the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

I'm in the same camp as the people who are against trying to match the breath to the movement. From experience it just creates a lot of tension on the inside.
One of my teachers always used to say "separate the energy from the breath". He was generally right.

again - if you trying you`re mist
wow,
I come out with some Yoda treat

AJG wrote: trying to match the breath to the movement.

It's the other way around.

In fighting, you use natural breathing. In solo training, you try to "match the movement to the breath". This is why when you do both Taiji and XingYi solo form, you will do in much slower pace than long fist or preying mantis does. For each and every Chang/Yang Taiji move, it should be either 1 inhale or 1 exhale. I don't agree with people who does 1 Taiji move for faster (or slower) than 1 inhale or exhale,

I agree John. That's the way I practice and teach.