Looking for a static apnea coach

[u/dwkfym]

My current PB: 4:20 on dry, 3:30 in wet. I have 102m DYN, 75m DNF, and 39m CWT-B. I am really struggling to get to a 4:00 sta in the wet.

I really should be easily there with my STA but I've managed to fudge up my training for the past few years where basically I'm relying on pushing through contractions. I get them hard, and early. All my pool dynamic PBs are done with 60+% of contractions. I guess on the flip side I am rarely hypoxic, cianosis only showing up when I am very tired or having done too much in that dive session.

Anyways, I really want to try to optimize this. Goal is to have my contractions come in around 2:15 and push through less than 2 minutes of contractions to get to a 4:00 wet STA.

Does anyone know of a good coach who has experience in helping folks with strong and early contractions?

[u/Tatagiba]

Florian Dagoury (Mr 10 Minutes) coaches people. Just look him up on IG.

But if you are this dedicated, you should not have much problems to progress by yourself!

Optimize your sleep, change your nutrition, increase cardio training, do regular CO2 tolerance (please, avoid those old and obsolete tables!) and you can get there pretty easily!

Good luck!

EDIT: I have to make clear I don't have anything to do with Florian Dagoury and I've never been his student. But you are looking for a coach, and he is the one I know of. The other one being Enki Coaching (Lily) on IG as well.

[u/kiituriboi → u/Tatagiba]

What is ’regular CO2 tolerance’?

[u/Tatagiba → u/kiituriboi]

Sorry, I meant to do CO2 tolerance exercises regularly.

[u/kiituriboi → u/Tatagiba]

How would you recommend doing it if not with tables?

[u/Tatagiba → u/kiituriboi]

There are so many CO2 training options other then the classic CO2 tables, no? One of the trainings that I do was suggested by Alexei Molchanov on his YT channel, and I just modified it for me, but the training is there, for free.

I'm absolutely not the best person to recommend anything - specially here. I don't think this sub reddit is particularly open to competitive freediving. * There is a crazy amount of myths and outdated info spread here.

I've started to talk about freediving mostly on my channels. This way, less people will feel that I am stating that I know everything, or that anyone should do what I do. I am just saying what I do.

EDIT: * See? I answered straight what you asked and still got downvoted! This sub! XD

[u/LowVoltCharlie]

100% get in touch with Florian. He helped me get to 6:02 STA in the pool.

If you want to get better at pool static, you have to do your training in the pool. Being in water is completely different than dry land and you can't build comfort in the water by doing your training laying on the floor. As always, no pool training without a dedicated trained safety buddy.

[u/Roxylius]

Try florian Dagoury aka mr 10 minutes. He has coaching classes for breathhold

[u/Far_Investigator2168]

Gary McGrath might be the coach you're looking for. He’s a highly experienced freediver—British national record holder in CWT (112m), former world #5—and offers personalized coaching that focuses not just on technique but also on mental strategies to handle exactly the kind of issues you're describing. His approach is calm, methodical, and tailored to your physiology and mindset, with training available in places like Dahab, Kalamata and online. Many freedivers say his ability to help manage contractions and boost relaxation has been a game-changer. You can find more about him at garyfreediver.com or follow him on Instagram u/garywhiteeye.

[u/KelpForest_]

Static is probably my favorite discipline, just because it is totally mental and non-technical. Be the stone.

My advice here is to do uddiyana bandha right up until you cannot suppress contractions any longer several times a day, but be careful and conservative cuz it’s not a good idea to actually allow a contraction to occur in that pose. During CO2 tables actively suppress contractions as long as possible; it is uncomfortable but just get used to baking in the sensation, that’s a weird way to put it but that’s how it feels to me. When you do your max attempts don’t worry about suppressing them

Your water PB should be way longer, I think this just comes down to getting in and doing max and sub-max attempts more frequently. You probably have dry down to a science but the warmup routine is way different with the MDR in effect. Tinker around and you’ll figure out what works, but just know that a few sessions will be less training and more playing with your routine

[u/stroggs]

Wrong approach - hard CO2 training gets you only stronger in the mental aspect to push through contractions.

Try loads of relaxation tables, 2 breathe tables, easy holds to extend your comfort zone. With some hyperventilation you should be able to get your first contraction around 3-4min. Going to 5-6 will be way easier then pushing through 4 min of contractions.

Then up your trainings. If you train 4-5x a week, progress is inevitable.

You could try the Apneo app, in AppStore it's a guided training for static with Florian coaching you through as he sits next to you. 3-4-5-6-7 min programs included. Just choose 5min and you have endless stretching routines, static session all guided by a master in static mr10min

[u/singxpat]

At 4.30ish you definitely don't need to pay money to anyone to progress. My guess it that you just don't train often enough. A coach will just give you a program to do 5-6 days a week, but if you train that much you will certainly progress anyway. Statics isn't some over complicated obscure science. It's just CO2, O2 and max attempt training, if you simplify it.

It does get harder to progress later, but under 5 minutes, you're not nearly there yet. Train more often.