1. Remember to Breathe
Beginner boxers are the biggest offenders when it comes to holding their breath. They think the sheer body force required to throw a punch warrants that. On the contrary, how you breathe while boxing is as important as your stance and hand position. Improper breathing techniques affect your stamina, your overall performance and your chances of being victorious in the ring.
2. Waiting to Exhale
Use the rest period in between rounds to catch your breath. Breathe deeply until it is time to get back in the ring. Fuel your tired, overworked muscles with the oxygen they need to do their job. Doing so invigorates a sluggish and tense fighter. Inhale through your nasal passages and exhale through your mouth. This reduces the possibility of thoracic pressure, which develops when your thoracic nerves and muscles are compressed. Occasionally, headaches, hypertension and eye hemorrhaging result from the pressure. Develop a steady in-and-out breathing tempo. The more balanced your breathing technique the more relaxed you are.
3. Breathing the Tai Chi Way
Other forms of martial arts, such as tai chi, employ breathing techniques similar to those of boxers. Some compare the tai chi style to Lamaze breathing. Noted for its "hee-hee-hooos" (taking short breaths quickly), this technique also focuses on a more nasal form of breathing. Switching styles from breathing through your mouth to breathing through your nose requires practice and re-training. Recite your "hee-hee-hooos" aloud on the heavy bag and during your shadowboxing routine. Funny as this sounds, over-dramatizing your breathing pays off in the long run. That same short breathing calms your nerves, allowing you to focus on your opponent and anticipate his movements.
4. Exercise Your Way to Better Breathing
Roadwork and medicine balls are your friends. Both of them want you breathing better. When doing your roadwork, develop your cardiovascular system and increase your lung capacity by sprinting. That includes wind sprints and running on hilly terrain in both directions (up and down). Throw some air punches and breathe the tai chi way during your routine. Incorporate the medicine ball into your strength training to get out of the habit of holding your breath. Working your abdominal muscles encourages you to exhale with each movement.
5. Breathing Is Second Nature
Work on your nasal breathing whenever possible until breathing that way becomes automatic. Make each breath deep. Breathe through your mouth to calm down and compose yourself.
