PRINCIPLES - TECHNIQUES

Kokyu - Breathing

Kokyu refers to “breath” or “breathing”. We generate physical power and movement more easily when exhaling or in some cases when stopping our breath, both of which are states of “yang”. The opposite is true of inhaling, a “yin” state. Thus, techniques are usually performed while exhaling, often with one breath from start to finish. Similarly, it is considered ideal to time any attack to an instant when your opponent has just exhaled and has just started to inhale again. We take advantage of the openings in an opponents defenses offered by yin states, with many counterattacks and defenses timed to coincide with the instant your opponent enters – or is made to enter – a yin state.

almost out of breath after 1,5 hours full effort ido kihon training at the first day of the seminars in Bulgaria 2007, led by Shihan Ishikawa, assisted by Sensei Nukina.