Excellent article translated by Denis Kanygin

Movement and Breathing While Performing Girevoy Sport Exercise Jerk
Wed, 04/15/2009 - 21:18 — dkanygin
Mishin S. N. Master of Sports and Head Coach of Russian Team and Tihonov, V. F. State University of Chuvashks (Cheboksary) translated from Russian by Denis Kanygin

Translation by Denis Kanygin, Master Trainer and Founder of Workout IQ
www.workoutiq.com www.girevoysport.us

In 2005 new rule have been implemented, forcing to hold kettlebells for longer duration at lock out position. The change lead to improvements in techniques of Girevoy Sport (GS) athletes. Improved quality and time of lock out position. These changes led to changes in breathing pattern of GS athletes.

Beginners to GS and even some Masters of Sport in Kettlebell Lifting tend to hold their breath and flex breathing muscles while holding kettlebells at lock out position. It takes 6-8 breathing cycles to recover from such needless exertion and get ready to next kettlebell jerk (S. Mishin, V. Tixonov 2009).

Diversion of breathing and movement patterns lead to extra movement of arms, legs and torso, which lead to early onset of fatique and poor performance (A. Votorinzev 2002).

Since January of 2005, breathing patterns of GS male athletes of various qualifications were analyzed.

The study revealed:

* Majority of Girevoy Sport athletes practice breathing into chest
* 24.3% of adult athletes practiced diaphragmatic breathing
* 35.5% of young adult athletes practices diaphragmatic breathing

While holding kettlebells at the lock out position these numbers changed to:

* 8.6% of adult athletes practiced diaphragmatic breathing
* 15.5% of young adult athletes practices diaphragmatic breathing

It should also be noted that breathing frequency is dependent on frequency of lifting of kettlebells and ranking of athlete

While performing Kettlebell Jerk in competition, athletes with ranking I and KMS, at the rack position, before performing another lift, took 6-8 breathing cycles only 3 minutes into the competition.

Athletes of higher qualifications (MS or higher) took between 1-3 breathing cycles in initial (rack) position.

Through out the whole exercise, number of breathing cycles varied from 1.5 (breath out, breath in, breath out) to 3.5 (4 breaths in, 3 breaths out), depending on the breathing pattern used.

Breathing patterns can be separated into main four different categories:

1. Undersquat – inhale; movement to lock out position – exhale; holding at lock out position – holding breath; lowering of kettlebells and shock absorption – loud forceful exhale (1.5 breathing cycles)

2. Undersquat – exhale; movement to lock out position – inhale; lock out position – exhale; lowering kettlebells – inhale; shock absorption – exhale (2.5 breathing cycles)

3. Rack position – exhale; kettlebell bump – inhale; undersquat – exhale; moving to lock out position – inhale; lock out position – exhale; lowering of kettlebells – inhale; shock absorption – exhale (3.5 breathing cycles)

4. Undersquat – exhale; kettlebell bump – inhale; movement to lock out position – exhale; while in lock out position – inhale+exhale (diaphragmatic breathing); lowering – inhale; shock absorption – exhale (3.5 breathing cycles)

First breathing pattern was detected in athletes of low ranking.

Second breathing pattern was detected in athletes with high ranking.

Third breathing pattern was detected in athletes who spend more time in underquat and moving out of it to lock out position (0.56 sec to 0.64 sec), MSWC S. Merkulin is an example of such technique.

Fourth breathing pattern was detected in athletes who spend the most time in the lock out position (0.6 sec to 1.5 seconds). S. Mishin is an example of that technique.

In Girevoy Sport literature (V. A. Polyakov, V. I. Voropaev, 1988; Y. M. Zaecev, Y. I. Ivanov, V. K. Pertrov 1991; A. I. Vorotinzev 2002; etc) there are many descriptions of various breathing patterns. Unfortunately authors do not look into types of breathing and so we are told “when” to breathe but are not told “with what” should we breathe (chest or diaphragm) or “how” (deeply or shallowly, slowly or rapidly) to breathe when kettlebells with total weight of 64kg pressing down on upper body.

If in rack (initial) position elbows are against stomach muscles and kettlebells are positions on chest, breathing becomes difficult. In rack position, in those new to Girevoy Sport, kettlebells often rise and fall, as athlete inhales or exhales. Such extra movement provides early onset of fatigue of rib cage and breathing muscles.

Conclusion:

* Results show the diaphragmatic breathing in initial (rack) position before the lift of two kettlebells and while in lock out position is more frequently encountered in athletes of high rankings
* There approximately four breathing patterns while performing Kettlebell Jerks. I type of breathing encountered in athletes of low ranking; II type of breathing encountered in athletes with high ranking Master of Sports); III and IV type of breathing are encountered in athletes of highest rankings
* Answer to questions “with what should we breathe” and “how to breathe” could be answered with an additional study
* There is enough evidence to show that diaphragmatic breathing is superior when applied to Girevoy Sport



References:

* Воротынцев, А.И. Гири. Спорт сильных и здоровых. – М.: Советский спорт, 2002. – 272 с.: ил.
* Поляков, В.А., Воропаев, В.И. Гиревой спорт: Метод. пособие. – М.: ФиС, 1988. – 80 с.
* Зайцев, Ю.М. и др. Занимайтесь гиревым спортом/Ю.М. Зайцев, Ю.И. Иванов, В.К. Петров. – М.: Советский спорт, 1991. – 48 с.
* Дембо, А.Г., Земцовский, Э.В. Спортивная кардиология: Руководство для врачей. – Л.: Медицина, 1989. – 464 с.: ил.