Dry statics questions

[Ms Mer]

Ok this might sound like a dumb question but I have searched and can't find anything to clarify for me so thought I would ask here.....

Is it essential to pinch your nose to block the nasal passages when doing dry statics? I have been doing them that way but perhaps not necessary? What do others do?

Also, are the O2 and CO2 tables enough to use for dry statics or should I be doing something else also?

cheers

Ms Mer

 

[Antoine]

It depends by what you mean by essential.
Firstly, blocking your nasal passages helps through contractions as sometimes, if you aren't blocking your nose, a contraction can cause you to unintentionnally inhale - sometimes you don't even notice. For that reason, it is often more comfortable to have a nose-pinch during statics. Also, strictly speaking any inhale, no matter how small, "disqualifies" that static. Secondly, I heard in some other thread that the pre-nasal sinuses do undergo a sort of respiration similar to the alveoli in the lungs but on a much smaller scale. This isn't a very significant factor but technically does affect your static time.
Since, as a mentioned above, any form or respiration during a static is, strictly speaking, forbidden, then for the two reasons above, it is recommended to have a nose-pinch to block the nasal passages.
However, as you are probably not competing, it really isn't 'essential' unless you feel more comfortable doing so.

 

[Ms Mer]

Cheers for that Antoine. Good points, had not even considered about the effect from a contraction. I think I will get a nose clip, easier than pinching it as the pressure on it will be more consistent with the clip. Best to be doing things properly and learn good habits from the start.

 

[Antoine]

There are, however, a few disadvantages of using a nose clip. Firstly, if you do blackout and your tongue rolls back into your oesophagus, you will not have any open airways which would be very dangerous. Secondly, I personally find them uncomfortable and I generally feel less relaxed when using a nose-clip. I tend to just hld my nose closed when the contractions kick in.
Just my view!

 

[Ms Mer]

cheers!! Possible BO or worse is not something I personally want to be practicing, LOL.

 

[wjohnson100]

I have done it both ways and you can see it at wjohnson100 - YouTube

I trained a lot at first without a nose clip. I had no negative issues with it. Because I videotaped and uploaded most of my big holds, I eventually got a comment about my breath holds being faked because I was not wearing a noseclip. That was a load of crap, of course, because I have no need to fake anything, but to eliminate that source of doubt, I wore a noseclip after that. Did it help to wear the noseclip - no. Did it hurt - no. If wearing or not wearing a noseclip affects your dry static in any significant way, you got bigger problems than whether you are wearing a noseclip or not.