When
practicing breathing training, it is best to start with Ki Breathing. The basic
of Ki Breathing is to do Ki Breathing with natural posture (Oneness of mind and
body). Exhaling should be slow and calmly from the One point.
At
this time, if we consciously try to control our breathing by trying to exhale
longer or trying to exhale better this will not help our Ki breathing exercise
improve.
While
Exhaling, it is best to leave it alone and let it naturally become 1/2, 1/2,
1/2… allowing it to continue and become infinitely smaller. At this time the
“waves” in our mind should also become calmer and continue infinitely to the
ends of the Universe.
An
example that can be used to describe this is like a bowl, which is filled with
water. In the beginning there will be waves, but if left alone after some time
the waves or ripples that were on the surface of the water will naturally
become calmer and quieter.
If
we try to control our exhale during Ki Breathing, it is the same as creating “waves”
in our mind, which has the opposite effect of leaving the breath alone, and our
mind will not become calm.
The
most important point of Exhaling during Ki Breathing is to “exhale and to let
it be natural”. Once this feeling is experienced and felt, practicing Ki
breathing becomes very easy.
This
is like learning to ride a bicycle. To be able to ride it properly some
practice time is necessary. The same applies to Ki breathing. For us to do it
naturally and for Ki Breathing to be a part of us, frequent practice is
necessary for us to catch this feeling and for it to become natural.
For Exhaling during Ki Breathing, “our breath should
continue infinitely to the ends of the Universe.” Once this feeling is
experienced, we can start to practice “exhaling in one breath.”
During
the practice of exhaling in one-breath, many people usually tend to have
unnecessary tension.
By
frequently practicing Ki breathing and catching the correct feeling for it, the
same applies to exhaling in one-breath. Here the end of the exhale is calm and
continues infinitely to the end of the Universe. When this happens, inhale
happens naturally after exhaling.
Practicing
exhaling in one breath can be done continuously.
If
each exhaled breath is not calm at the end, or if each breath is not exhaled
completely, the next breaths for inhale then becomes shorter and not complete,
thus the feeling of shortness of breath.
Another
form of training, is practicing exhaling with one breath while swinging the
bell, this is called “Sokushin no Gyo”. In the past this training was done for
many hours in a day. Now we practice Sokushin no Gyo for about an hour.
By
being able to extend our natural energy and strength completely, we then
receive new energy and strength naturally. If we do not extend our natural
energy and strength fully, then are unable to receive new energy and strength. “Sokushin
no Gyo” can teach you this secret of breathing.
Once we get the feeling from practicing exhaling in
one breath, we can start to practice “Ki Ai”, as in “Counting with Ki”.
“To
count out loud” is the same as “Breathing out or Exhaling.” The way we exhale
is projected in the way we count out loud as they are both connected.
When
we keep One point calmly and exhale with one breath when counting out loud, we
experience this same feeling, and so the voice that we project out will sound
calm, confident and clear.
With
a voice that sounds calm, clear and confident it will also help when practicing
or interacting with our partner and our surroundings. This is why we have had
many actors and people who give speeches come to learn this breathing practice
so as to improve and apply it to their work.
The final stage when practicing Breathing Training
is to practice matching our “Breathing” and “Movements”.
This
practice is usually applied by counting out loud during Bokken and Jo training,
but the main purpose of training during Bokken and Jo moves should be that our
count and our moves match as one naturally.
During
Kengi and Jogi (Bokken and Jo) training, if our count is weak or not correct, it
reduces the power of our actual movements by half. This is why it is very
important for us to realize the importance of counting correctly.
Breathing
and movements should always match as one naturally. It is when we are not in
our best natural state or condition that our breathing and motion becomes
separate and we are unable to perform to the best of our ability.
When
teaching athletes, we also teach them how to train matching “Breathing and
Movement” as one. By practicing this, most athletes usually improve their
performance.
“Breathing
out calmly”→“Breathing out
or Exhaling in One Breath” →“Ki Ai or
Counting out loud” → “Breathing and
Movement”, these are the steps that we can use to train in our Breathing
Training.
