Pattern breathing

In-out breathing

In-out breathing is a pattern in which inhales are synchronized with blocks, and exhales are synchronized with attacks. As stated before, you have greater power when exhaling than when inhaling. Also, the body is hardened during exhales, so it may absorb a blow while closing range during an attack. Since blocks usually use deflections, less strength is required for blocks than for attacks. Also, inhaling expands and strengthens the chest for blocking techniques. Therefore, it is best to coordinate inhales to occur during blocks. Since an attack must destroy its target and many times must overcome a blocking technique, maximum power is needed for attacks. Therefore, you must exhales during attacks. Since inhales occur continuously during movements, it is not necessary to plan an inhale. Exhales may be controlled and used at the appropriate times.

The control phase is the period at the end of exhalation before the start of inhalation. Sometimes during intense concentration, such as figuring the next chess move, we realize we are not breathing. This point is always after an exhale. This is the point of our optimal performance. It is also when we are at our stillest. In precision-based events, such as archery or marksmanship, athletes learn to fire the weapon during the control phase.

When sudden surprised by something, we flinch, and make an instinctive quick inhale to prepare the body to operate anaerobically during any subsequent fight or flight. We freeze for a split second, similar to a “deer-in-the-headlights” as the brain processes what has just occurred. In combat, it is best best to attack immediately after the opponent is made to flinch, before the opponent can react.