Tanden Breathing in Karate

空手の根幹は呼吸である。空手中興の祖・糸洲安恒先生の高弟である遠山寛賢先生は，「沖縄正統空手の極意は，呼吸法がその根底をなし，気力の充実をもって至高の奥義となす」と述べている。空手における呼吸とは，すなわち，丹田呼吸である。空手での丹田呼吸は，通常の丹田呼吸と比べて，「吐き」の際に，より一層腹圧を高め，下腹（丹田）に力を込めて目一杯に膨らませる。空手の防御と攻撃は，この「吐き」と一致調和して行う。

The essence of karate is breathing. Kanken Tohyama sensei, who was the leading disciple of Anko Itosu sensei known as the restorer of Okinawan karate, stated "The secret of Okinawan orthodox karate is formed on the basis of breathing, and fully-charged energy is just the supreme heart." Breathing in karate is namely tanden breathing. When we exhale in tanden breathing in karate, as compared to usual tanden breathing, we raise our abdominal muscle pressure and swell our lower abdomen (tanden) with as much tension as possible. The defence and attack of karate is carried out in harmony with this exhaling.