I just got Pavels book “Power to the People” and he says not to inhale-exhale while lifting. Instead take about 75% of your lung capacity and put it in your stomach where it will support the various organs with all the pressure on them.
Does anyone have experience with both sides of this argument, and what do you think is better? And why? (I’ve tried it his way but didn’t notice a difference 'cause I don’t have but 150lbs.) 
“Box a fighter and fight a boxer”. Bruce Lee
When I am doing heavier weights or at a peak contraction, I spread it evenly throughout my torso..
nospam.
When I hold my breath on heavy lifts, I can definately tell a difference when compared with exhaling. Holding your breath is known as the “Valsalva maneuver,” and is generally not recommended in America. It increases blood pressure, but as soon as you exhale your blood pressure normalizes again. I guess it’s probably ok if you don’t have high blood pressure to begin with, but overall you’re safer with NOT holding your breath.
But, you probably won’t lift as much that way. There’s not really a difference unless you’re using near maximal weights anyway.
Be careful.
Iron
Breathe. I always try to train as naturally as possible. You are designed to breathe, so do it. The blood pressure thing is a pain when you’re doing bench press (embarrassed smile) and you almost pass out and have to be rescued by someone much smaller than you in the middle of a crowded gym. Breathe.
“Pain is merely weakness leaving the body”
The blood pressure thing is a pain when you’re doing bench press (embarrassed smile) and you almost pass out and have to be rescued by someone much smaller than you in the middle of a crowded gym.
Shite dude, how long are you holding your breath for to almost pass out? You don’t do it for the whole set, just for each rep. For benching it would be like this:
Unrack Bar
Lower Bar (inhaling)
Press Bar back up (holding breath, contracting abs)
Exhale
Repeat
You still breathe, just not during the concentric portion of the movement.
But if you still want to improve your bench even without holding your breath, just tighten your abs as hard as you can while pushing the bar up, and squeeze the bar as hard as you can with your hands. I believe Pavel calls this “irridation.”
But if you still feel like you’re gonna pass out I would stop 
Good luck,
Iron
Thank you!!
“Box a fighter and fight a boxer”. Bruce Lee
i dono i’d say breathe 
occasionally i forget to breathe and when im benching i can burst the blood vessels in my face! oops… sucks walking around campus with a red face for a couple days
and i dont normally have high blood pressure at all - quite the opposite heheh
i doubt it really matters unless your lifting really heavy, and with low reps.. cuz if your doing high reps your gonna need that oxygen
peace
travis
Receive what comes, Escort what leaves, and if there is an opening, rush in
Also the time up and the time down. My positive is 2 seconds and my negative 3. If I hold my breath I feel like crap.
[i]Signed,
Rogue, Soke and Senior Grandmaster of Southeast American Brazillian Bagua Combat Chi jitsu Kempo Karate Do and Choral Society.
The only tactical principle which is not subject to change; it is, “To use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time." [/i]