Breathing

[cross]

When performing a technique what method of breathing do you use?

 

I exhale through the mouth and inhale through the nose.

[White Warlock]

I've had three sinus operations, in addition to nasal polyps, a corrected deviated septum, and punctured sinus cavity due to repeated injury, so although it is generally recommended to breath through the nose when performing techniques, doing so can sometimes cause me more harm than good.

 

Instead, i focus on the intent, which is to inhale slowly and evenly (breathing through the nose not only filters the air, but regulates the rate at which you inhale). Exhalation is strongly dependent on the type of technique being performed, or maintained.

[Beka]

I was just born with an inadequate nose. It's so dainty and small and just cute as a button, but totally useless when it comes to sustaining life. Even my grandma commented on it when I was born. I can't even pick it right.

 

*sigh*

 

I'm so jealous of you nose-breathers...

[italian_guy]

I inhale through the nose, and as WW said exalation depends on the technique.

[aefibird]

I try to inhale through my nose and out through my mouth, but I have allergic rhinitis, as well as hayfever and asthma and having to have a nasal polyp removed (which is no fun, as I'm sure Warlock will testify!), so quite often I have to just give up on the nose breathing and breath through my mouth only.

[Fenris-wolf]

OMG, you poor people! My body may be breaking down around me (at the advanced age of 19 ) but at least I can breathe through my nose!

 

Yup, breathing evenly I guess is the main thing and most people do recommend in through the nose out through the mouth.

 

We are also told to breath out every time we do a technique (or receive one), which seems to work for me - and it helps a lot with body shots.

[markusan]

Breathing is everything and your mind, your technique and your breath should become one. I breathe through my nose but, especially when executing a technique, with lips slightly open. This prevents pressure building in the mouth cavity and creating back pressure. I put all the effort into the outbreath and try to breathe in by merely relaxing the diaphgragm muscle. As well as breathing for oxygen I breathe to tension the lower abdomen, thus connecting the bottom limbs to the torso with a flexed band of muscle. EG to punch, push off with feet, torque the hips breathe out but create tension by restricting the throat, this connects the hips to the torso then the shoulders and arms. Don't use all the air on the one technique, unless it's the knockout punch or kick.. In a rapid punching sequence one can breathe out many times then relax after the sequence and take a short sharp breath in ready to go again. A good practice technique is a Zen one called bamboo breathing (ref Zen Training, Katsuki Sekida, pp53) Breath out in ten short stages then relax to inhale once. Note to do this one must breath out by pushing up with diaphragm muscles. Also breath out when receiving or blocking a strike. And for a more effective strike, time your technique for when your opponent is breathing in. Then his inflating body is expanding out to meet your strike, increasing the impact. By the way, these techniques are equally as effective breathing through ones mouth.

[Drunken Monkey]

during forms training we try to do the in nose/out mouth and in time.

 

but during actual sparring and the drills, we try to breathe as natural as possible.

 

we don't hold breaths or draw out breaths or breathe with the out motion or whatever (at least not in a fixed way).

 

we just breathe.

 

make sense?

[Fat Donkey]

Actually it's when your sparring it's most important. In MT we do it like boxers, exhaling on the attack. It's one of the hardest things to remember when the adrenaline is flowing and so must be constantly practised.

[cross]

In MT we do it like boxers, exhaling on the attack.

 

Do you exhale through the nose or the mouth?