hornguy

Thanks for the replies.

I have been taking some lessons from a good teacher, Jay Daly in Boston. I have emailed him about this and will post his response.

This isn't a huge movement. The bell is only dropping about an inch. I'm just disecting everything and wanted to get other people's opinions.

The Carl Saunders info is great! Thanks, EdMann.

In terms of the Rafael Mendez vertical position, there are several factors I see. First, his head is back. That really helps open the windpipe. I recently made that adjustment. If you move your head forward, like you are pointing forward with your chin it really hinders airflow. Try taking a big breath with your head forward and then back (don't tilt your head, just point with your chin).

Second, one way of generating additional compression is by using your lats (latissimus) which will arch your back. I learned this from Bob McCoy (another great teacher in Boston). I often think that there is a bit of showmanship involved, but there is also some technical reason for arching your back.

I feel like I have some of those pieces figured out (although Claude Gordon's "Chest High" stuff still fights with my attempt to keep my throat open.)

My gut feeling is that it would be better to not change jaw position. Some of the real technical monsters I worship don't move anything (Mendez, Vissutti, Doc, Andre')