| As you learn how to combine different techniques | | | | breathing allows you to be centered and aware of |
| into fluid movements, the proper amount of | | | | your surroundings and it is the door to the elusive |
| relaxation plays a vital role. What I mean by the | | | | Zone or body, mind and spirit working together as |
| proper amount is the right balance between muscular | | | | one. |
| tension and relaxation. These are the basics of | | | | Relaxation is the second component of body |
| improving physical awareness or kinesthetic | | | | awareness. Breathing and relaxation are like day and |
| awareness. Let me tell you why. | | | | night, both are necessary and they depend on each |
| Once you learn a new kick or throw, you must pay | | | | other. When you practice deep breathing like in Chi |
| attention to your body to see if you are doing it | | | | Gung, your body gradually relaxes. Chi Gung is a |
| correctly. This constant attention allows you to | | | | Chinese martial art that teaches how to use |
| become aware of how you are moving and how | | | | breathing to develop Chi, or internal energy. |
| tense or relaxed you are. Hence, the term body | | | | What a lot of beginners and even black belts find |
| awareness. If you want to be successful in any sport | | | | hard to achieve in improving their body's awareness is |
| you must be able to master body awareness. | | | | the balance between tension and relaxation. They are |
| There are a couple of items in your training that can | | | | either too tense or too relaxed. When you are too |
| help you enhance body awareness. One is your | | | | tense, you become very slow and waste lots of |
| breathing. Breathing allows you to use energy more | | | | energy before you get to the opponent. If you are |
| efficiently by exhaling out as you strike or inhaling in | | | | too relaxed, your technique may not have enough |
| as you prepare to punch, kick or throw. What you | | | | power. It is in this balance that you can easily |
| must avoid is holding your breath or breathing too | | | | become more aware of your body. |
| fast in the heat of battle because this can lead to | | | | Another great tool for developing body awareness is |
| over exertion. | | | | meditation and all martial arts implement some form |
| Another vital component of breathing is focus. | | | | of meditation. Meditation combines breathing and |
| Breathing affects the brain by slowing down the brain | | | | relaxation, allowing you to pay close attention to |
| cycles and therefore, improving your focus. If your | | | | your body. Meditation also helps with your mental |
| focus is off your body awareness is off. When you | | | | awareness by letting you see the thoughts that |
| are focused, you are able to pay attention to your | | | | come into your mind and by clearing out unwanted |
| body easier then when you are distracted. | | | | thoughts and improving your focus. Martial training |
| During sparring your breathing must be even and | | | | without meditation is like going in the water and not |
| deep from the lower abdomen or dantien as it is call | | | | knowing how to flow with the waves. The waves |
| in Chinese. Dantien means center of energy and | | | | (physical training, fighting or sparring) will crush you |
| there are lots of them in the body, but the one I'm | | | | pulling you down into the depths of the sea. |
| referring to is the one below your navel. This kind of | | | | |