Technique of the Week (January 10th, 2010)

From Sensei Tom DuJardin
Ueshiro Karate Dojo Palm Bay, FL
--------------------------------------------------------------

Breathe in-breathe out.

It seems like it should come naturally, and most of the time it does; but under stressful conditions we need to be sure and move enough air so that we can function at an optimal level.

To borrow a couple of lines from Hanshi's book "Building Warrior Spirit":

"In kata practice the ideal method of breathing is to inhale though the nose during the defensive blocking techniques, blowing up like a blowfish, bursting into and taking over your opponents space..."

And again: "The offensive moves are best executed while we breath out through the mouth. The breath may be a burst or normal expelling of air. The timing must be reflexive in nature."

In the opening movements of Fukyugata Ni, for example, we would inhale during the high block and exhale during the punch.

If the timing of the inhale on the blocks & exhale on the strikes is not possible, then it is most important to continuously breathe in & breathe out. Do NOT hold the breath-which is the most common error under stress.

Arigato.

Sensei Tom duJardin

Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.

-- Blaise Pascal