I was hanging out with a few friends the other day and we were talking about working out and whatnot. I brought up people training with scuba masks or snorkels on. None of them have heard of it. I don't remember where I saw it, but I want to say one of the UFC guys was doing it in some pre-fight clip. I would assume that it would help condition your body to not use as much oxygen.
Have any of you ever heard of that or tried it? Is it really that beneficial / safe?

YouTube - Wanderlei Silva All Access Snorkel Training (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMoQwOqqzYw)

I'd bet you saw it when Mir had the guys doing this on a treadmill on TUF. It's sort of a poor man's version of going up to Big Bear to train.

I believe the concept is called hypoxic training (but I might be wrong, you might have to be underwater/holding your breath entirely for the term to apply. I'm sure one of the gurus will correct me if I'm wrong).

In any case, you train your lungs to process oxygen more efficiently by limiting their access to oxygen. I would say it's safe as long as you're able to just let go of the snorkel with your mouth and get a big breath if you push yourself too hard. If you tape it on and have to work to get it off, I'd say you're entering into semi-risky territory, in case you push yourself to the point of passing out or something. I will tell you from experience that wearing a snorkel and mask on the treadmill at the gym will get you some very, very odd looks.

I think the effect would be to increase the vasculature of your lungs. This could take a while, but it would also last for a while after you stopped training this way.

I'd bet you saw it when Mir had the guys doing this on a treadmill on TUF. It's sort of a poor man's version of going up to Big Bear to train.

I believe the concept is called hypoxic training (but I might be wrong, you might have to be underwater/holding your breath entirely for the term to apply. I'm sure one of the gurus will correct me if I'm wrong).

In any case, you train your lungs to process oxygen more efficiently by limiting their access to oxygen. I would say it's safe as long as you're able to just let go of the snorkel with your mouth and get a big breath if you push yourself too hard. If you tape it on and have to work to get it off, I'd say you're entering into semi-risky territory, in case you push yourself to the point of passing out or something. I will tell you from experience that wearing a snorkel and mask on the treadmill at the gym will get you some very, very odd looks.

No, hypoxia is right. It means low oxygen. No oxygen is anoxia. You probably should have a safe word and dungeon monitor if you plan on doing this though.

Hypoxia will do funny things to your neurochemistry.

No, hypoxia is right. It means low oxygen. No oxygen is anoxia. You probably should have a safe word and dungeon monitor if you plan on doing this though.

Yay, I got one right. What about swimming underwater laps in the pool? Would that still be considered hypoxic, since you're taking in oxygen before beginning the lap, but denying yourself new oxygen?

I really can't help the sneaking suspicion the snorkel training was a practical joke/hazing ritual which has now taken on a life of its own.

I will say this once, and I will make it in big caps:

DO NOT **** AROUND WITH HYPOXIA IN THE WATER.

Sorry for that, but it's important. Shallow water blackout is a great way to die, and many skin divers have found that out. Fewer still live to tell about it. If you are training in the water, breathe air with a normal amount of oxygen, and as much as you would normally breathe under those metabolic circumstances. If you are training to be a breath-hold diver, get competent instruction, and use a buddy system. Don't just go holding your breath as long as you can for some sort of perceived training benefit.

If you are breathing underwater on compressed air (SCUBA), physical exertion has a whole other set of problems, including decompression sickness.

Hypoxia and water are a very dangerous mix.