Studies have shown that learning proper breathing techniques is crucial for physical activities. Similarly, meditation is now used in curing mental and physical ailments. The most notable benefits of practicing meditation include an improved immune system, enhanced confidence, and emotional wellness.
Breathing in Martial arts emphasizes deep, smooth, and controlled breathing, leading to a relaxed yet energetically efficient state for training and combat. Deeper breathing also helps expand the lungs' capacity and consequently allows the body to bring in more oxygen with each breath. It is also important to know when to exhale and when to breathe in when you are striking. In some instances, exhaling is required so that when you are hit you are not winded and can continue to fight. Breathing in before you strike adds more energy so when you quickly exhale you've not run out of energy. Proper breathing control is important as it means you're able to do more activities with less harm to your body.
There are also different types of breathing where you focus on different parts like your lungs or abdomen to help control and to help relax you since martial arts can be quite stressful and taxing. It is also commonly said the better you breathe the better you are at Martial Arts.
The term Chi is meant to be the life force or energy present in all things. Chi is literally translated as “Breath or “Air” but is alternatively used to describe the energy or life force, the immaterial force that permeates all living things in kung fu. They believe chi flows through your medians with your daitan being the source of your chi. This leads to some of the spiritual beliefs in Martial Arts.
Spiritualism
The physical side of martial arts focuses on developing external strength, while the spiritual side promotes the nourishing of our soul and spirit through breathing and meditation. Chinese fiction has a lot of mystical "powers" derived from kung fu like flying which you can see in wuxia films.
Most people have never considered the spirituality of martial arts because of the combative nature of the sport. Martial art is a philosophy that assists people to harness their innate powers and strength. True martial artists with a strong spirit and mind avoid all unnecessary fights. Some of the commonly practiced martial arts include:
Karate
Tae Kwon Do
Muay Thai
Wing Chun
Aikido
Yaw-yan
Judo
The main premise of spiritualism in martial arts is to learn to be content and happy with life whilst learning dedication and strong mental fortitude.
