| As you learn how to combine different techniques into | | | | allows you to be centered and aware of your |
| fluid movements, the proper amount of relaxation plays | | | | surroundings and it is the door to the elusive Zone or |
| a vital role. What I mean by the proper amount is the | | | | body, mind and spirit working together as one. |
| right balance between muscular tension and relaxation. | | | | Relaxation is the second component of body |
| These are the basics of improving physical awareness | | | | awareness. Breathing and relaxation are like day and |
| or kinesthetic awareness. Let me tell you why. | | | | night, both are necessary and they depend on each |
| Once you learn a new kick or throw, you must pay | | | | other. When you practice deep breathing like in Chi |
| attention to your body to see if you are doing it | | | | Gung, your body gradually relaxes. Chi Gung is a |
| correctly. This constant attention allows you to | | | | Chinese martial art that teaches how to use breathing |
| become aware of how you are moving and how | | | | to develop Chi, or internal energy. |
| tense or relaxed you are. Hence, the term body | | | | What a lot of beginners and even black belts find hard |
| awareness. If you want to be successful in any sport | | | | to achieve in improving their body's awareness is the |
| you must be able to master body awareness. | | | | balance between tension and relaxation. They are |
| There are a couple of items in your training that can | | | | either too tense or too relaxed. When you are too |
| help you enhance body awareness. One is your | | | | tense, you become very slow and waste lots of |
| breathing. Breathing allows you to use energy more | | | | energy before you get to the opponent. If you are too |
| efficiently by exhaling out as you strike or inhaling in as | | | | relaxed, your technique may not have enough power. It |
| you prepare to punch, kick or throw. What you must | | | | is in this balance that you can easily become more |
| avoid is holding your breath or breathing too fast in the | | | | aware of your body. |
| heat of battle because this can lead to over exertion. | | | | Another great tool for developing body awareness is |
| Another vital component of breathing is focus. | | | | meditation and all martial arts implement some form of |
| Breathing affects the brain by slowing down the brain | | | | meditation. Meditation combines breathing and |
| cycles and therefore, improving your focus. If your | | | | relaxation, allowing you to pay close attention to your |
| focus is off your body awareness is off. When you | | | | body. Meditation also helps with your mental |
| are focused, you are able to pay attention to your | | | | awareness by letting you see the thoughts that come |
| body easier then when you are distracted. | | | | into your mind and by clearing out unwanted thoughts |
| During sparring your breathing must be even and deep | | | | and improving your focus. Martial training without |
| from the lower abdomen or dantien as it is call in | | | | meditation is like going in the water and not knowing |
| Chinese. Dantien means center of energy and there | | | | how to flow with the waves. The waves (physical |
| are lots of them in the body, but the one I'm referring | | | | training, fighting or sparring) will crush you pulling you |
| to is the one below your navel. This kind of breathing | | | | down into the depths of the sea. |