Coaching to compete on the elite degree of strongman isn’t any simple process. The coaching routine is heavy and frequent, the requisite weight loss program is densely caloric, and the restoration of the nervous system is critical.
The 2022 Canada’s Strongest Man (CSM) champion Maxime Boudreault and 2021 Canada’s Strongest Lady (CSW) champion Samantha Belliveau have constantly competed on the high of the game for years. The previous is a mainstay on the Big’s Stay contest circuit, together with the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) contest. And Belliveau has damaged by as one of many premier athletes on the earth as the game of strongwoman continues to propel its world recognition.
One device that helps them maximize their efficiency within the health club is the AIRWAAV™ Efficiency Mouthpiece. BarBend spoke to Belliveau and Boudreault about the advantages they’ve discovered from utilizing AIRWAAV, together with the way it improves their respiration, will increase their energy, lowers nervousness throughout massive lifts, and extra.
AIRWAAV™ Efficiency Mouthpiece
The Official Mouthpiece of the 2023 World Strongest Man, this efficiency mouthpiece is custom-built to suit an athlete’s mouth and allows higher respiration by way of managed tongue placement. It’s perfect for aggressive athletes seeking to enhance their efficiency and velocity up their restoration.
How Canada’s Strongest Trains
A typical week of coaching for Boudreault and Belliveau varies relying on the competitors they’re coaching for. Boudreault is injured with a damaged shin, which compelled his withdrawal from the 2023 WSM contest. Belliveau is amidst her coaching for the 2023 Shaw Traditional Open on-line qualifier.
Belliveau’s present weekly coaching program features a squat-focused leg day, two pull days with added deadlift periods, and strongman occasion coaching (e.g., loading races, carries, stone lifts). The squat and deadlift are two of the commonest workout routines amongst strongman athletes. (1) Moreover, Belliveau performs each day cardio, ab coaching, and stretching.
The Journal of Energy and Conditioning Analysis discovered that strongman coaching “represents an equal physiological stimulus on key parameters indicative of potential training-induced adaptive responses” as conventional resistance coaching. (2) So how do Belliveau and Boudreault get their edge over the competitors?
AIRWAAV’s Affect on Efficiency
Belliveau has used {custom} mouthpieces earlier than, however not like AIRWAAV, she felt they had been cumbersome. “[With AIRWAAV], there’s completely no restriction relating to respiration,” she says.
An absence of restricted respiration presents Belliveau a direct impact on her energy. The log press, which entails a hefty wood log to be cleaned earlier than being pressed overhead, has beforehand been one in every of Belliveau’s most difficult occasions.
Respiratory with the burden of an enormous heavy implement on one’s chest whereas within the entrance rack place is difficult. Nevertheless, AIRWAAV, she says, permits Belliveau to breathe extra optimally in that place, enhancing her output within the occasion.
Boudreault was initially skeptical about AIRWAAV as he had not discovered success with different mouthpieces beforehand. He discovered different mouthpieces to be clunky and uncomfortable in his mouth. He talked about on the BarBend Podcast that AIRWAAV was completely different — it’s smaller, and the {custom} match prevents it from transferring round or falling out of his mouth throughout coaching.
“We deadlifted that very same weight that we did per week earlier than with extra ease simply because we put [AIRWAAV] on.”
Mouthpiece respiration has been proven to enhance “tidal quantity and respiratory cycle time by as much as 63 and 33 %, respectively,” in keeping with the American Journal of Respiratory and Crucial Care Medication. These enhancements have seemingly helped Belliveau higher handle her nervousness throughout heavier deadlifts. (3)
“I’ve all the time been one to get caught up in my head earlier than a giant elevate,” she says. “The AIRWAAV mouthpiece appears to assist me keep calm and give attention to the duty.”
Whereas not essentially instantly linked, that enchancment in mindset when approaching a elevate may result in performing that elevate higher. In any case, the direct use of a mouthpiece will not be unknown — “analysis has instructed mouthpiece use throughout train ends in a rise in muscle energy and endurance.” (4)
Belliveau and Boudreault aren’t the one elite athletes within the sport who think about AIRWAAV essential to their coaching. 2023 Arnold Strongman Traditional champion and 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper calls the AIRWAAV™ Efficiency Mouthpiece “the way forward for energy sports activities.”
Adjusting to AIRWAAV
Luckily, there’s barely any adjustment wanted to make use of AIRWAAV. Belliveau was initially involved with adapting to an extra piece of apparatus whereas coaching, however “as soon as molded proper, it actually feels prefer it’s a part of your armor.”
Hooper stated that after microwaving his AIRWAAV, it molded effectively sufficient to the place he may speak usually with out concern and knew it wouldn’t fall out of his mouth throughout loading occasions, transferring occasions, and even the Wheel of Ache.
I take advantage of AIRWAAV for every part.
Not solely was AIRWAAV simple to get accustomed to, as not a lot adjustment was wanted, however Hooper additionally acknowledged with “100% certainty” that his overhead press stability, deadlift, and stone lifting have improved with the efficiency mouthpiece.
AIRWAAV™ Efficiency Mouthpiece
The Official Mouthpiece of the 2023 World Strongest Man, this efficiency mouthpiece is custom-built to suit an athlete’s mouth and allows higher respiration by way of managed tongue placement. It’s perfect for aggressive athletes seeking to enhance their efficiency and velocity up their restoration.
References
- Winwood, P. W., Keogh, J. W., & Harris, N. Okay. (2011). The energy and conditioning practices of strongman opponents. Journal of energy and conditioning analysis, 25(11), 3118–3128.
- Harris, N. Okay., Woulfe, C. J., Wooden, M. R., Dulson, D. Okay., Gluchowski, A. Okay., & Keogh, J. B. (2016). Acute Physiological Responses to Strongman Coaching In comparison with Conventional Energy Coaching. Journal of energy and conditioning analysis, 30(5), 1397–1408.
- Bloch, Okay. E., Barandun, J., & Sackner, M. A. (1995). Impact of mouthpiece respiration on cardiorespiratory response to intense train. American journal of respiratory and important care drugs, 151(4), 1087–1092.
- Garner, D. P., Dudgeon, W. D., & McDivitt, E. J. (2011). The consequences of mouthpiece use on cortisol ranges throughout an intense bout of resistance train. Journal of energy and conditioning analysis, 25(10), 2866–2871.