Originally, I didn't post what my own ideas on 'relaxing' because I didn't want to present an answer that might SOUND complete while yet I am still looking for (so much) more on this subject.

Please forgive me if this post sounds like I 'know it all'; I have been asking this SAME QUESTION and collecting 'answers' for over 2 years now -- first in Systema and now in Boxing. I really want to learn more about 'relaxing' (I am very greedy) efficiently in combat.

Also I hope you guys will enjoy, and not just tolerate, my continued references to Systema which has much to offer -- and doesn't require giving up ANYTHING when studying some other art -- all martial arts can be improved by Systema and can be used in conjunction with Systema.

Systema emphasizes and builds everything on four fundamentals which are inextricably interlinked:
  1. Relaxing
  2. Breathing
  3. Moving
  4. Maintaining Form (including stance, posture & balance)
If you add "hitting really hard and deep" you have pretty much the only 'rules' of doing Systema.

Any boxer will recognize those 4 (5 with hitting) fundamentals as essential and basic to boxing as well.

Breathing is done for it's own sake (oxygenation etc) but is also USED to aid relaxing -- it is the prime way that relaxing is "done". Breathing is the minimum level of movement as well -- even if standing 'still' one at least moves by breathing.

Good form (stance, balance, and posture) is another way to remain relaxed (not so much to "do relaxing" but to avoid initiating tension to start).

Bad form (e.g., being bent over without an erect spine) causes tension in the muscles on each side of the body -- drawing the muscles tight on the outward curve and perhaps tensing them on the inward part of the curve. Bad form also impedes free movement, especially in a circular manner.

As Chris says, there are (at least) two types of tension and relaxation:
  1. Mental (fear etc)
  2. Muscular
These are strongly interrelated. Being frightened, apprehensive, uncertain, or otherwise mentally tense tends to encourage muscular tension -- and vice versa.

Just having high CO2 levels can induce fear: The Amygdala Is a Chemosensor that Detects Carbon Dioxide and Acidosis to Elicit Fear Behavior Unfortunately the full article requires an account, but we all are familiar with the sudden fear induced when our air is cut off or we are unexpectedly submerged against our will.

Correct Breathing helps with relaxing BOTH mentally and physically. There are a variety of breathing patterns taught in Systema, but the primary and simplest is to JUST KEEP BREATHING and generally just avoid holding your breath (However, there are some breath holding methods as well.)

Inability to breathe makes us tense, while deep breathing relaxes us. In my younger days, I was a commercial diver and discovered a magazine article on what was termed "Tai Chi Breathing" which was an amazing way to remain relaxed and reduced oxygen needs through LONG COUNT breathing (8+ second inhales and 8+ second exhales -- essentially 4 breaths or less per minute) which paradoxically used LESS AIR by BREATHING DEEPER and LONGER and also offered significant advantages in remaining calm and avoiding fatigue.

Generally, Systema emphasizes inhaling through the nose, and exhaling through the mouth -- there are various reasons for this, but exhaling through the mouth is the main way to engender physical and mental relaxation. (Think of a relaxing sigh.)

God.in.my.corner's excellent suggestion of "rhythm" (along with breathing) was not something that had previously occurred to me, but it should have. Richard Bandler (founder of NLP) teaches public speaking and presenting, a very stressful activity for most people by using internal Jazz (and other) rhythms while speaking and teaching.

We all recognize that certain rhythms are relaxing, but I never thought of it in this context. It certainly works to at least relax the mind, and dancing to rhythmic music can also relax the body.

As jameso'hara suggests, fatiguing the muscles can lead to relaxation. Systema uses the method of fatigue (at least) in training, where tension is reduced by first purposely inducing fatigue -- it may not make sense in combat or competition but it has definite possibilities for training us to relax.

Chris also offered "punching correctly" which fits in with maintaining good form -- form not just of posture but also of punching mechanics.

One other trick I know, when all else fails is to first TIGHTEN the muscles (to get conscious control of the tension) and then let go to relax more fully. This certainly works for training, and might have some value in competition and combat itself.

I also found a new idea (on the Systema forum) which I had not seen until just a couple of days ago: Pressure.

The idea is to use pressure to describe tension in the body. Find the area(s) of highest pressure Kaizen said then equalize the pressure throughout body, spreading the pressure out over the whole instead of allowing it to stay in specific areas of the body.

There are more specifics in the link -- the entire article is worth reading.

I am personally working on using the idea of pressure, as a better way to measure and remove tension. My initial reaction is that this is extremely helpful but it will will require more time and practice to see how far this will take me.

I would very much like to keep this discussion going and growing if any of you find it useful....

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HerbM