I'm surprised you're not aware that when warriors are in battle, it is traditional to expell breath as you thrust or swing with your sword/axe/polearm/whatever.

This isn't to increase the power, it's to moderate your breathing in order to ensure your muscles take in a proper amount of oxygen in order to keep working - even medieval anatomists knew this, what with the dark arts that they practiced.

It's possible that as you expell oxygen, your lungs deflate and allow for a smoother slash.

I'm not too sure about the supernatural potential of this.

[edit on 4-11-2007 by Throbber]

In fighting what you want to try and train away (remove) are two or three of the normal reflexes.

1. Tunnel vision
2. Loss of fine motor control due to adrenaline (and other hormones) during the fight or flight response.
3. You also need to train out the 'blink reflex' when hit in the face, (and the urge to turn away from punches.)

The aim of breath control or breathing practice is to mediate these.

The best way is underwater breath-holding training. Notice the surfers in Hawaii dive to the bottom and get a basketball sized rock and try to carry it through the sandy bottom for distance then surface and repeat. This is the best possible breath training. Edit: Oh, also check out the type of rapid breathing they do in Kundalini yoga (one sect does it better).

The essential part of breath training is NOT trying to get in more oxygen, though deep diving experts will do different techniques to 'load the blood' and you can do this. BUT the key is eliminating Carbon Dioxide from the lungs.

To do this breath out sharply, either through the nose or tight lips. This will cause the CO2 that is left in the bottom of your lungs to possibly be circulated out.

When punching try it normal breathing. Then try it by breathing out forcefully through the nose as you impact the bag. This tightens the intracostals similar to a sneeze. It also tightens the other abdominals and allows better energy transfer from the legs and hips. (otherwise your torso flexes, losing power).

HTH.


[edit on 5-11-2007 by Badge01]

This is a great breathing exercise. I've been looking into different exercises over the past few weeks in preparation for my smoke cessation and this one so far seems to work the best for fighting cravings. As for training, it does help put more force into your hits/lifts when you incorporate this style of breathing. I'm sure there are anatomical explanations for this, but I think there is also a psychological effect. I mean, when you breath like this you cant help but feel like some kind of badass animal ready to pounce. As for sustained concentration workouts (speedbag, footbag, etc.) I've found that pursed-lip breathing (3 secs in/6 out) helps immensely. I think that it shifts your concentration to your breathing and allows your body to work on its own, at least thats what it feels like for me.

Originally posted by Badge01
The essential part of breath training is NOT trying to get in more oxygen, though deep diving experts will do different techniques to 'load the blood' and you can do this. BUT the key is eliminating Carbon Dioxide from the lungs.

To do this breath out sharply, either through the nose or tight lips. This will cause the CO2 that is left in the bottom of your lungs to possibly be circulated out.

Why would you want to get rid of CO2? It's the CO2 that triggers the breathing reflex, not O2. Eliminate CO2 and your breathing goes to pot. CO2 is an acid. As the amount of CO2 increases and O2 decreases in your blood, the pH drops. This then triggers your diaphragm to contract and inhale.

Large breaths in increase the amount of O2 which both fuels the muscles and increases the amount of buffer to counter the acidotic effects of anaerobic respiration (which increases during short bursts of activity).

The breathing exercises you describe are the same as those used by COPD patients who have dramatically reduced tolerence to high CO2 levels in their blood. Essentially it encourages CO2 expulsion. This is useful for them as they have reversed respiratory drive, but not too good fo the rest of us.

The more breath, Ki, you have circulating in your system, the more aware you are of your body. It oxygenates, turns on, more of your cells. This allows your nervous system to remain in tune with what the body is actually doing. Breathe deep, start the breath with your lower abdomen first. When your stomach expands forward to its limit, activate your diaphragm to finish the rest of the breath. Breathe slow and keep the flow constant and strong. Now, go do some martial arts.. fun fun fun.

Are you saying I'm ill-informed? I've study qi-gong, chi-kung, whatever you want to call it... that doesn't mean anything though, I know, but I know this, Ki, chi, qi, is manipulation of oxygenated tissues, and the processes you use to accomplish such oxygenation. Does my logic above not make sense? One thing I've noticed about Rickson in the ring, is that he can get very angry! I've seen his anger get the best of him... TKO.