Definition

Hypoxic training means training with little oxygen.

Swim coaches for ages have used this method to train swimmers for a variety of distances and different types of swim races. Like kick boards and pull buoys, it has become part of swim workout tradition to include some kind of breath control set at nearly every workout.

Examples of hypoxic or breath control swim sets:

    300 yards breathing every 3-5-7 breaths by 50.
    8 x 25’s, every other 25 no breath.  <---(don't try to replicate)

Many coaches blindly dole out breath control sets day after day with little thought as to these two questions:

• Why do we do these sets?
• Who do they benefit?

How can breath-control training benefit the triathlete?

Hypoxic training can no doubt benefit the sprint (50 or 100 yard races) or middle distance (200 or 500 yard races) swimmers. [.....]

Become a Performance Member to read the rest of this article!
If you are already a donating member, please logon to read the rest of this article.