Squats:Belt or no belt?

[Freddy]

Sorry guys, but I'm going to disagree. In order to squat properly you have to hold your air in your lower abs and push out against your belt and keep tight on each rep. It's very difficultt to do this without a belt. However, I do agree that on some lower weights you don't need one.

Boz

If you require a belt to perform the Valsalva maneuver, then your abs are not strong enough.

Athletes at any development level (beginner to advanced) can learn to do this even with max effort lifts, without a belt. Louie Simmons has noted this amoung his athletes, and Zatsiorsky and Medvedyev before him noted this as well.

I'm not saying a belt won't increase the effectiveness of the Valsalva maneuver, but it can (and should) be performed properly and safely without one.

 

[incrediblehulk]

wat is the Valsalva maneuver?

 

[cutup]

Here is a good link that describes Belt or Beltless! Very in depth read!

http://www.chekinstitute.com/articles.cfm?select=16