It’s time to obliterate the walls that are blocking you from peak performance. At Power Athlete, we want you to kick down the doors that are standing between you and your goals. That means you need to crack the bones and suck the marrow out of every opportunity there is to improve. One key piece to the puzzle is that a lot of athletes are missing how to brace properly before a big lift. Many people think they are bracing by taking a giant breath of air, filling up the chest, and flexing their abs. However, breathing isn’t bracing…and trying to breathe and brace without the right mechanics is a recipe for disaster.
Right around the age of 5, we go from being belly breathers to a more vertical, chest focused breathing pattern. Most people keep their gut sucked in, flex their abs, and puff out the chest to appear more attractive, as society tends to encourage this (just think of any cartoon ever with a bro walking on the beach). However, when prepping for a big lift, this is the exact opposite of what we want to do when we’re ready to move some mass.
Matthew Spaid. “Brace Yourselves – Lifts are Coming” Power Athlete, https://powerathletehq.com/brace-yourselves-lifts-are-coming/. Accessed 02 Feb 2025.