abs braced or abs puffed out?

[Jackson Yee]

Do you brace your abs tight like you are anticipating a punch to the stomach or do you expand and press your abs out like a"fat stomach" when lifting?

thanks

[Thomas Brenden]

The way I've heard it described is you let your belly expand all the way out with a big breath of air, then clamp your abs down tight, so you're squeezing on that air pressure and stabilizing the spine.

[Greg Everett]

I agree with Thomas. When wearing a belt, some will teach to push out against it, but I find that that happens naturally when you just brace the same way bc the belt is tightened a bit inside the normal brace circumference.