– R.Nouchi –
There is a breathing routine that we do, following many strenuous series of exercises. You know the one…where we pull our arms in and down, breathing in and out; then, we push our hands open to the back, on tiptoes and back to natural position… again breathing in and out. You can tell right away, he or she is a SKIF student…just from that one routine.
I came from the old JKA system of the early 70’s. The first time I joined a SKIF club, I thought, “this move is silly”. I was never explained why we did that move for several years. I thought it was just a style that we copied because Soke did it. I resisted this move for the longest time. A move without a reason, I could not accept.
It was several years into my practice that I was explained why we did it and after reading the book, Black Belt Karate, Intensive Course, copyright 2013, English version, that I really understood its value. On page 44, is a one-page description and explanation of the breathing routine. Soke writes, “The routine serves to supply a rich supply of oxygen to the blood, which aids the muscles in functioning properly and reduces the risk of muscle stiffness and possible muscle damage”.
Now, with this explanation, I got a handle on what we were doing, and more importantly, why. The move itself was a physical manifestation of the breathing process. Soke Kanazawa practiced Tai Chi for many years. I believe he incorporated many of the breathing concepts from Tai Chi into the SKIF system. It was not a style. There were good reasons behind the breathing routine…a real purpose. In fact, he has many breathing exercises (Kokyuho) that he has introduced to karatekas around the world that may have its origin in the Tai Chi he practiced.
Whatever the origin, Soke Kanazawa incorporated few additions to the Shotokan Karate exercises, and they all add to the practice, and I for one, will make sure to explain early in a person’s karate experience, and keep reminding them of the importance of this “Breathing Routine”, so that nobody in our club will think the routine is trivial. It is not a style…there is a purpose.