course I don't recuperate at the end of the pool...)

I also do 25 m apnea crawl swimming laps...

I also do 25 m apnea surface "underwater breaststroke" swimming laps (i.e. I do breaststroke at the surface as if I were swimming underwater : chin tucked and arms till the thighs...) ; I managed to do 25 m in 3 strokes because I can glide without fighting against my buoyancy...

I also recuperate in water swimming back - breaststroke (you swim breaststroke lying on the back ; this technique is very relaxing and helps expand the rib cage...)