Breathing

[JohnKeats]

"Breathe from the hara" is what I was always taught. Inhale on soft, exhale on hard.

What do you mean by inhale on soft and exhale on hard? Also, the "breathe from the hara" always troubles me.

[Killer Miller]

I am still really swamped and haven't had time to write the article on breathing. I should have some time this weekend and I'll try to get something posted. I haven't forgot about you...

- Killer -

[Kuma]

"Breathe from the hara" is what I was always taught. Inhale on soft, exhale on hard.

What do you mean by inhale on soft and exhale on hard? Also, the "breathe from the hara" always troubles me.

It means breathe more from your diaphragm than your chest. When most of us think "take a deep breath", our shoulders rise and our chests expand. That's not optimal breathing. When you see a baby, you'll see that they breathe naturally. The stomach expands on the inhalation (not the chest), and on the exhalation it contracts. By doing this you not only breathe better and fatigue less quickly but since it's also near the center of your body (the hara) you tend to feel more rooted. Some powerlifters do a similar type of breathing when squatting or deadlifting.

As for inhale on soft and exhale on hard, that was from my Goju days. It basically means on hard striking attacks and blocks, you want to exhale, but with circular blocks and controlling techniques. "Inhaling is soft" because it's relaxing and also the weakest link in someone's ability, and "exhaling is hard" because through that you get your power.

[Grego]

After getting into Karate after ten years out, breathing is something i had trouble with.

I still knew most of the techniques, it was just that is was back into that "hold my breath" mentality

My sensei likes big, audible breaths. He should be able to hear me breath out as a strike.

[JohnKeats]

It means breathe more from your diaphragm ... you get your power.

Thanks, nice and clear explanation

[Espina]

Ibuki breathing is usually done in the Yoi position in most katas but in Goju Ryu their sanchin Kata has that heavy deep breathing all the way through...when I first started I would end up choking on my phlegm...sick I know haha.

Heres a linik

Ibuki is all the loud noises haha

Hehehehehe, yes, this happens a lot in Sanchin the first time you do it. Supposedly, by doing the correct breathing nothing hurts.

[Killer Miller]

LOL, his technique is actually pretty good, but I hope the over exaggeration of the breathing was just for training and exaggerating the breathing to demonstrate the inner movements of the kata and not actually perform the kata this way...?

- Killer -

[Espina]

I haven't seen the video yet, but I've seen a lot of videos for the breathing technique...and my guess is that it's not exaggerated, because it's almost scary the way the masters breath hehehehe.

[Killer Miller]

I have seen International masters, champions, teams, etc., and have "Never" seen them perform any kata this way - with the exception of demonstrating the inner feeling of a technique for training purposes only. I might do something similar only to demonstrate correct breathing technique, but just enough to get the point accross...

- Killer -

[Espina]

Were those master Goju Ryu practitioners? Because I've seen Master Higaona, Muramatsu, Veras and others... but all of them are Goju Ryu. Perhaps only Goju Ryu does this?