Cross-Training for Freedivers: Part I
Posted By Peter Scott on 17 May 2004
Some freedivers could be accused of looking for a "silver bullet" training technique, one special exercise that will give them the static apnea of Tom Sietas and the consistent constant weight dives of Herbert Nitsch, all rolled into one. From one perspective, namely that of the conventional trainer, we risk overtraining or missing out on the benefits of aerobic, anaerobic and resistance training.
Lacking tools to measure our improvements objectively might result in getting better only at performing these special exercises themselves. Two years ago I added exhale apnea stairmaster to my workout. Despite the strange looks from my gym-mates, I noticed improvements in apnea stairmaster, but by the end of the training period I felt that the exercise didn't really do much for my static, dynamic or constant weight performances. Recently, however, apnea cycling (to simulate a constant weight dives) has been an extremely useful training tool for me. The specificity-of-training principle ( practice and train your muscles and body to do what you do in an actual performance) can help you or work against you. It all depends on what kind of exercises you choose.
Sebastien Murat tries to avoid everything but the most specific of training exercises. He models his freediving after seals, who exhale and sink, and rely on high hematocrit and myoglobin levels to supply oxygen during a dive.
"I adhere to the Maximum Intensity Specific Training approach," says Murat, "My training is strictly wet static to physiological break-point coupled with dynamic to muscular failure, in both pool and ocean."
That's it. No cardio, weight training, dry apnea, CO2 tables, or even apnea exercise, except for what he does in the water. Nothing that might confuse his body from adapting to his diving style.
For those of us who don't plan of using this method anytime soon, Murat says that in order to improve inhale apnea diving or static, it is best to do inhale apnea training -stay specific.
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