Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing

Caveat: This post is mine and mine alone. I the author of this blog assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this post. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding.)

Many of my writings are about proper breathing methods. Breathing is important and of that most agree and fully understand but when I tell students to breathe deeply using the diaphragm some might mistakenly assume that until they do that type of breathing they won’t be using thier diaphragm - this is just not true. The following helps explain things a bit:

The diaphragm is the dome-shaped sheet of muscle and tendon that serves as the main muscle of respiration and plays a vital role in the breathing process. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and is drawn inferiorly into the abdominal cavity until it is flat. At the same time, the external intercostal muscles between the ribs elevate the anterior rib cage like the handle of a bucket. The thoracic cavity becomes deeper and larger, drawing in air from the atmosphere. During exhalation, the rib cage drops to its resting position while the diaphragm relaxes and elevates to its dome-shaped position in the thorax. Air within the lungs is forced out of the body as the size of the thoracic cavity decreases.

Deep diaphragmatic breathing is actually about maximizing our breathing functions of the body. Breathing provides air, it becomes a type of fuel, that generates energy but it also does something very healthy for you, it massages the organs that are close to and associated dynamically with the diaphragm, the bellows tool to breathe in and out of the lungs.

Breathing deep exercises the lungs that are also key to generating energy for force and power (along with efforts to create kinetic energy). The peak functioning of the entire body is directly related to our breathing. 

The action of the breathing system also works the supply of blood to the body as well a the heart pumping. Some bodies actually influence the heart beat through their breathing process. 

When we add in structure and posture, etc., we then enhance our breathing processes that in turn enhance our ability to function at our peak as associated and inter-connected with our health and fitness to achieve our goals in self-defense martial arts. 

Therefore, keeping the body working efficiently with proper diaphragmatic breathing promotes not just health and well-being (see, it also contributes to the mind-body principle) but also provides a means to cleaning out our bodies, i.e., expel vomit, feces, and urine from the body. 

Continuing the body-mind connection deep, slow diaphragmatic breathing also results in certain chemicals being released that assist in countering the other type of chemical release, the adrenal flood. It helps the mind remain in the moment and promotes less effects of adrenal floods and so on. It allows us, if the chance is available to either prepare for stress inducing actions or at least do things like break the freeze and getting back some semblance of ability to defend. 

We humans do use our diaphragm all the time but what we are teaching in martial arts is how we can utilize our breathing system to its fullest gaining us additional advantages be it health, fitness, well-being or self-defense or a combination of all. 

Primary Bibliography of Self-Defense:
MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Meditations of Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" YMAA Publishing. 2008.

Secondary Bibliography of Self-Defense:
Ayoob, Massad. “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self-Defense”Gun Digest Books. Krouse Publications. Wisconsin. 2014.
Goleman, Daniel. "Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition]." Bantam. January 11, 2012.
Miller, Rory. "ConCom: Conflict Communications A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication." Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 2014. 
Miller, Rory and Kane, Lawrence A. "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-making under Threat of Violence." YMAA Publisher. New Hampshire. 2012
Miller, Rory. "Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide." YMAA Publications. NH. 2012.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publishing. 2011.
Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1995
Morris, Desmond. “Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior.” Harry N. Abrams. April 1979.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1993.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense" MJF Books. 1997.
Maffetone, Philip Dr. “The Maffetone Method: The Holistic, Low-stress, No-Pain Way to Exceptional Fitness.” McGraw Hill, New York. 2000
Strong, Sanford. “Strong on Defense_ Survival Rules to Protect you and your Family from Crime.” Pocket Books. New York. 1996.
and more … see blog bibliography.
Jahn, C. R. “FTW Self Defense.” iUniverse. Amazon Digital Services. 2012
Jahn, C. R. “Hardcore Self Defense.” iUniverse. Amazon Digital Services. 2002.

My Blog Bibliography
Cornered Cat (Scratching Post): http://www.corneredcat.com/scratching-post/
Kodokan Boston: http://kodokanboston.org
Mario McKenna (Kowakan): http://www.kowakan.com
Wim Demeere’s Blog: http://www.wimsblog.com
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