Cardio with a snorkel

[Yetiman]

Recently we have seen you running on a treadmill while wearing a snorkel. What is going on there?

It is called Hypoxia training. I begin to study about Hypoxia for my match with Chuck. You have not so much oxygen while you train, it is very hard. After you take out the snorkel your body is able to carry more oxygen, your blood changes to carry more oxygen which means more cardio.

After reading the above and seeing it in the ultimate fighter, how effective is the above? Any one here do it? Do you just use a normal snorkel and tap up your nose?
Thanks,

---edit---
If any one does this can you recommend a sight to buy a snorkel please

Thanks

[Maccavelli]

From my thinking on conditioning at the minute, its fucking retarded.

MMA guys just seem to like finding something silly hard and killing themselves with it, with no concept of why they are doing it.
Vanderlai gassed while fighting chuck.

[Duchman]

lol @ breathing thru your mouth. Thats the last thing you want to train your self. Open mouth = way more change of a broken jaw.

[Abstroose]

There's no chance I'm being seen in a gym wearing a snorkel.

[Wiegieboard]

Why not just breathe through your nose? I have a big nose which means not that much difference, but wouldn't it be more sensible and mean that you can train without the equipment?

[Sledge]

I am sure it was a troll job by Wand.

See if people would copy him.

[Alex Gold]

I agree with Paul, seems a silly idea.

[Abstroose]

I suppose hill sprints wearing flippers is more effective too?

[DanCrase]

I just wear a gumshield when I'm doing cardio; that way, when I get to the stage that I start "mouth breathing" I'm already hampered with the mouthguard in.

There's no point training with a snorkel in your mouth when you're not competing in one. It'd be like playing football to get good at kicking and not doing any muay thai training.

[OllieR]

I hated this idea when i first saw it. However i've thought about it and there probably is some reasonable science behind it. By restricting the available oxygen, you are forcing to the body to train under hypoxic conditions. On a cellular level this will mean that the elevated levels of lactate will warrent a higher need for lactate clearence. Meaning the structures will be forced to adapt and continue to function under these conditions (lactate tolerance). (if done regulary enough)

I'm still not completely sold that it is actually necessary but i suppose it makes sense. From looking at Wand's program i would say that they needed to change a few other things before they get to the stage where using snorkels would be beneficial.