Final answer:
Controlled breathing is crucial for endurance and focus in kickboxing, involving diaphragmatic breathing and preferred nasal breathing over mouth breathing for optimal performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a certified kickboxing session, controlled breathing is essential for endurance and focus. Breathing patterns can be controlled consciously and unconsciously, with activities such as kickboxing requiring an athlete to be mindful of their breathing. Rather than being shallow and irregular, breathing should be even and deep, with particular emphasis on diaphragmatic breathing. This involves the diaphragm contracting deeply, which helps stabilize the core during physical exertion, supports endurance, and maintains focus.
During inhalation, the diaphragm moves downward to allow air into the lungs, and during exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes as air passively leaves the lungs. Nasal breathing is generally preferred over mouth breathing as it better filters and prepares the air for the lungs, promoting effective gas exchange and proper oxygenation of the blood. Conscious control of breathing, while necessary for many physical activities, is ultimately influenced by the brainstem, which regulates breathing rate based on carbon dioxide levels in the blood.