Squat Valsalva's Maneuver Breathing

Mark Rippetoe goes into detail about holding the breath during squats. To clarify this, am I to take a deep breath, hold it for the entire squat, then blow it out only after I have completed the set, then take a deep breath again and start the cycle over? It sounds very strange to me, despite all his arguing for it. 

Not after the set, but after completing the movement.  Big huge deep breath, hold, squat down (do not pause at the bottom of the squat) and come right back up, then exhale.  Rinse and repeat.

Official Ectomorph of the Emancipation Detoxification.  DBB's oldest forum group, schooling the skinnies since 02/12/08.

Only the best supplements used:  Food, milk, fish/flax oil, multivitamin. [/

Oh yeah I meant after the rep not set. haha 5 sets no breathing.

So Robert you squat very quickly then, right? This doesn't make you light headed?

No, not very quickly.  I take a deep breath, hold it, squat down and right back up.  I just don't stop/pause at the bottom.  I have never got light headed from doing it this way. 

I have got light headed doing deadlifts by taking my deep breaths while leaning over grasping the bar.  That went away when I started taking a deep breath, then lean over, grab the bar and lift without hesitation.

Official Ectomorph of the Emancipation Detoxification.  DBB's oldest forum group, schooling the skinnies since 02/12/08.

Only the best supplements used:  Food, milk, fish/flax oil, multivitamin. [/

its to protect your spine and body.

Breath in, squat down, come up, breath out. controlled, nothing spazmatic

It comes very naturally. try not to think too hard about it.

current 3x3 max's (Work in progress)
Squat:325
Deadlift:380
Bench:265
BB Row:225
My lifting journal
http://strengthmill.net/forum/showthread.php?p=16591#post16591

It's instinct.  Don't take the biggest breath you can or you risk blowing out your abdominal wall.

President of the Emancipation Detoxification. DBB's oldest forum group, punching baby seals since 2/12/08

Blow out your abdominal wall?

Hernia.

President of the Emancipation Detoxification. DBB's oldest forum group, punching baby seals since 2/12/08

So you breathe in 3/4 full?

Your making it too complicated. Breathe in, fill your lungs, but do not take such a breath that you can feel the pressure in you ear drums, and your struggling to contain it.

Fill your lungs, brace your core, squat down, come back up, refresh your breath, repeat.

just take a normal breath or a slightly larger then normal breath and hold it.

current 3x3 max's (Work in progress)
Squat:325
Deadlift:380
Bench:265
BB Row:225
My lifting journal
http://strengthmill.net/forum/showthread.php?p=16591#post16591

Have a properly strengthened transverse abdominis and you wont need to do the valsalva manuever.

How exactly would one strengthen their transverse abdominis to be able to withstand the weight of a heavy squat?  Vacuums are not an exercise that should be done with weight.  The only other thing I can think of that would maybe help it would be Yoga, and that won't help with weight either.

The Valsalva technique is fine to do.  Like all things, it has to be done correctly.

Also, I would much rather do the Valsalva technique and accept the risk of doing it incorrectly and passing out during a lift, than to trust an internal muscle that is near impossible to strength train.

President of the Emancipation Detoxification. DBB's oldest forum group, punching baby seals since 2/12/08

Basically just as some of the others said - you hold your breath, squat down, squat up, then breathe out.  I do this naturally.  Sometimes, I breathe a little during squats, but if I catch myself doing it, I focus a bit on holding my breath.

Holding your breath and holding your abs tight protects your lower back, and allows you to maintain the "tight upper body" position necessary for good form.

Squats are better than steroids

Ok. When you get back up from the squat and blow out, to you take a few breaths or just one breath and go back down in the squat?

Now does this apply to deadlifts and power cleans? Thats where I tend to get light headed.