Breathing

[ModestoPete]

I am helping to train a young lady in the pistol shooting portion of Pentathlon.

She runs 25 yards then shoots 5 shots. She then runs 800 yards and then fires 5 more shots. 800 more yards then 5 more shots before finishing with a last 800 yard run.

My question is about breathing techniques. How do you train an athlete to slow their breathing as they are coming into the shooting area?

Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated.

[mavericksr71]

The best training is to just get in great shape and take deep breaths to try and get the oxygen level up. Have her get into a routine when she comes in to shoot, i.e. taking a certain number of deep breaths then breath faster. When I get ready to shoot I take 3 deep breaths and let out the third one half way and that is the point at which I fire. Bottom line is that she and you need to come up a with a formula and pattern and practice practice practice.

[ModestoPete]

We will develop a technique and then have her practice until it becomes automatic.