Reverse Breathing, Bullshido?

**HongkongFooie** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 8:33pm

Here is a good question. I'm an Parker Kenpo guy and we never talk about reverse breathing. However, I've heard that it makes techniques more powerful and faster. Anyone out there use and love it or has used it and hates it?

Bullshido?

**Matt Phillips** · Posted On: 7/30/2009 9:08pm

YouTube - Tenacious D inward singing

**meataxe** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 2:19am

I know of such a practice from Chinese martial arts, but not sure if it would be the same thing as you are referring to. Plus, this isn't the CMA forum.

**jspeedy** · Posted On: 7/31/2009 2:30am

Originally Posted by HongkongFooie

Here is a good question. I'm an Parker Kenpo guy and we never talk about reverse breathing. However, I've heard that it makes techniques more powerful and faster. Anyone out there use and love it or has used it and hates it?

Bullshido?

Reverse breathing? Like in through your ass and out through your mouth?

**HongkongFooie** · Posted On: 8/01/2009 8:51am

right

Reverse breath is refering to when you breath in you contract your lower abdomen and when you exhale, you expand the muscles of the lower abdomen. This, in theory strengthens your base, increases your power, and "toughens" the body to impacts.

In addition, this is a Kenpo site as well and Ed Parker talked about different breathing methoeds in the Infinite Insight series. So I don't think I'm floating off into CMA land.

JP · Posted On: 8/01/2009 9:23am

Originally Posted by War Wheel

YouTube - Tenacious D inward singing

YOU FUCKER!

You beat me to it!

**meataxe** · Posted On: 8/01/2009 10:37am

Originally Posted by HongkongFooie

right

Reverse breath is refering to when you breath in you contract your lower abdomen and when you exhale, you expand the muscles of the lower abdomen. This, in theory strengthens your base, increases your power, and "toughens" the body to impacts.

In addition, this is a Kenpo site as well and Ed Parker talked about different breathing methoeds in the Infinite Insight series. So I don't think I'm floating off into CMA land.

That definition fits the CMA version I know of. In my experience it does increase power through a stronger link between the hips and torso.

Defensively, you are tightening the ab muscles to a degree which is good. Also, the chest is emptied to a degree, which I think offers some protection for the ribs.

**Dr._Tzun_Tzu** · Posted On: 8/02/2009 1:16pm

I seem to remember that this method conceptually/ visually corresponds more accurately to what is really going on with your diagram inside.

Prof. Chu, a Taoist immortalist I had a seminar with claimed his rib cage was fused solid from keeping it expanded his whole life and breathing only with his diaphragm. He was 76 years old and had a rock solid barrel chest. He used this method of breathing. Basically, the method of pumping your whole ribcage like a bellows uses to much energy and leaves you vulnerable as the ribs are moving.

As to chi cycling and the related breathing patterns, I have been told to not think about it, just do it and let it happen.........

**Snake Plissken** · Posted On: 8/02/2009 1:28pm

Originally Posted by Dr._Tzun_Tzu

I seem to remember that this method conceptually/ visually corresponds more accurately to what is really going on with your diagram inside.

Prof. Chu, a Taoist immortalist I had a seminar with claimed his rib cage was fused solid from keeping it expanded his whole life and breathing only with his diaphragm. He was 76 years old and had a rock solid barrel chest. He used this method of breathing. Basically, the method of pumping your whole ribcage like a bellows uses to much energy and leaves you vulnerable as the ribs are moving.

As to chi cycling and the related breathing patterns, I have been told to not think about it, just do it and let it happen.........

We call farting "reverse chi".