Combat: why proper breathing is crucial

Master Kongling All, Conditioning, Mind / body control, Questions and answers, Training, Wellness / health breathing, endurance, power, stamina 2

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Why proper breathing is a primary goal

This task is often overlooked by those who start with martial arts but its role is fundamental: as in combat and training, maintaining controlled breathing is the secret to incrementing the duration of our (useful) performance.

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

Correct breathing allows us to send the necessary amount of oxygen to:

Our muscles (for endurance, power, etc.)
Our brain (for clear thinking, reactivity, etc.)

This tells us that well before focusing on things like fighting techniques, strength development, tactics, etc. a novice should first aim to acquire the capability to correctly manage his / her breathing.

A small breathing test

The beginners, for example in sequences of blows, almost always tend to hold their breath, (unconsciously) convinced to be more focused or faster but nothing could be more wrong: this way their energy runs out in the blink of an eye.

How can we prove this?

We can do a simple test with two sequences of 50 fast punches (the technical quality doesn’t matter in this case): let’s just compare how we feel breathing quickly (read Correct combat breathing: how and why) in sync with each strike in contraposition to how we feel remaining in apnea.

Assuming we manage to get to the end (let’s stop if we feel uncomfortable), we will immediately realize that the difference is enormous.

Why does energy run out so quickly in combat?

The point is that in any physical activity, our body demands a constant supply of oxygen but when we engage in an effort as intense as a fight our muscles consume it at an incredibly higher rate.

Few human activities tax the body like fighting, and the reason is that:

We naturally try to express, at every single movement, our maximum performance
We always use our entire body, including parts that we don’t realize are involved
The variety of the types of effort is incredibly ample
The frequency of explosive interactions is high and almost never regular
We switch between aerobic and anaerobic efforts continuously and often at times when we are not in the right condition / position to do it
The level of emotional stress can also be very high, worsening the quality of our breathing
Last but not least, there is the adverse action of our opponent, who, in addition to imposing his / her strength on us, hits us by damaging and limiting the functionality of our body

A note by Master Kongling – In almost no sport we have such a hostile combination of elements. Without specific preparation, even an excellent professional athlete (coming from other fields) can quickly run out of energy if called to fight.

The secret power of oxygenation

Proper breathing ensures that we receive an adequate, regular and continuous supply of oxygen, which is essential for sustaining endurance and preventing premature fatigue.

Even only maintaining a basically steady and rhythmic breathing pattern (read Correct breathing), we can delay the onset of muscle fatigue (avoiding excessive tension). If then we are able to sync our actions with our lungs, at the same time:

We free ourselves of passive resistance
We accompany / guide our muscle chain (read The Muscle Chain (for martial arts) [MINI-GUIDE])

A note by Master Kongling – When we exhale sharply during a punch or kick, we engage our core muscles and generate more force (this is because exhalation increases intra-abdominal pressure, which supports the transfer of power from our legs and torso through our limbs).

The final result is that we can express moves that are:

Faster
Stronger
Cleaner
Numerically higher

Breathing and clarity of mind

Combat requires not only physical prowess but also mental acuity.

Proper breathing is instrumental in maintaining clear thinking and focus during high-pressure situations. Here’s how controlled breathing contributes to mental clarity:

Stress management – When we are in a combat scenario, adrenaline levels rise, which (as we said) can lead to heightened stress and anxiety but controlled breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm the mind; this allows us to stay more composed and make better decisions even under pressure
Enhanced focus – A steady breathing pace improves concentration and cognitive function; by focusing on our breath, we can stay present in the moment and avoid getting too overwhelmed by the chaos of a struggle; this mental clarity helps us to be in condition to read our opponent’s moves (read The study of the opponent [MINI-GUIDE]), execute techniques with precision and adapt our tactics as needed

Techniques to control our breathing

A note by Master Kongling – To harness the benefits of controlled breathing in combat, it’s essential to practice specific techniques until they become second nature. Breathing is in fact part of that series of martial arts skills (read All the skills of 6 Dragons Kung Fu) that must be completely functional in an instinctive way.

Here are our key breathing categories: /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///.

Is it difficult to integrate correct breathing into our martial routine?

If we do not give it specific importance and time: yes, it will be a long path and we will never reach the best level of execution. In other words, to make controlled breathing a natural part of our training / combat performance, it must be integrated into our routine.

To follow the right path read: Martial arts’ breathing secrets [MINI-GUIDE].

In-depth video courses

Breathing methods and exercises – A step-by-step path toward the fundamental breathing methods of our schools
Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu exercises – The core conditioning practices of 6 Dragons Kung Fu
Advanced speed and reflexes training – The path toward real combat speed development
Mind self-control hacks – How to improve the quality of the work of our brain and reach our goals
Martial arts weight loss: how to – A rational guided path toward a safe and effective weight loss
Meditation: how to start – A guided path toward meditation for those who have difficulty to approach it
Soft Qi Gong for wellness – A selection of exercises to maintain active and healthy mind and body

In-depth articles

How to immediately improve endurance – A few simple tips on how to prolong our combat performances
Shaolin breathing control: before/after effort – One of the most famous and effective Shaolin breathing method

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

Have you ever fought unconsciously holding your breath?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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