BREATHING TRAINING FOR MARTIAL ARTISTS
Hoopes (Founder and Chief Instructor of Zen Yoga)
One of the most important aspects of martial arts
training is proper breathing. However, for practitioners of hard
styles, effective breathing methods are often left to the students
to figure out on their own. The central principle of breathing
is of internal cleansing, getting rid of that which is old, worn
out, and stale, and exchanging it for what is new, fresh, and energized.
During inhalation we are bringing in fresh oxygen, nutrients, and
vital energy. During exhalation we are expelling carbon dioxide
and other toxins and poisons that we produce or collect in our
There are a large number of breathing exercises. Some are simple and easy while
others require years of practice. I will discuss the five I believe to be the
most effective for the martial artists who are beginning to explore the potential
of proper breathing. First, we will describe the two methods which are best
suited for becoming aware of the body: Attention Breathing and Abdominal Breathing.
We will then go on to the more advanced exercises of Reverse Abdominal Breathing
and Nose Panting. Finally we will introduce The Complete Breath which is more
challenging and requires increased concentration and practice.
In practicing these breathing exercises it is important to concentrate on breathing
through the nose, both during inhalation and exhalation. Of course when training
in the martial arts, breathing strictly through the nose is unrealistic. In
fact it is physically impossible since the body's demand for oxygen increases
too fast for the nose to handle the flow. However, while doing these specific
exercises it is important. Think of it as a closed circuit within the body,
breathing in through the nose and out through the nose. If you open your mouth,
you break the circuit and the energy dissipates.
It is important to realize that people breathe differently. Children tend to
breathe with their abdomen, while middle-aged people breathe with their stomachs,
and older people often breathe mainly with their upper chests. But the way
people breathe is also affected by other factors, emotions, for instance, or
ill health. Someone who is excited will breathe faster and shallower than someone
who is sad. Someone who is calm will breathe slowly and deeply. Someone out
of shape may be panting after a short walk or climbing some stairs.
Attention breathing, as its name implies, is about focusing your awareness
on the natural rhythm of your breath, not to control it but simply to observe
it as a bodily function. Your awareness is the instrument which enables you
to shift from unconscious breathing to conscious, or dynamic, breathing. This
shift is accomplished by concentrating on the feeling of the body as it breathes.
Feel the air as it enters your nostrils. Follow it as it flows into the lungs
and notice how deeply it reaches into them. Maintain your full attention and
follow it back up as you exhale. Feel the used air as it is expelled from the
Gradually, as you become aware of the feeling of the breath it should become
smoother and more relaxed. But don't try to change your breathing during Attention
Breathing. Your aim is to observe your unconscious breathing habits so you
will be able to feel the difference when you actually begin dynamic breathing.
If you find your mind wandering, simply catch yourself and return to the breath.
Try to perform Attention Breathing for five minutes each day at the same time
of day, perhaps in the morning when you wake up or at night when you are about
to go to bed. As you become used to it, see if you can focus on your breath
at other times throughout the day. Eventually the awareness of the breath and
your breathing should become an integral part of your life.
Once you become aware of your breathing, it is time to begin modifying your
breathing habits. Abdominal breathing is by far the best breathing method for
people beginning to study breathing exercises. Regular practice brings quick,
tangible results. It is easy to learn and difficult to do incorrectly. In addition,
Abdominal Breathing has the benefit of invigorating the abdominal muscles.
Their constant movement massages the internal organs and increases blood circulation.
The basic idea is simple: fill the lungs from the bottom up. Abdominal Breathing
is about filling the lungs completely. Most people breathe using only their
chests or the top half of their lungs. Abdominal Breathing seeks to expand
lung capacity by starting from the lowest part of the lungs. The focus, therefore,
is on the abdomen, an area roughly three finger widths below the navel. Known
as the hypogastrium in Western medical terminology, this area is called the
dan tien in Chinese and hara in Japanese. This point is the focal point of
Start in whichever stance or posture you feel most comfortable. Inhale through
the nose. Expand the abdomen gradually by lightly pushing out and down as the
oxygen fills the lower lung cavity. Focus the mind on expanding the abdominal
area. Don't be overanxious and forcefully protrude the abdominal wall. Instead,
try to achieve a gentle and smooth expansion in time with the inhalation. When
the abdomen is full, exhale through the nose and pull the abdomen gently back
into the body, compressing the lungs from the bottom. With each inhalation
the abdomen expands, with each exhalation the abdomen contracts. It is important
to remember that you should not expand or contract your chest; instead, feel
as if you are drawing the air deep into the lower part of your body. Repeat
for ten cycles of inhalation and exhalation, filling to maximum capacity and
emptying completely with each breath.
Reverse Abdominal Breathing
Reverse Abdominal Breathing is more difficult than Abdominal Breathing simply
because it reverses the natural flow of the breath. Reverse Abdominal Breathing
is a breathing method best suited for those who study the martial arts since
it concentrates focus on the hara during exhalation. Regular practice strengthens
the abdominal muscles and makes breathing naturally strong. Try blowing up
a balloon while keeping one hand on your abdomen. As you blow out, your abdomen
naturally expands instead of contracting. The same is true if you are trying
to push a car that has run out of gas. In order to express the power you are
putting into the act, you exhale while pushing out. Reverse Abdominal Breathing
is a breathing method which tends to infuse the breather with power.
Again, start in whichever stance or posture you feel most comfortable. Inhale
through the nose. Slowly draw the abdomen in and up. The upper chest will naturally
expand as oxygen fills your lungs. As you inhale, contract the muscles of your
perineum. The perineum is the area between the anus and the lower edge of the
pubis at the front of the pelvis. The central point of the perineum is called
the huiyin in Chinese and is the focal point for Reverse Abdominal Breathing.
By contracting and pulling up the huiyin you are able to concentrate on the
abdominal area. Again, don't be overanxious and forcefully squeeze the abdomen.
Instead, focus on keeping a smooth and relaxed motion. When the lungs are full,
exhale through the nose, release the huiyin, and push the abdomen out and down.
Repeat for ten cycles of inhalation and exhalation, filling the lungs to maximum
capacity and emptying them out completely with each breath.
Breathing through the nose is of the utmost importance when practicing breathing
exercises. The nose has a number of defense mechanisms that prevent impurities
and extremely cold air from entering the body. First, a screen of nose hairs
traps dust and other particles that could injure the lungs if we breathe through
the mouth. Next, there is a long passage lined with mucus membranes, where
excessively cool air is warmed and very fine dust particles that escaped the
hair screen are caught. Finally, in the inner nose are glands which fight off
any bacteria that may have slipped through the other defenses. The inner nose
also contains the olfactory organ that gives us our sense of smell, which can
detect poisonous fumes that could damage our health if we were to breathe them.
The Nose Pant is a great exercise for charging yourself up with energy if you
feel sleepy or for releasing stress any time during the day. Imagine that you
are blowing a piece of dust out of your nose by sharply puffing out through
the nostrils. This is immediately followed by an equally sharp intake of air
through the nose. This in-and-out ventilation should be repeated in rapid succession
ten times. As you become comfortable with the exercise, increase the number
of repetitions. When beginning, just concentrate on the nose and upper chest
when breathing, but as you progress try to focus on the abdomen. Abdominal
Nose Panting consists of contracting the abdomen as you puff out. Reverse Abdominal
Nose Panting expands the abdomen on the puff out. After completing a session
of Nose Panting, always follow with a couple of deep slow breaths to calm the
The Complete Breath
The Complete Breath is a dynamic breathing exercise that is both simple and
complex. Regular practice expands lung capacity, which, in turn, slows down
unconscious breathing and makes it smoother and more regular. In addition,
The Complete Breath maximizes oxygen intake and enables oxygen-rich blood to
flow to the extremities. It also cleans and invigorates the lungs.
In the beginning it is best if The Complete Breath is practiced from a lying-down
posture so maximum concentration can be placed on the exercise itself, which
consists of four separate aspects: inhalation, retention, exhalation, and suspension.
Inhale through the nose. Expand the lower abdomen, pushing out and down, just
as if you were starting Abdominal Breathing. Once the abdomen is full, continue
inhaling and expand the chest, filling the upper lungs. Raise the collarbone
and shoulders as you continue inhaling. Fill the throat and the nose. Stop.
Hold the breath in. Bring your attention to the fullness of the body. Feel
the expansion circulating the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Continue
to hold the breath in for a count of ten.
Exhale through the nose. Contract the lower abdomen pushing in and up. Continue
to exhale by squeezing the air from the lungs and chest. Lower the collarbone
and shoulders. Blow the air from your throat and nose. Empty it all out. Stop.
Hold the breath out. Bring your attention to the emptiness of the body. Feel
your body like an empty balloon waiting to be filled. Continue to suspend breathing
for a count of ten.
On the next inhalation don't gasp for air. Calmly and smoothly inhale just
as before. Feel the air reaching far beyond your abdomen, filling every corner
of your body like an expanding balloon. Notice the sensation of your body as
the new oxygen is brought in.
Do the complete set five or ten times each day.
The purpose of breathing exercises is to enable you to bring awareness to your
breathing. When you are aware of your breathing you can use it to maximum effectiveness.
The change from unconscious to conscious breathing is accomplished by thinking
about your breathing and becoming aware of your own body. Most of our behavior
is unconscious. We walk around in our bodies, rarely noticing how they feel
unless there is pain. Seldom do we consciously think of the body as feeling
good. Feeling good shouldn't be an absence of pain. It should be an invigorated,
energetic state where you are comfortable and happy in your body. Becoming
aware of your breath is a way to reach that feeling. Expanding your breathing
ability is a way of extending that feeling.
Try to become more aware of your breathing during training and at other times.
Take deeper breaths. Do regular Abdominal Breathing. If you feel yourself getting
tense or angry, do some Attention Breathing and notice how your feelings change.
If you are bored or sleepy, do some Nose Panting to reenergize yourself. No
matter what you are doing, breathe. Make conscious dynamic breathing a regular
part of your life and you will find it naturally benefits your martial arts
Aaron Hoopes has over twenty years experience in the martial arts and yoga.
He has lived and trained in Japan and Australia and is the founder of Zen Yoga.
He is the author of two books; Perfecting Ourselves: Coordinating Body, Mind
and Spirit and Breathe Smart: The Secret to Happiness, Health and Long Life.
He has taught the Art of Breathing, Stretching and Relaxing to his students
around the world, From children to seniors, his teachings are accessible to