Why do breathing techniques decrease the effectiveness of strangulations?

[AmerROSS]

Breathing is the only mechanism that is both autonomic and voluntary for means of visceral control. As a result, respiratory regulation is the means for NOT INCREASING the effectiveness of strangulation tactics. What does this mean?

What makes most people have to tap so quickly is their own anxiety of being "choked-out". This fear arouses their survival syndrome (conventionally known as fight-or-flight), increasing their heart rate and blood pressure.
Now, it is impossible with one's arms to compress the arterial flow to the brain; firstly because the arteries are the body's high pressure system, and even digital pressure is difficult because the arteries are hard, small strong vessels; secondly, because the carotid are not the only source of cerebral blood flow, which is also spinal. The venous system being a low pressure system, has large, soft vessels, able to be compressed.

What color does the opponent's face turn when strangling him? Not white, but red. If you were cutting off the blood flow, he would be white as a ghost, not red as a tomato. The flush in the face is because you CAN with your fleshy soft-tissue arms compress the venous flow of the jugular. The face flushes because of the collateral compression of the external as well as the internal jugular veins (external draining blood from the face.) The venous system is the low-pressure system of the body, because it is easier to flow back to the heart, than the demands of the high-pressure arterial system which must pump strenuously to provide blood flow out to the body - hence a high (arterial) and a low (venous) pressure systems working in tandem.

If somehow you were able to compress the carotid arteries, still the opponent will not pass, for his cerebral blood flow continues VIA the vertebral arteries. Although primary cerebral flow transits from the carotids, compression upon them would force the body to adapt by increasing vertebral arterial pressure pumping blood through that alternate passageway. (The body can also deliver lesser volume through capillaries.) Surgically, arterial blockages are routinely operated through direct clamping of the carotid to clean plaque and cholesterol buildup. What is of significance is that the patient is conscious during the entire procedure given only a local anesthetic. The bottom line is that inducing unconsciousness via the carotid arterial compression is impossible - which is the focus of my article featured in last year's WORLD OF MARTIAL ARTS Magazine, called "The Myth of Strangulation."

The cerebral blood pressure created through jugular venous compression due to the oxygen depleted blood congestion causes the body to shut down - pass unconscious. This is a survival mechanism of the body for this shock tactic brings the body to the ground (if standing) in the "hopes" of reestablishing normal blood pressure. I say "hopes" not to denote a special intelligence in your body, but an evolutionarily stable survival strategy that has been 'selected' as successful. Our strangulation methods however usurp this tactic, should we hold beyond consciousness, taking his life from him if necessary.
Now, the Valsalva Maneuver is the physiological effect of survival arousal upon the metabolism. Becoming Valsalva susceptible is denoted by shallow, upper respiratory panting, rapid heart rate, and increased blood pressure. Did you ever as a kid, have your buddies hyperventilate, then squeeze them from behind and watch them pass out? If not, don't do it now. It's dangerous. Relaxing under the hammer of this anxiety is the most challenging of endeavors, but if you can, you can discontinue increasing pounding cerebral blood flow. Since your opponent's strangulation is prohibiting the oxygen-depleted blood from leaving the brain, the Valsalva maneuver increases the pressure, which increases your passing unconsciousness.
Most young people have not learned how to consciously control their heart rate and blood pressure - this is a developed skill that requires extensive training for which most youngsters do not have the patience. However, BREATHING TECHNIQUES are open to everyone, and as the immediate access to regulating blood flow and pressure. Effective respiratory regulation can decrease the rapidity of passing unconscious by understanding the mechanisms that increase the likelihood and speed at which you pass unconsciousness. This can buy you nearly 20-30 seconds.

Twenty seconds depending on how much your opponent is struggling may be enough for his muscular contractions in his arms to fatigue, for him to doubt himself and move to adjust his hold, or for you to capitalize upon a weakness in his hold, or all of these.

And, if one understands this it can be used against an opponent to make him pass more quickly when you have the hold upon him. If he is angry, scared, anxious, impressed by the crowd, any anxiety whatsoever, he will become Valsalva susceptible. There are small tactics that will increase these emotions in him, but you may fill in the blanks. I'm just a coach.
Any effective breathing techniques will help you in this regard, except for respiratory retention after exhalation. Increased intra-abdominal pressure through breath retention INCREASES Valsalva susceptibility. Guess what breathing technique is the most effective for lifting large poundage of iron in the gym? Yep. The problem is that because this is the only breathing technique with which most people train, it is the exact respiratory pattern in which they fall, when confronted with another "apparent" (perceived) presence of an opponent's weight. Watch them struggle, see them go out.

Most people are quick to laud the talents of men like Rickson Gracie, but slow to follow his model of true performance enhancement training (in Yoga in his case), by focusing upon attribute development in the realm of respiratory enhancement, with methods such as India's Yoga, Russia's Zdorovye and China's Tai Chi. There are no 'secrets' save those that we conceal from ourselves. Go get yourself a copy of Gray's Anatomy and begin studying... once you understand HOW the body works, you'll empower yourself with the knowledge of why certain tactics work better at which times and where. Good luck all!*

Fraternal,
Scott Sonnon
http://www.scottsonnon.com

[Lacrymosa]

Ross.......get out more.

[Tony10]

LOL

good one, lac

[duchman]

Hey scott it's me aaron.

I see you found one of the most weirdest places on the net.

[duchman]

And other members dont start to diss scott read his stuff first and understand before you say something stupid!

[AmerROSS]

Hey Aaron! I may be making a stop in Sweden next month. In which town are you located?

Don't worry about the comments, Aaron. I'm new here, and at first glance at my mental diarrhea, I would have made a post saying I'm a nut too! :-) No harm, no foul.

Fraternal,
Scott Sonnon
http://www.amerross.com

[Lacrymosa]

Just some harmless trolling guys

Actually, it's a great post ROSS. I never really put a whole lot of tought into the realistic medical properties of the choke. Informative and well-written. Props to you.

[duchman]

Scott i live in holland?!

thats very far away from sweden!

[Quad]

Great post Amer, you should post here more often.Thanks

[AmerROSS]

Aaron! Whoops! Sorry. Well I won't be able to make it there for awhile, till I visit my friends in the Dutch Annex.

All: thanks for the welcome. BJJ is a sensational discipline, and I'm excited that I can find comrades here at Mousels new forum!

Fraternal,
Scott Sonnon
http://www.scottsonnon.com

[Tony10]

Hey you two, we're just kidding. Lighten up. The post was fine.

[AmerROSS]

Tony10, no worries, or said in most erudite SouthPark voice, "relax guy; I can change."

:-)


Cheers!

[Cooter]

Hi Scott . I've actually replied to this post on the UG so I won't repeat it here, but it's good to have you here at Mousel's!

First WrayGun, now Scott Sonnon!

Mousel's will be better than ever in no time.

[AmerROSS]

Thanks for the warm welcome my friends. Glad to be here!