Breath Enhancement Training

thermalben's picture
thermalben started the topic in Monday, 4 Feb 2019 at 3:05pm

Did a refresher course over the weekend with Nam Baldwin through his Breath Enhancement Training (BET) course. I first did one of Nam's courses in Narrabeen four or five years ago, so I essentially went back to try and remember everything I'd forgotton since. 

Can't recommend his courses highly enough. You'll learn things about the body that you had no idea about, and he'll teach you all kinds of techniques to help cope with difficult surf situations (big waves, hold downs etc). Didn't have a solution for overcrowding though.

Anyone else done this course before?

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 4 Feb 2019 at 3:06pm

Here's a video from back in 2012.

Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone's picture
Nick Bone Monday, 4 Feb 2019 at 7:22pm

Always been interested. Only training ive done is PB's in the bath haha.

It look as though learning would have to be believing with video!? Shoulder wriggling increases time underwater??

P.S Song choic?? hehe

Doublems111's picture
Doublems111's picture
Doublems111 Monday, 4 Feb 2019 at 10:07pm

Booked in for March. I have not heard anything other than positives from pro's and bro's... IMO if you can even learn one little thing that enhances your surfing its an afternoon well spent.

Horas's picture
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Horas Monday, 4 Feb 2019 at 11:10pm

Not this one but done a bit of free dive courses ,would be similar? It's a trip getting down to 30 meters,about 15 fathom, on the rope. Bliss and so peaceful man .It's all about reeelaxing and comes in handy when faced with a couple of bigger ones .Cheers

Doublems111's picture
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Doublems111 Sunday, 24 Feb 2019 at 10:22am

Was this swell more manageable @ben

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Sunday, 24 Feb 2019 at 11:43am

Yeah, I've improved my long breath holds behind the computer screen. Up to 3 minutes now! 

Seriously though, there's been nowhere to surf around my hood, and haven't had time free to scoot up the coast.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Sunday, 24 Feb 2019 at 11:50am

Have done a course Ben in this area. Was happy to get 1:55 off the bat no training and up to 2:25 at end of the one session. This was all underwater so maybe this is different to on land? There is still much to learn.

ojackojacko's picture
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ojackojacko Wednesday, 27 Feb 2019 at 8:27am

Has anyone done the Mark Visser / Shane Dorian Ocean Warrior online course? Any comparisons of BET vs Ocean Warrior, or informed thoughts on a half-day in the pool versus an online course? I see that Mark Visser is one of the testimonials on the BET website so I guess that does say something.

dandandan's picture
dandandan's picture
dandandan Wednesday, 27 Feb 2019 at 8:49am

I haven't done this specific course, but have done a freediving course in Amed once, which I imagine addresses the same points about how the body works. Was kind of shocked that after 30 minutes in front of a whiteboard and a strange Russian bloke holding my hand my static breath-hold went from 1.22 to 3.40. It was closer to 2.50ish when I was underwater, but it kind of blew me away that I already capable of that without knowing it.

I definitely found my mental state better in bigger surf afterwards. I have even deliberately tried to keep myself down for a two wave hold-down on big days to see what it's like but my fat arse always floats to the surface too quickly.

ojackojacko's picture
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ojackojacko Wednesday, 27 Feb 2019 at 9:25am

>>but my fat arse always floats to the surface too quickly

go your fat arse - no voluntary hold downs for me thanks :)))

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Thursday, 28 Mar 2019 at 9:41pm

News/Overnight Oz WR.
Oz Surf Coast Free Diver Ant Williams sets WR Ice Dive at a depth of 70m.

Williams' holds breath for just over 8 minutes in ocean & returns from 100m deep.
Ant can swim over 240m distance in a Pool on a single breath.

Tip of Norway WR dive was very dark...says Ant.

Ice Diver Doco is available later in the year.

7:30 Report cue: 26:25.... To celebrate WR with Oz Ice Diver Ant Williams.
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/7-30

Same ABC 7:30 Report AD should link fail.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-28/ant-williams-breaks-record-deepes...

Live WR Bonus interview...Pretty cool stuff.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Thursday, 28 Mar 2019 at 9:56pm

Stay Tuned as Oz Ant Williams attempts to break his newly set 70m WR.
Come see: A double bunger Aussie World Record.
Swellnetonians are cheering on their Champ freediver Ant Williams.

truebluebasher's picture
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truebluebasher Sunday, 31 Mar 2019 at 12:14am

Double Congratulations to Ant Williams from Swellnet crew.
Ant breaks own WR Ice Dive within 48 hrs
Kiwi/Oz Williams bettered his own 70m WR dive to 75m

Kiwis can have the 70m record / Oz gets the 75m Record
NZ Ant swam under the ditch to live in Australia...(So the 2 records stand as is!)

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2019/03/kiwi-free-diver-ant-william...

1st vid will likely to freeze up (tee-hee!) 2nd vid plays but it's a bit dark (tee-hee!)

note: Ant is also a surfer who coaches big wave surfers.

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 19 Oct 2024 at 12:45am

epic way to start the weekend, watch this with a coffee
thanks @bbbird, we'll get you down here, yet

freediveguy's picture
freediveguy's picture
freediveguy Saturday, 14 Dec 2024 at 1:21pm

Yikes, I'm 5 years late in spotting this comment! Thank you truebluebasher, I sincerely appreciate the call out! I guess I missed it cause I was still in the Arctic Circle thawing out at the time and probably not checking the swell forecast for Bells as often haha.

truebluebasher wrote:

Double Congratulations to Ant Williams from Swellnet crew.
Ant breaks own WR Ice Dive within 48 hrs
Kiwi/Oz Williams bettered his own 70m WR dive to 75m

Kiwis can have the 70m record / Oz gets the 75m Record
NZ Ant swam under the ditch to live in Australia...(So the 2 records stand as is!)

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2019/03/kiwi-free-diver-ant-william...

1st vid will likely to freeze up (tee-hee!) 2nd vid plays but it's a bit dark (tee-hee!)

note: Ant is also a surfer who coaches big wave surfers.