The Breadth of the Breathe
Like standing and eating, breathing is one of those things people think they know how to do well enough, because they’ve been doing it all their lives.
This majority of people are accurate to a point, and then opportunity cost takes over.
My interest in understanding the breath in some shape or form kicked off when I started Karate as a child. The loud ‘kiai’ of most techniques with an outward breath was probably my first exposure, like it was for millions of others. At the same time I grew up on the beaches of the Gold Coast bodyboarding as a child and later transitioning to surfing.
Any surfer will tell you, your attention quickly turns to your breath, specifically your ability to hold it and relax while being held under water in heavy ocean conditions. Seeing stars, panic, dizziness and taking in some water are not uncommon at different points in time.
As I got more into Kyokushin Karate breath control became more necessary and a natural part of training, particularly the ‘ibuki’ breathing used in the kata ‘Sanchin’ for example. I’d never breathed like this, been required to breathe like this or seen anyone (outside of senior Karate-ka) breathe like this before. It showed me the power of the breath, encouraged emptying of the lungs in coordination with a change in state of the physical body.
Mas Oyama’s quote ‘A person who has mastered proper breath control can take being surrounded by powerful enemies, earthquakes or fire in his strides’ stuck with me as a teenage after reading it in The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama [Side note, this book has a sensational section on breath control].
As my exposure to strength training increased the Valsalva manoeuvre, a breath hold technique to increase intra abdominal pressure during heavy lifts was employed.
Later at university I studied the breath in various physiology subjects. Details on the alveoli, oxygen saturation percentages, the role carbon dioxide has in breathing and a bunch of other things forgotten until I re-familiarize myself with them when needed.
When I started studying Ian King’s physical preparation work I noticed Ian emphasised the breath in flexibility training and different times in strength training too.
The importance of the breath becomes apparent the more you experience it in your own training/life. Dealing with the physical and psychological stressors in combat sports training and competition as well as surfing ocean conditions outside of your comfort zone are two examples close to home.
Then there’s the correlation we’ve all experienced between our state of mind and breathing. When we’re relaxed our breath is slower and deeper compared to the faster, shallower breaths we take when angry or upset.
There’s an enormous body of work to look into and more importantly experience if you’re curious enough. The impact the breath can have on our health, wellbeing, performance, and recovery and even spiritually is significant. Clearly it’s a life long practice.
If you’re not already, invest some time and focus into your breathing each day. Even just a few minutes to begin with and to build the habit can be a great start.
- Breathe through your nose
- Breathe slowly
- Empty the lungs each breath
These three cues are not set in stone. I could have chosen three different cues. The point is to get started. Doing this once a day for a couple of minutes is better than doing it none-ce a day.
There’s no shortage of breathing protocols to experience and explore both when seated and during training sessions. The states you can go into are fascinating. The protocols you can implement can be refined and individualised.
I feel anyone who’s not already, has an enormous amount to gain from implementing breathing practices, who’s origins are from India, from my understanding (ancient yoga started as a form of sitting and breathing. Movement came later as a means to better prepare the body for long periods of meditation).
It’s easy to do but it’s just as easy not to do and therein lays the challenge.
Here are a few fantastic resources. Some are theoretical; some are practical, all are helpful and provide better insights than I’m able too.
Breath: The New Science of the Lost Art book by James Nestor
JRE Podcast #1506 with James Nestor https://open.spotify.com/episode/58Drs6tKeuq82hMTbcDC0G?si=pI53tIVdTUC8WJ9vkrKjlA
The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama by Cameron Quinn
Wim Hof Guided Breathing for Beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BNejY1e9ik&t=46s
Huberman Lab Podcast: xxx
Finally, a note on ibuki breathing. Having heard Shihan Cameron Quinn share his observations of long term practice of ibuki breathing, I tend to agree with his suggestion, it’s probably not a good idea. Use it sparingly.
