“The most important points of my teaching are breathing, movement and timing. But breathing is first…. the first thing we do in this world is to breathe and, you know, even today, 90% of people do not know how to breathe correctly. If the breathing is wrong, your body will go wrong – your mind will be wrong also – there is a very strong connection. You control your spirit with your breathing and we should always be thinking and trying to learn more about this most vital aspect – it is the very core of life.” (End quote) – Hirokazu Kanazawa (1931-2019)
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Breathing in karate. Easy right. Breathing is the most basic function of our body, part of an autonomous system. We don’t have to learn how to do it, we just breathe automatically, we don’t have to think about it. However, the way we breathe can make a significant difference to how we perform, either when relaxing, training in the dojo, or having to use our self-defense skills to get us out of trouble.
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Learning how to control your breathing is a skill that must be learned alongside the other techniques of karate. Most of the time our breathing is shallow and quick. We tend to breathe with the upper parts of the body only. This type of breathing is called ‘intercostal breathing’. You can tell when you are doing this as your chest and shoulders rise and fall with each breath. This way of breathing is not only inefficient it also creates tension in the neck and shoulders, preventing us from being relaxed.
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When training, abdominal breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing is recommended and should be practiced alongside other techniques.
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One of the most attainable ways of creating relaxation is through the breath. In meditation, the breath is a common tool for stilling the mind and connecting to the present moment.
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In moments of stress, the breath tends to be shallow, rapid or even non-existent. Fear and panic often cause us to hold our breath and create even more tension. In a relaxed state, the breath is deep, full, and slow.
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Relaxation is a byproduct of repeated training, the right kind of training, like any other in the dojo….. Be aware of your breathing, and breathing correctly, while training with the correct mental attitude.
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Don’t build tension in your body. This will be reflected in your mind. 
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