Sheepdog Tip of the Day, During Combat tip 239
Whether or not the shooter is aerobically fit, extreme stress (fear or pain, for example) will affect breathing. The body is physiologically designed to hyperventilate during extreme stress; it's preparing you for fight or flight. When you do neither, the buildup of carbon dioxide can prevent the absorption of oxygen into the blood. The idea, then, is to get control of your exhaling (to expel the carbon dioxide) and the body will take care of the inhaling part. Under some situations, "forced breathing" is required. The shooter forces the exhale and ensures that lots of oxygen is taken in. This technique works really well before the run in a fire-with-movement competition or situation, as well as during the brief recovery period after the run. Under other situations, "controlled breathing" is required.
Linda K. Miller and Keith Cunningham, Secrets of Mental Marksmanship
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