| If you're an average human being, you may be | | | | perform. Stand straight, arms at your side, |
| alive but you are not breathing . . . correctly, that | | | | abdomen relaxed, head up. Exhale completely. |
| is. Americans take breathing for granted, but did | | | | Then wait a second. Now inhale. Hold the breath a |
| you know it is really an important exercise? | | | | second, then exhale. This is the basic breathing |
| Proper breathing techniques stimulate heart action, | | | | exercise. It teaches you control of the breathing |
| increase the circulation, drain the carbon dioxide | | | | muscles and the proper filling of your lungs. |
| from the blood, and make for better, more | | | | Another exercise in the standing position is |
| active muscular coordination. But alas, so many of | | | | accomplished in the following manner: clasp your |
| us indulge in shallow breathing, mouth breathing | | | | hands behind your neck. As you exhale you raise |
| and some of us -in a moment of intense | | | | your hands high up the back as far as possible |
| concentration-even forget to breathe! | | | | and extend downward, straightening the arms as |
| In Karate you need the maximum physical and | | | | you inhale. Do this a number of times. |
| psychological strength at a critical moment. Often | | | | Still a third exercise is done the following way: |
| you are surprised by an opponent; he has you at | | | | first, raise your arms high above your head. Bend |
| a slight disadvantage. You become excited, | | | | forward and touch your toes as you exhale. |
| flushed; you miss a heartbeat; gasp for breath! | | | | Return to the original position as you inhale. This |
| That is when your Karate Breathing Exercises will | | | | breathing exercises really empties the lungs of |
| come to your rescue. These exercises, when | | | | impurities. |
| properly performed, will train your body to | | | | A fourth method of breathing exercise while |
| operate at peak efficiency even in a moment of | | | | standing is this: stand erect. Place your arms |
| extreme danger! Even if you are caught unaware, | | | | straight ahead of you, and on the level with your |
| caught short of breath, you will be able to defend | | | | shoulders. As you inhale you bring the hands back |
| yourself successfully. | | | | to the shoulders. Bend your elbows but be sure |
| Proper Posture | | | | they are on the level with your shoulders. Force |
| The most important prerequisite to proper | | | | your elbows well back. This method helps expand |
| breathing has nothing to do with the respiratory | | | | your upper front chest. |
| system at all. It's proper posture! If your | | | | A fifth method is jokingly called, "rocking the |
| shoulders slump forward . . . your neck droops . . . | | | | boat" exercise. After you exhale, you bend the |
| your stomach bulges ... if your spine curves as | | | | body to the right side and raise the left arm |
| you walk and your back looks like the letter "S", | | | | straight up as you inhale; then lower the arm and |
| then brother, ATTENTION! You can learn all the | | | | return to the original rigid position as you exhale. |
| Karate techniques and principles, but without | | | | Then bend your body to the left, raise the right |
| proper posture you can never perform correct | | | | arm as you breathe in, and return to the original |
| breathing exercises. Resolve now to stand erect, | | | | erect position as you exhale. This method helps |
| back straight, head up, shoulders back. Now we | | | | raise the lower ribs. |
| shall describe the most popular breathing positions. | | | | Learn the correct breathing techniques and your |
| Standing Positions | | | | karate will improve. |
| The first of the breathing techniques is easy to | | | | |