Think Combat

OK, I know you know breathing is important generally. But the quality of your breathing can make a huge difference to your stamina, your skill and the power of your attacks. If you start breathing properly, you’ll notice a huge surge in your skills, and a distinct improvement in your everyday life too.

Our breathing is usually regulated by our subconscious, as are so many of our other bodily functions that we trust to get on with their jobs. I mean, how often do we sit down and try to consciously control the function of our spleen? Breathing is unique though, in that it is the only bodily function that can be controlled by both our conscious and subconscious minds. So breathing can act as a gateway to indirectly controlling other functions – when we consciously control our breathing we are also regulating our heart rate and adrenalin level, and giving ourselves greater control over our bodies.

But I Can Breathe Already…

I know. But are you breathing in the most efficient manner? Just like our posture, our breathing habits have become fixed over the years, most people’s are quite sloppy. They breathe into their chest, fairly short, shallow breaths. There are a number of reasons why this might be the case – not paying attention, getting stressed most of the day at work, or simply wanting to hold your stomach in to not look fat! And even if you are good most of the time, people still lose it quickly once they start getting stressed.

The Benefits of Breathing Well

Whatever the reason, this ingrained habit is terribly bad for us. To breathe shallowly into our chests robs us of energy, alertness, calmness and clarity. Breathing correctly gives us more energy during the day (and who doesn’t need that?), it relaxes us to a certain degree so that we become more aware of our surroundings and have heightened clarity. Think of it as the opposite of stress. When we’re stressed, our breaths come short and shallow, our mind is racing and hopping all over the place and if this continues, it exhausts us.

The opposite is true if we’re breathing properly. Remember that we’re breathing in new life, new oxygen and nutrients that our body needs, and breathing out waste material. If you artificially slow down that exchange by breathing badly, your body isn’t getting the materials it needs to function at it’s best.

Breathing in the Martial Arts

In martial arts, correct, controlled breathing is even more important. We have to maximise our stamina and gain complete control of our minds and bodies. In a combat situation, it can mean the difference between life and death.

Some martial arts schools teach breathing, some don’t. In general, I find that the hard styles of combat tend to worry about other aspects, whereas the softer styles make sure that the students know how, when and why they breathe as they should.

Simply put, breathe in when you contract, and breathe out when you expand, or launch one of your own attacks. The extra ‘breath out’ lends power to your attack, as evidenced by the shout when some styles punch – the sharp explosive exhalation adds power to your movement.

Breathing properly also strengthens the mind-body connection, which allows us to stay calm and focused even when under an enormous amount of pressure in the middle of combat – which is an incredibly difficult but enormously useful skill.

How to Breathe Well

The key to improving starts with being mindful, and noticing your breathing.

People usually hold up the example of noticing how a small child breathes, completely naturally, and deep into the diaphragm, as the perfect example.

So start off by simply being aware of your breathing. Every time you think of it, bring your awareness back to your breathing, and keep it there for as long as you can.

Make sure that you’re breathing into your belly, or diaphragm. Your stomach should move in an out naturally as you do so. Don’t force anything though – relax into it and feel your stomach expand and contract naturally. Notice your breath come and and go out. Go slowly, but not so slow that you feel you’re holding it.

Keep being mindful, and repeat until it becomes ‘as natural as breathing’.

Look out for another article coming soon detailing how to breathe for Qi Gong practice and meditation.

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