It’s really important to be objective when addressing these issues. The breathing methods you bring up are all debatable. There are many “schools of thought” on proper breathing and who are we to say that one way is the only way?

Still, most people who study the voice are looking for efficiency. What is the best and easiest way to produce the best result?

David, there is nothing wrong with expansion of the entire abdominal viscera. True, deep diaphragmatic breathing (accompanied by contraction of the external intercostal muscles) will naturally displace the viscera. There is no internal organ or muscle that is aligned directly with the navel that would/should prohibit lower expansion if total lung capacity is truly your goal. To observe really great breathing, watch an infant breath. Their entire belly expands because they haven’t unlearned correct breathing yet. The efficiency of their breathing and phonation can be observed in the cry of an infant that will pierce through walls or forrests to the ears of it’s mother.

Josh, you are correct about the diaphragm’s ability to only contract downward. But, there are those who believe that the muscles must work in tandem in order to achieve maximum efficiency. Utilizing the upward, supporting movement of all the muscles of the abdominal girdle (the transverse abdominis, oblique abdominis and rectus abdominis) push up against the diaphragm. If the diaphragm is totally relaxed it would be like pushing against firmer-than-usual jello. But, if the diaphragm is slightly engaged, those muscles have something to actually push against.

I’m not saying that either of you are necessarily wrong. In fact, I personally agree with many things you are saying. But as students/teachers of voice, we should be a little more objective. Each person must find their own model that works the best for them weather its clavicular breathing, thoracic breathing or abdominal breathing.

@Manflaps

Please, please don’t use your voice that way. Yelling and screaming like that can cause irreparable damage. The manly and low sound that you are achieving by doing is the symptom of a problem, not a solution.

Vocal chords (or vocal folds as they referred to more commonly among vocal scientists) are not muscles. The muscles that you may have exercised are used in lengthening, shortening, thickening and thinning the vocal folds.

Richard Burton would agree with you, Weston.

Richard Burton credited going to the top of Welsh mountains in his youth
and speaking parts of Henry V as loud as possible without shouting
for “breaking” his voice and giving us the voice we all know.
He described it as yelling but with perfect diction.