Breathing Timing

[sperki]

But even if I stay in control of my emotions during a confrontation, and control my breathing, if things get physical my muscles demand for more oxygen requires me to breath faster, right? In those situations, or even during sparring, do you let you breathing tempo go faster (like going from a jog to a sprint) or do you continue to keep it at whatever pace you want as an effort to control the pace of the fight?

[Killer Miller]

Breathing timing does not mean a "constant" breathing patern. It means proper breathing and tempo for a given action, or a series of given actions. It may be appropriate for a combo speed burst of say three techniques to, breath slow on the first two strikes, then very fast on the next two, and relax on the final technique. It may only mean one strike and then relax. Regardless, there is a proper timing and breathing for any and all techniques. Kata is a great example of developing breathing timing.

You can also use your breathing to set the tempo of a given action. Remember that the faster you breathe, the faster you move for a given action. The slower you breathe, the slower you move for a given action. Tekeshi Oishi (several time international champion) was known for his ability to cover great distance doing Oi-tsuki (lunge punch) as fast as you could blink (at least two full length steps). He would demonstrate this technique with quick burst of exhales and then have us step in with Oi-tsuki as fast as we could exhale and move the entire distance. It was quite awakening as to how fast the body could actually cover distance doin this. The other side of this coin, you could be doing San Chin or Hangetsu katas with slow breathing. If you match the breathing for slow movements, you will have very controlled, strong and acurate movements at that speed.

Added comment in this post: Think of breathing timing as learning a piece of music. Do you learn the notes first, or do you learn the beat and timing of the whole notes, half notes, dotted notes, etc. first? If you were to clap out the timing of the notes first, then exhale downward on the clap, and inhale on the upward movement of the clap, and maintain the tempo and beat of the music piece, this would be exactly as learning Kata, a set of combo movements, or even a series of attacks, blocks, etc. in sparring.

- Killer -

But even if I stay in control of my emotions during a confrontation, and control my breathing, if things get physical my muscles demand for more oxygen requires me to breath faster, right? In those situations, or even during sparring, do you let you breathing tempo go faster (like going from a jog to a sprint) or do you continue to keep it at whatever pace you want as an effort to control the pace of the fight?

[bushido_man96]

Thanks for sharing this information. It is quite intriguing.

When you discuss the quick exhalations in the advancing lunge punching example, is there a time to inhale after so many stepping punches, at which you have to break the rhythm, so to speak?

[Killer Miller]

With any large movement, such as the lunge punch, you would always inhale immediately after reaching your focal point or target. Also, the inhale doesn't have to be a slow inhale. You can also do a series of short rapid inhales and exhales depending on the series of techniques or combo. Then a large inhale at a given point to provide the necessary oxygen replenishment needed for the body.

There is no general rule as to how much you inhale and exhale - it's all dependant on the technique(s) being executed...

- Killer -

Thanks for sharing this information. It is quite intriguing.

When you discuss the quick exhalations in the advancing lunge punching example, is there a time to inhale after so many stepping punches, at which you have to break the rhythm, so to speak?

[bushido_man96]

Cool. Thanks, Killer.

[JoiH]

Great post, I really enjoyed reading it. I am a big fan of breath control, but not many people teach it. It is essential in kata, and every technique is stronger if the breath is used properly. I constantly tell my students that they can and should learn to control their breathing, but had very little technical information for them. I am going to use the information posted to improve my classes. Thanks!

[Killer Miller]

Thanks,

While this post is fresh and going, and those wanting more information on the topic, I would suggest everyone ask their questions now to make sure everyone has a good understanding of the topic since it is a topic that is rarely discussed or taught in detail.

Example:

1. Breathing timing in Kata and Kumite.

2. Training concepts of breathing timing.

3. Application of breathing timing.

etc...

I could expand on the above, but I would rather discuss it in response to a question or situation.

- Killer -

Great post, I really enjoyed reading it. I am a big fan of breath control, but not many people teach it. It is essential in kata, and every technique is stronger if the breath is used properly. I constantly tell my students that they can and should learn to control their breathing, but had very little technical information for them. I am going to use the information posted to improve my classes. Thanks!

[bushido_man96]

In forms practice, with techniques that tend to combo together, I'll exhale within the number of techniques. If the movements are a bit longer, I'll have one breath per movement.

[Killer Miller]

If you practice kata by only doing the footwork, hands down and relaxed, and just do the kata with only breathing timing - like learning a pirce of music. Example: La.....la..la..la.........la...........la.la.la.la... etc... Each La is an exhale, and each .... is the inhale period... The la.la.la. could be a series of short bursts of exhales and not inhale until the "..."

- Killer -

In forms practice, with techniques that tend to combo together, I'll exhale within the number of techniques. If the movements are a bit longer, I'll have one breath per movement.

[sperki]

Should breathing follow strikes? I suppose the question is related to kiais...if I'm throwing a strike (or a block for that matter) should I be exhaling? Or is breathing related more to footwork than anything else? This is interesting stuff; we've never talked about breathing specifically.