Page 86 - Beyond Basics_Neat

BEYOND BASICS

Breath Control is a two-step action; an inhalation and an
exhalation. The common practice is to inhale in preparation for a
movement and then exhale on the exertion. Most breathe with
their movement instead of breathing for the movement. In other
words, the breath causes the movement. For example, inhale to
chamber a block, exhale to perform the block. Your breath controls
when to move instead of with the movement.

…match the step to the speed of the punch

How does this help to increase speed?

First, increase your breathing speed. Inhale quickly through the
nose as quickly as you can to fill and expand the belly. Just as
quickly squeeze the belly to fully exhale and Kihap/Kiai! This
shouldn’t take more than a second to do. The drill is to now match
your movement to the speed of that breath. For example, quickly
inhale to chamber a block, then just as quickly exhale to block.

This breathing method will help increase the speed of any
movement whether block, strike, kick, or even stepping by just
changing the timing of the movement to your Breath Speed.

It’s common knowledge that hand speed is always faster than
foot speed because leg mass prevents faster movement. The
Stepping Punch is a good example of where this is true. The
punch is performed at or near the end of the step. So, stepping
speed determines when and if the punch will hit the target.

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