The breath is the bridge between body, mind, and emotions – everything takes place within you.
Why do we put so much emphasis on breathing?
Because breathing is the vital link between body, mind, and emotions. It is influenced by all three, and it can also influence them in return.
All traditional and serious martial arts systems include inner work, which naturally involves breathing techniques. To become a skilled martial artist, you must be able to control your body fully, feel every muscle, engage it with intention, and stay in constant connection with yourself through breath. Our approach is to make these techniques practical and applicable to everyday life. That way, every activity, movement, or moment can become an opportunity to train and benefit from martial arts principles.
When that inner connection is established, you begin to perceive yourself as a whole being. Only then can you reach your full potential—not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. When you can breathe freely, you feel free. That freedom brings joy, clarity, and more harmonious thoughts.
Consider this: every emotion impacts your breath and muscle tension. For example, when you’re startled, your breath may stop, and your diaphragm and neck muscles tighten. Blood flow and oxygen delivery to the muscles decrease, while more resources are redirected to the head. If this state persists without releasing the tension, the body memorizes it, and it becomes chronic. Over time, you stop noticing the emotion, but your body still holds on to it.
To avoid discomfort, many people unconsciously escape or distract themselves, avoiding emotional triggers rather than confronting them. In close quarters, such as during extended time at home, suppressed emotions may surface more quickly, especially when escape isn’t an option. But this can also be an opportunity: a chance to reflect on why we need so many distractions in the first place. Ideally, home and family life should offer comfort and connection. By working on this internally, we may even find that many things we once thought important no longer matter as much.
If long-held tensions are addressed—whether through personal practice or support such as massage—buried emotions can resurface. This is part of the healing process, requiring time to acknowledge and release them. Sometimes, even past traumas may briefly re-emerge before they are fully neutralized. Through this, the subconscious and body gradually become lighter and freer.
On the other hand, if these tensions remain ignored, breathing becomes increasingly restricted. You may numb yourself from negative emotions, but you also lose access to the positive ones. In essence, you stop fully living. Take singing, for example: for a voice to be strong, expressive, and full of nuance, all the muscles in the body must work together in harmony. Without that, the voice cannot reach its full potential.
Everyone goes through emotional experiences—some leave physical imprints. But with specific, mindful exercises, you can break free from this “armor” of tension and restore balance. What’s more, with regular practice and body awareness, you can neutralize stress before it settles. Over time, you build resilience, like a growing reserve of energy and emotional stability. This is the heart of martial arts training.
Think about it: What did ancient warriors need in order to survive in moments of crisis? Mastery over the body, the breath, the mind—everything came from within, not just from external circumstances. Martial arts cannot exist without energy. And energy cannot flow without breath.
In any well-rounded practice, breath is the common thread. It connects everything. It is the silent power you carry with you, both on and off the mat, into everyday life.
