Breathing on kata

[Tato]

Hi.

I've just done today the full seven tachi kata, and I have a question about breathing.

We're supposed to breath at the begining of each kata, then we exale a lot of air on the kiai, but, when we're supposed to breath again? When we go back to the start position? When we're there? When we recover chudan?

I must admit that I can't resist without breathing when I recover chudan after each kata, but I'm not sure if that's the right moment.

Thanks!

Rei

(Sorry for my spelling, I'm not sure about some words and It's really late here)

[William Honda]

Tato,

I don’t know if it is correct, I breathe right after (or there-about) the kiai.

[Ares2907]

I've been told from several sources that each kata should be done in a single breath, each new breath coming as your kensen returns to chudan no kamae at the end of the kata.
Doing this in practise is another matter altogether. I try to do this, but it's no good if you have to sacrifice technique and feeling in order to keep your breath. It sort of defeats the purpose.
I suppose that one breath per kata is the ultimate goal (breathing wise) and there are probably lots of things one needs to understand about kata before one can reach this level with sufficient expertise to carry it off.

[Nishi]

Ive been taught that at the end of each kata, when you and opponent are in ai-chudan, as you break and lower kissaki into gedan like kamae, this is where you should exhale. You should resist breathing just like you do in kirikaeshi, and force your body into its second wind.

Gedan like kamae, i think is pronounced i-ta-ku-kamae (i think?), and means falling spirit kamae, so you not only lower your sword, but also the vital breath you cut with.

Have fun with sanbonme ;-)

[Charlie]

Yes, I agree with Nishi and what the others have posted. But it is doable! I can do them all in one breath, especially after a warm-up. It's been my experience that this is something you sort of work up to. Although I'd like to point out that one should, I think, make extra time for the kata, perhaps outside the dojo, where time is limted. We used to have Sunday afternoon kata practice all the time, sometimes in the park.

[ben]

I see the practice of doing kata in one breath as an attempt, as well as extending your stamina, of reducing the possibility of having suki or weak points during kata. While I think from the "do" perspective this kind of training makes sense, from the "jutsu" it is perhaps a little artificial. In reality having no air in your lungs must limit your zanshin. Whether you do it one breath or not, so long as you are aware that inward breaths should be very short, sharp and only taken at moments when your opponent could not possibly counter-attack, in my mind the kata will have been effective. Whatever that means.

b

[Charlie]

Good point. I think there are many aspects of kendo that try to extend the breathing capacity, and this is one of them. But, you're right, in the heat of combat, I'm sure none of us are going to stop to question whether we have the right breath. However, our opponent may be watching us breathe.

Hyaku once posted that kendo and other sword practice has given him breath like a whirlwind. He also dives, and says he sucks down a scuba tank faster than the average fella.

[Nishi]

I swim once a week, and usually i do lengths of the pool underwater, and i fight the urge to breathe, just like in kata (all kendo for that matter). Theres alot of movement swimming under water and you use alot of energy and air quickly, so it comes down to raw will.

I find that although im not actually practising kata, with one breath in mind....this is a future goal, so i train with it in mind.

[Tato]

Thank you guys, I think that I know what to try to do now.

Rei.