Bodyweight Head Rush with One Arm Pushups
- Thread starter Kozushi
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No, it isn't. It might be if you were upside down, e.g., handstand pushups. Do you experience the same thing doing regular 2-arm pushups?
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Time for someone to give you an opinion, then. Please see a doctor, and/or post a video of a regular pushup and your one-arm pushup here, and/or see one of our instructors.
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coachnathanwhite
Level 6 Valued Member
Kozushi
Level 7 Valued Member
The wiki entry on this seems exactly like what I'm doing. I'll need to get back to my NW reading then!
Yet again, for anyone who thinks this stuff is easy or simple...
Kozushi
Level 7 Valued Member
It's funny because it's just sometimes that I do this "valsalva" thing by accident. I'll have to pay more attention to how I breathe.
I sometimes do up to 12 OAPUs in a row, or alternating OAOLPUs 3 to 5 times in a row. So apparently, sometimes I just breathe wrong (or don't breathe hahaha!) and I "valsalva" myself! Hilarious!
Without this forum I'd have had no idea and I might have thought I had a head cold.
I sometimes do up to 12 OAPUs in a row, or alternating OAOLPUs 3 to 5 times in a row. So apparently, sometimes I just breathe wrong (or don't breathe hahaha!) and I "valsalva" myself! Hilarious!
Without this forum I'd have had no idea and I might have thought I had a head cold.
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Al Ciampa
Level 7 Valued Member
The saying goes, "it is simple, but not easy". The "simple" refers to the rather short list of exercises (usually two) in most programs that we subscribe to.
The "not easy" refers to the fact that folks will just not follow a simple program of just a few exercises; something you are providing evidence for, as you seem to be doing NW, ROP, and S&S at the same time.
The little details that you seem to be drinking from a firehose on this forum, such as tension, breathing, and movement skill are the threads that run through the all of the teachings here. These are lessons that can take a lot of time to familiarize oneself with, and just cant be rushed in some cases.
The programs themselves are still, "simple", but not "easy". That you do not know how to breathe does not change this.
I can appreciate your excitement, but you really do need to spend less time posting and more time meditating during your practice.
Kozushi
Level 7 Valued Member
That all makes a lot of sense.
@J Petersen wonder if you might be able to chime in..? I seem to recall you (at least I think it was you) telling me of headaches you'd get from doing a high volume of OAPUs in a short space of time. If I remember correctly, you were doing a kind of 'bodyweight Bear' routine with them?
305pelusa
Level 6 Valued Member
Maybe Steve can correct me if I'm wrong. But my understanding is that you should use the valsalva maneuver. Power breathing, "breathing behind the shield", Reverse power breathing, valsalva, etc. They all mean the same thing. It is a way to pressurize the abdominal cavity by straining to push air out, but closing the throat to prevent it.
The valsalva can lead to blood rushing to the head. That's precisely why it's used to prevent fainting in pilots for planes at high G forces. So it is not for everyone. Pavel says to be very careful, and possibly clear it with a doc.
That said, there are ways to minimize it. If you think to "send the tension" down to the stomach instead of the head, it helps a ton. Pavel covers that in TNW too (did the guy just anticipate everything?). If you take sips of air here and there, it helps because it decreases the pressure a bit. Personally, I like to breathe de-pressurize at the top of each rep, and take another good breath.
By far the best way to avoid that head rush is not by not doing it (you should do it... it's really, really useful for safety and performance), but rather limit your reps. I'm completely out of breath and almost dizzy after a heavy set of 5 OAPUs. So I don't think it makes a lot of sense to be doing 12+ reps. I can see how that would be bad.
Just my 2 cents.
@305pelusa, you are correct - I think the issue here is a matter of degree. Breathing behind the shield is a way of maintaining intra-abdominal pressure, and so is the Valsalva Maneuver but more so. One of the key concepts we teach at the SFG is @Brett Jones' "volume control" - it's important to match the level of tension, of breath holding, etc., with the effort required by the task at hand. One of things I do periodically is demonstrate 2-hand swings with weights from 16 to 36 kg, and I try to make them look exactly the same. They look the same because I am dialing my effort up and down as appropriate for the weight at hand.
And we use this volume control to our benefit, e.g., we might practice light kettlebell presses with the grip we know we'll want for heavier ones as preparation for heavier presses.
@305pelusa, thank you for your post. It's clear you have a good understanding of these things.
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And we use this volume control to our benefit, e.g., we might practice light kettlebell presses with the grip we know we'll want for heavier ones as preparation for heavier presses.
Yes
@305pelusa, thank you for your post. It's clear you have a good understanding of these things.
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coachnathanwhite
Level 6 Valued Member
305pelusa
Level 6 Valued Member
It's a bit hard to tell (you should take the video from the other side) but it looks like you're a bit shallow in depth. If you pull your head back ("pack the neck") instead of craning it forward and go until your chest almost brushes the floor (as TNW would say), you'll see you were missing a couple of very difficult, but ultimately rewarding inches. It also helps if you pull your shoulders back to push out the chest (as TNW also says... really, it's amazing how ahead of everything it is!).
The rest looks pretty solid though. You do a good job with keeping the midsection tight.
The rest looks pretty solid though. You do a good job with keeping the midsection tight.
Kozushi
Level 7 Valued Member
Thank you! I'll focus on keeping my head back so I can get further down!
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