Breathing So often when we perform our poomses(forms), we either forget to breathe altogether or breathe incorrectly. Breathing in and out at the proper times is vital to the correct execution of the Tae Kwon Do poomse.
I heard a story once about a master who asked his student "What is the most important thing in life?"
The student thought carefully for a moment, and then thoughtfully replied, "Discipline!"
Then the instructor grabbed his student by the hair and pushed his head into a large bowl of water. After the student had struggled for a few moments, the master lifted the student's head out of the water.
He asked again: "Now, what is the most important thing in life?"
With no hesitation, the gasping student replied, "Air!" And the master was satisfied.
Breathing is vital to life. So often in the Tae Kwon Do poomse (form), we breathe unnaturally -- if we breathe at all. Why is this a problem?
Biologically, the purpose for breathing in the first place is to bring oxygen to individual calls in our muscle fiber. Our cells use oxygen in chemical reactions that create ATP (energy). Without oxygen, the cells in our bodies still try to make those same chemical reactions, but instead of making ATP they make lactic acid. You have felt that burning sensation in your muscles during an intense workout -- that is the buildup of lactic acid. In the same way that you personally cannot function by drinking gasoline, your cells cannot function by consuming lactic acid. They need ATP, and the only way to get it is to breathe in oxygen. The byproduct (waste) of energy use is carbon dioxide. Where does all this carbon dioxide go? Back into the blood and to the lungs to be removed from the body. Thus begins the cycle of breathing -- fuel comes in, waste comes out.
But how does any of this relate to the martial arts? Why must we practice the "breathing exercise" when we practice our form? How can a single, simple technique require the forcible exhalation during poomse that we call "breathing exercise"?
Many Tae Kwon Do practitioners do not realize it, but even a single, simple movement requires the inhalation and exhalation of energy. Let us take just a simple punch, for example. A single muscle in the arm contracts to create the punch. A dozen different muscles create the closed fist; a dozen more muscles make the shoulder move -- even more muscles extend the arm. All the muscles in the legs contract to push off and the muscles in the feet maintain balance. The muscles in the back contract to push the punch forward; muscles in the chest expand to add power and range; the muscles in the neck contract to support the head. And each miniscule contraction of each muscle is controlled by signals in the brain that are pushed from neuron to neuron over billions of neural circuits -- using enormous amounts of energy. That's a massive quantity of energy usage -- therefore a great deal of oxygen use and carbon dioxide production. This is why we feel a pressure buildup inside of our bodies when we physically exert ourselves. All that air has to go somewhere -- and that "somewhere" is out of the lungs. Therefore, it is necessary that we breathe properly when practicing our poomses.
What is the proper way to breathe? Well, here are a few guidelines:
1. Don't "under-exhale". If you are under-exhaling during a technique, you feel pressure in your head and chest as the technique is executed. To fix this, breathe out more and you won't feel the tightness.2. Don't "over-exhale". If you are over-exhaling, you are breathing out more air than your muscles have consumed. To remedy this, keep your breathing the same and increase the power of your techniques.
The amount of air that you breathe out is proportional to the amount of energy that you use in a technique. If you use a lot of energy, you need to breathe out more, and vice versa. Here's a great self-test you can use to find out how much you should breathe out:
1. Stand up in an area clear of obstruction. Bring your closed fists to your ribs, palms up as if you are ready to punch with either hand.2. Open your mouth slightly and breathe normally. As you come to the climax of inhaling and begin to exhale, punch one time in the air freely letting out any air that wants to escape. Try it again several times. This is the amount of air that you should breathe out when executing that particular technique at that particular power level. This little test can be modified for any technique.
Exactly how you breathe out is up for grabs. I've heard people who go "TSSSS", "SHHHH", "SSSSA" and "WHHHH". Whatever suits your personality is right for you. (Personally, I'm a very quiet "HUHHH".)
Treat your body well, and breathe properly.
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