Hold breath or breathe out?

I breathe as naturally as I can. I breathe out the whole time my face is in the water.

I breathe every 3rd stroke and I used to hold my breath on the 1st stroke, exhale on the 2nd stroke, and take my breath on the 3rd. I thought this was the greatest system possible until I started to use a steady exhale without holding breath at all - and it's way way better - for me anyway. The only way to be sure is to experiment yourself, I think.

I release the air slowly (at a pace commensurate with how long I intend to keep my face in) and I never wait until I'm about to die to take the next breath. I find both of these help me stay more relaxed.

Normally I hold my breath for about 1/2 stroke then breathe out steadily and make sure my lungs are empty before breathing in - and breathe every 3. It may sound daft, but I remember being told as a kid "how do you breathe in if you're trying to breathe out at the same time?" If I'm sprinting and breathing every 5, 7 or more I tend to hold my breath then do a big exhale just before breathing.

See what is faster for you.If I am swimming distance free I tend to slowly exhale.If I am sprinting I hold my breath.Holding your breath will make you float higher which may be faster,but if it is at the expense of tightening up you may be slower.Again,see for your self as this is definitely a YMMV thing.

The rule of thumb that is stuck in my head regarding breathing, is to make sure that I breathe out twice as long as I breathe in, with a quick puff to expel all of the air in my lungs as I turn to take a breath. If I remember correctly, the goal is to get rid of the CO2 build-up. I also steadily breathe out through my mouth and nose while swimming.

I was told a long time ago to not hold my breath. Something about keeping some gases in the lungs leading to some sort of deficit. I can't remember exactly. Anyone?

Thanks for the advice. Breathing out definitely helps me stay relaxed but I might try holding my air in during a sprint to see if it changes my speed.

If I am tense or uptight before going swimming I have noticed I tend to hold my breath more and spurt it out right before I breath. This pattern tends to make my stroke tight, choppy, and perpetuate the stress in my body caused by a bad day. If I remember and force myself to exhale while swimming I seem to loosen up quicker and feel better while swimming. :bliss:

Best not to hold your breath, because if you tighten/squeeze your held breath enough you will accomplish the 'valsalva maneuver', which can result in reduced cardiac output from reduced return of blood to the heart and thus reduced blood flow to the heart and rest of body, wide fluctuations in blood pressure, a heart attack, light headedness and retinal bleeding. I have noticed better no-breathing drills (eg, sprinting 20 yards without breath) by exhaling during the sprint vs taking a big breath and holding it.