PUT UP YOUR DUX

By The Real Frank Dux

Breathing Secrets the Masters don’t want you to know

In Martial Arts, masters often hold back information to have a competitive advantage over their students. That is why a good instructor will suggest you learn to control your breath.

While a great one will make sure you understand, why! But the superior teacher will teach you in addition, the when, and how to breathe in a combative situation.

Mastering breath control is essential in improving cardiovascular fitness and optimizing speed and power in your strikes as well as being able to take one.

The secret to breath control when striking or being hit is understanding how this is dependent upon where the strike is originating from or where you are getting hit.

The use of breath control will enhance the transfer of kinetic as well as intrinsic energy from your body onto your opponent, increasing the power of your strikes and may lessen the impact experience when struck.

For example, high straight and circular punches that originate from the upper body, such as a jab or hook to the head you must to optimize power exhale forcefully through the mouth in a manner mimicking the “ssss” sound of a snake hissing.

That which is attained by contracting the muscles in the abdomen, chest, and throat, creating a stable base from which to generate more force and transmit more optimal kinetic vs. muscular energy in the strike.

When being hit, you roll and make a similar sound for the same reason.

Further, in executing mid-line strikes to the body, for instance, throwing a straight punch or front kick it is crucial to exhale while mimicking a sound of telling someone to be quiet, making a “shish” sound; contracting the muscles in the diaphragm and chest that creates controlled exhalation of air.

This breathing action engages the muscles in the middle of the body, providing a more stable foundation from which to generate power and control the movement of the strike. In executing strikes that originate from the lower body, a low kick or knee strike, your performance level excels by mimicking the sound of laughter, making a “haaaaaaaa” like sound.

This requires contracting the muscles in the lower abdomen and pelvis. This results in an explosively dynamic exhalation of air that engages the muscles in the lower body that maximizes the transfer of kinetic vs. muscular energy to the target.

This explosive breath control increases speed while subconsciously shortens impact time allowing for the greater transfer of energy.

Using these techniques in breath control allows for a snap vs. pushing force in the release of energy from the different areas of the body. This reduces a sense of fatigue and will measurably increase endurance during training and competition.

Notably, being able to control your breathing under stress is essential in combat.

More so in sports like boxing and MMA. Mastery of the different breath control techniques that correspond to different areas of the body is the most proven method to increase your overall performance in combat sports or military arts, that even includes shooting skills.

Understanding and mastering breath control is a game-changer in martial arts and combat sports. By tailoring your breathing techniques to different strikes and areas of the body, you can significantly enhance your power, speed, and endurance while minimizing fatigue.

The secrets of breath control, from the "ssss" of high strikes and the “shish” mid-line strikes to the "haaaa" of lower body attacks, provide a stable base for optimizing kinetic energy transfer and maintaining composure under stress.

Ultimately, the superior teacher equips you with the knowledge of when, why, and how to breathe, unlocking your full potential in every combative situation.