Breathing...

[Brandon Mccaghren]

So I should exhale hard? fast? slow? in bursts?

Don't worry too much about specifics; just focus on building a pattern and pushing your air out. Practice when you aren't on the mats. It'll start to become really natural for you.

[Pan]

Cool, thanks.

[brianspinaltap]

Learn to breathe through your ears. Trust me, your girlfriend will appreciate it.

[ErikLavigne]

Someone pointed out breathing through your teeth, that is exactly what I do. Nothing sucks more than a sloppy choke going across an open jaw instead of around the neck.

[Craig Murray]

This has got to be one of the most important topics we could talk about...

I'm a jiu jitsu newbie and I can't suggest anything for how to breathe doing it... but I've done a lot of stuff in my life where they taught me to breathe.

In through the nose out through the nose
In through the nose out through the mouth
In through the mouth out through the nose
In through the mouth out through the mouth

Despite being taught 12 different ways to breathe, they all taught me one common thing: To be mindful of my breathing. I'm sure that theory extends to jiu jitsu as well.

I personally have some really narrow nasal cavities that often prevent me from breathing through my nose. Add allergy season and I'm full-on mouth breathing just sitting quietly in a chair. (I often fantasize about having my nose dug out like Rogan did)

Focusing on your breath is probably a good way to help stay calm as well. I don't have to be a blackbelt to know that being calm is pretty important in JJ.

So be mindful of the breath, regardless of what you are doing, and regardless which holes it comes out of.

[Joe Friday]

I used to have the same issue with my snoz. It was partially occluded due to a deviated septum. After I had a septoplasty I can suck marbles up my nose and cough them back out my mouth.

This has got to be one of the most important topics we could talk about...

I'm a jiu jitsu newbie and I can't suggest anything for how to breathe doing it... but I've done a lot of stuff in my life where they taught me to breathe.

In through the nose out through the nose
In through the nose out through the mouth
In through the mouth out through the nose
In through the mouth out through the mouth

Despite being taught 12 different ways to breathe, they all taught me one common thing: To be mindful of my breathing. I'm sure that theory extends to jiu jitsu as well.

I personally have some really narrow nasal cavities that often prevent me from breathing through my nose. Add allergy season and I'm full-on mouth breathing just sitting quietly in a chair. (I often fantasize about having my nose dug out like Rogan did)

Focusing on your breath is probably a good way to help stay calm as well. I don't have to be a blackbelt to know that being calm is pretty important in JJ.

So be mindful of the breath, regardless of what you are doing, and regardless which holes it comes out of.

[Tom Carbone]

It's better to breathe in through your nose due to the increased humidity. Whether you breathe out through your teeth or pursed lips, the back pressure causes your lungs (alveoli) to remain open, creating more surface area for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

[sean applegate]

It's better to breathe in through your nose due to the increased humidity. Whether you breathe out through your teeth or pursed lips, the back pressure causes your lungs (alveoli) to remain open, creating more surface area for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Great response!

And if you wear a mouth guard, your teeth will be safe