Hypoxic Training

[XyseR]

http://www.tvrejuvenation.com/index.html
(hypoxia training can be great)

You can only push yourself so far, but when should I quit? Samba is boarder-line bad for me while walking with out air. I've never blacked out(or have fallen) unintentially. Through testing my body, I have a general good idea what will lead to blacking out. If you've tried hypoxic training, do automatically stop before samba or even a slight notice of being light-headed? The truth is: I don't. After getting samba I do stop though. Sometimes I might be a little light-headed after holding my breath...that usually means samba is around the corner. Please guide me if you're like "wtf is this kid doing," but I feel that if you can push yourself close to samba then you are breaking a metal barrier.

So, I guess, my main question is: While training, would you not consider pushing to samba a good idea? If I remember correctly, your brain still has enough oxygen for a short period of time if you start to samba. You are not depriving your brain of oxygen.

 

[jome]

I see no benefit in pushing until you samba intentionally. From Samba, there is a very fine line to BO, and I would avoid it. Personally I consider a performance ending in Samba a failure, even if it would pass the judges. To me it is and indication that I lost control of what I was doing. As it seems to bring no performance benefits, but is increasing the risks many fold, I simply see no point why anyone would want to do that intentionally. Of course most divers will samba once or twice, simply as a process of "finding your limit", but one should learn from it.

Especially when training alone, even if it is on dry land, I don't like the idea because even if I was "relatively safe" blacking out, it would mean that I have lost control of the situation and basically anything can happen.

To me samba is not just a funny shaky thing that happens at the end of max performance. It is just a state one step away from total BO and a sign of pushing too far. In fact, I try to avoid the term and prefer "partial blackout". I think "samba" or even "loss of motor control" are missing the point. Is not just loosing your motor control - that's just the most visible symptom. It's a sign of your body starting to shut down because of the lack of oxygen, and if you get these symptoms, you're already half way there.

 

[efattah]

Having a samba (or 'hypoxic seizure'), in laboratory animals, changed their brain chemistry in a semi-permanent fashion, increasing susceptibility to all types of seizures, including epilepsy and further hypoxic seizures.

In my experience the best tolerance for extreme hypoxia comes from pushing as close as possible to a samba without having a samba.

I was one of the few people who 'trained to the point of samba' repeatedly for a period. After a while I would start to samba while still totally conscious. This leads to the illusion that you have 'adapted' and are able to control the samba -- but in fact, the samba is just coming sooner, so you are actually worse off.

 

[XyseR]

that would be werid having samba while being totally conscious! i've noitced that after i get one or two contractions i might become a little light headed after i take a breath. should i end a little before the contraction so i don't even get light headedy?

 

[naiad]

If I remember correctly, your brain still has enough oxygen for a short period of time if you start to samba. You are not depriving your brain of oxygen.

Samba happens because the brain is deprived of oxygen. I don't think it is good to train to the point of samba deliberately.

Personally I consider a performance ending in Samba a failure, even if it would pass the judges.

Same with me, if I samba I don't consider it a PB even if it is over my max time.

In my experience the best tolerance for extreme hypoxia comes from pushing as close as possible to a samba without having a samba.

That is what has worked best for me.

I haven't noticed that I am more prone to having sambas/blackouts after having one. Of course I don't train more on the same day, and usually not the next day, but when I get back into training I can do at least the same time, and often more, without any trouble.

I don't do it on purpose, it only happens because of trying something new that I am not used to, or not knowing my limits on that day. Surprisingly, out of several LMC/BOs that I have had, only one was because of a very long static, and that was a mild one. It can happen for many other reasons, some of them I still haven't worked out. That is why it is so important to have a competent buddy - there are many factors involved.

 

[DiverTodd]

that would be werid having samba while being totally conscious! i've noitced that after i get one or two contractions i might become a little light headed after i take a breath. should i end a little before the contraction so i don't even get light headedy?

Contractions are actually quite normal, and I wouldn't worry about pushing through them...in fact, they can be an indicator of how you're progressing. Myself, I think the highest amount of contractions I've pushed myself through so far is 30, and that was when I did my 3:45 hold. Since then, I've gone on to do a 4:15 hold (in the pool during my PFI Intermediate course last month)...during that, I don't even remember counting the contractions, I just went as long as I could (coming up from it and having my hand brushed and given the thumbs up by Kirk Krack himself was a GREAT feeling, too...he'd been crouched by my head, watching me!). As for being light-headed after a hold, that's normal, too....that's what recovery breaths are for!

Todd

 

[XyseR]

yeah, contractions are fun...but when i do forceful exhale walks it's different and so the first contraction is like 40 or whatever contractions when just doing statics. so, getting light headyish okayish? lol

 

[DiverTodd]

Hmmm...well, if you're doing forced EXHALES.....that's very different! Never mind.