Breathing

I've been hearing this advise again and again - synchronize the execution of your technique with your breath. And it does not make any sense for me. People normally breath with regular intervals 0.5-2 sec, depending on the need of oxygen. How can this be synchronized with attacks of your opponent(s)? In fact I'd prefer to keep my breath as even as possible, which is a part of a state of balance.

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Comment by walter patterson on April 25, 2012 at 12:10pm: I don't understand. 0.5-2 seconds. At rest 12-20 breaths per minutes. Ki breaths can last over a minute. Upper chest breathing is a sign of emotional distress. Lower lung, or abdominal breathing is calming.

Comment by Tamas Szeier on December 30, 2010 at 3:22pm: In my understanding synchronizing breathing with technique is KI, which is what we definitely need in aikido. So in the beginning one should force him/herself to focus on and pay attention to this synchronization until it becomes instinct and such one is able to execute an aikido technique correctly ;-). Until we do not reach this level we'll always use muscle instead of KI, and such try to force the technique instead of let it happen.

Comment by Aikido of Charlotte on December 17, 2010 at 3:18pm: Sergei-San,

Try and understand one of the key components of Aikido, "Ki" and "Kohkyo"; yes, breathing normal will show signs of composure, balance and control. But what you are doing and a lot of people do is hold your breath, that makes your ukemi stiff, tension in your arms which freezes your "Breath Power" and limits the extension in your technique. "Ki'Ai" is another example of controling your "Ki" and Breath as you deliver a strike to focus your punch or atemi, which in return gives you more power, accuracy and effectiveness. Rather than get hung up on matching your "Breathing In" while an attack comes in, focus on "Breathing out" as you complete your technique as Nage...and while attacking as "Uke" focus on breathing smoothly throughout the receipt of technique and really "Extending your Breath" in the final stage of the Fall or BreakFall. This will alllow for smoother, softer and more sincere ukemi.

~WS