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Learning to Breathe

The Battle for Oxygen

By The M.A.D. DadPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Have you ever been under a lot of stress? You might say that you find it continuously. When confronted by dilemma, it is amazing that humans often neglect a most vital resource-oxygen. Sometimes, stress will be so severe that individuals even stop breathing or hold their breath in response.

It is extremely hard to take on foes with all weapons at your disposal. It is challenging when you are at your physical peak. But, no oxygen, ...well, let's just say "Game Over." If a person voluntarily stops breathing, will they be able to restart respiration?

In martial arts, control of self is more prized than strength, speed, size or any other physical characteristic. It defines ability. No matter what you are capable of doing, without control, the capability is never realized. For most styles, everything begins with control of the most basic physical action-breathing. Slow, controlled mindful breathing.

Imagine someone being attacked. He or she tenses up. The moment of battle presents itself. That person holds his or her breath. His or her muscles tense and lock his or her body rigidly into place. He or she stops moving. He or she slows down in the place of speeding up to survive a violent encounter. A looming attacker moves while that individual remains frozen and a grisly scene follows this event.

However, what if you do the unnatural. When confronted by stress, instead of holding onto your breath, you let it go. Try it for a moment. Take a large breath in through your nose. Now, open your mouth and try and breath out and push the air out of your body as much as you can. Immediately, you will probably notice that you will reflexively take in a a larger breath as you inhale. You may also feel that your body is now more pliable to take in larger breaths. Try a few more times. Afterward, examine how you feel. You are probably more relaxed and movement overall is not restricted.

Let's re-imagine the encounter from before. Instead of freezing in place, the defender focuses on breathing. Muscles are supplied with vital oxygen and primed for movement. Posture shifts to change the body from one position to another in response to danger. The brain is sharpened by the nutrients provided by improved nutrient flow and circulation precipitating from better ventilation. The attacker now hesitates due to apparent readiness of his perceived victim. The attacker retreats due to concerns of harm from possible counterattack.

The same event with two different endings. One difference-breathing. Thankfully, more often today, the foes we face are more conceptual than physical in presentation. Electronic media, social challenges, work, family, friends, relationships, etc., these all stare at us like a predator ready to exact consequence for our mutual interaction.

Much like the example I stated, we have weapons at our disposal to protect against attack and loss. Breathing is our resource to persevere. We can use it to rise above the challenge that approaches our day or self. We simply must remember to keep doing it!

When faced with stress, if you feel pressed to hold your breath. Just let it go out and push it with the same tension that you battle to hold it inside. You will notice that your stress will subside, and your ability to deal with the offending agent will increase.

Believe that you are stronger than you know. Train to be better than you are today. Let limits fall as you press forward. And don't let the intangible entities of your day rob you of your peace or your air!

Thank you!

M.A.D. Dad

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About the Creator

The M.A.D. Dad

I call myself the M.A.D. Dad. M.A.D. stands for Martial Arts Direction. I want to help others battle the forces that threaten our peace with lessons that I have been blessed to discover through my experiences in both Martial Arts and Life.

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