I’ve noticed many weightlifters (“olympic weightlifters”)
open their mouths wide right before starting the lift. This made me wonder if there was a true
purpose to this practice or if people were merely mimicking what they saw in a
few experienced lifters. After
researching the interwebs and discussing the topic with a few credible lifting
sources, I’ve come to the conclusion it’s a little bit of both.
O-Face with a Purpose
My research shows the wide open mouth just prior to lifting
has a legitimate purpose regarding breathing.
This coincides with what many advanced lifters have told me: that they
open their mouths wide to draw in a large, lung-filling breath. According to Greg Everett of Catalyst
Athletics,
the weightlifter should draw in a large breath just prior to lifting to
maintain “the structural integrity of the torso while under heavy loads”*. Stated as such in his article titled
“Breathing and Breath Control for Olympic Weightlifting”, Everett expands on
the need for a large, deep breath prior to lifting:
