Self Defence Basics IV

Self Defence Basics

This instalment in the Self Defence Basics series explores another key principle that underpins the techniques and skills you will need to develop safe and effective self defence strategies:

Explosiveness

To a martial artist, the kiai, or yell at the point of impact is more than just a noise and is something that we have become comfortable with after many years of practice.  For many people, it is somewhat confronting and embarrassing to make strange noises in a room full of strangers.  Moreover, it is probably the last thing you will be thinking about if you are confronted by an aggressive, drunk and/or drugged antagonist.  The kiai though is important because the explosion of noise is the tangible expression of the explosive power that has been generated from deep within the body and aids in focussing your power.

This explosive energy is tightly integrated with the breathing patterns I can teach you and which, when practiced regularly, can become a vital tool in managing other life stressors.  The basic breathing patterns are slow and controlled and rely upon a technique known as Tanjon Breathing or, Belly Breathing.  This breathing pattern will help you remain calm and able to develop explosive power at will.

In Japanese culture, and tightly integrated with all martial arts, is the concept of Ki or, the central essence of a being.  In karate, we believe that the ki resides in, and is generated from, a point in the lower abdomen called the Tanjon. 

In any sport, or sporting activity, an athlete breathes out when he bends or folds his body and breathes in when he straightens up. But in Karate, when firing off a kick or punch, one must breathe out and hold the breath at the moment of impact to gain the best effect. Emptying the lungs of air diminishes inner resistance and makes the body more flexible.

The Kiai or Yell (Yah), when performed at the moment of impact, helps to drain the air from the lungs and helps in transferring Ki from the Tanjon to the striking arm or leg.  We should attempt to perform the Kiai at the exact moment of impact, not before and not after. If the Kiai is started too soon, or lasts for too long, the Kiai will become a liability rather than a valuable asset.

When done properly, Tanjon breathing will make you feel calm although you will still feel the adrenalin rush. 

Tanjon Breathing and the art of using the power of Ki to produce an explosive movement is an advanced technique and one which requires careful instruction.  If you want to explore this very powerful tool further, give me a call or email.