Contracting abs

[TedB]

Hello Rip,

is it possible that someone is contracting his abs too hard even if the back is in the proper natural position?
I have a new training partner and I believe he is over-doing the "core bracing" thingy despite the fact that he is not losing his natural slight arch.

Thank you for your time.
Ted

[Mark Rippetoe]

What makes you think he is overdoing his abdominal contraction?

[TedB]

What makes you think he is overdoing his abdominal contraction?

His breathing pattern seems to be a bit too forced (he braces first, and then does the valsalva, and he seems to be having a pretty hard time almost like the contraction is stopping him from breathing into his stomach properly).

[Mark Rippetoe]

Then he has a coaching problem, not an abs problem. Nobody breathes into the stomach -- review your anatomy. He takes the breath FIRST, then squeezes.

[TedB]

Thank you. And WILL DO! I have got work to do.