almost out of breath after 1,5 hours of ido kihon (Bulgaria '07)
Kokyu refers to ‘breath’ or ‘breathing’. Exhaling or stopping your breath are elements that power can be withdrawn from. Breathing is inherent to connected movement. Exhaling or stopping your breath is yang (yo) so inevitably inhaling is a posture of yin (in). As yang is an expression of power, yin is an expression of weakness, or an opening in your guard. Use these inevitable yin states to your advantage. Harmonize with your opponent to attack when the opponent enters – or is made to enter – a yin state.
If you look at ‘Wado breathing’ then any explanation with variables becomes increasingly difficult. Other styles have special breathing and strengthening kata. You can hear them breathe with force and focus. However, Wado is ‘just natural’. During kata you shouldn’t make any other sound then the necessary or unavoidable. If you practice movement enough that your body makes it its own, the breathing should naturally follow. Like mokuso, you should breath easily, relaxed and silently. Any avoidable motion or sound caused by breathing should be avoided in order to not telegraph anything to your opponent.
PRINCIPLES