Breathing patterns- what do you do?

[Pureadrenalin]

So what would you say the percentage would be in any given sport what percentage of people is practicing breathing?  I honestly believe and by all the research I have done and read lucky 10 percent.

[PonoBill]

Actually, if you want to screw up someone's pool or golf shot, ask them if they breathe in or out when they strike the ball.

[Kaihoe]

I've just come back to this topic after looking at a lot of Racing canoe technique information. They have formalized a lot of technique that is very similar to SUP

Anyway, it seems that the breathing pattern they use is
Breath in on recovery
Hold during the final part of the reach and the catch
Breath out during the power phase

I've been playing around with this and it seems to work with longer strokes.  The hold gives you a focus on starting the stroke properly and also gives the lungs static time with oxygen rich content rAther than starting to exit that good air you've just sucked in.

Now I'm paying attention I find this is how I swim as well (not that I would clims to know what Im doing)

[blueplanetsurf]

Yes, that's what seems to work for me, too and is also what Mick Di Betta (first Molokai paddleboard champion and Jamie Mitchell's coach) had to say:

Hi mate no worries
When sprinting inhale during recovery stroke and hold through the catch phase of the stroke and then slow exhale throughout the pull/ push phase of the stroke
Good breathing rhythm works with good stroke and glide rhythm
I hope this helps some
Aloha
Mick Di Betta

I find that for longer distances, exhaling over two strokes and inhaling during every second recovery works well, which allows for deeper breaths.  If I need a quick burst of power, I'll switch back to one breath per stroke.
I also find that paying attention to your breathing is a good way to clear the mind and get into the zone.

[Six Feet and Glassy]

Another tip from the swimming world:  

Remember to EXHALE FULLY on each breath.  

I could see this as a possible problem with faster cadences like Tahitian, where you might only have time to breathe out half a lungful, then inhale again.  Or you might not exhale fully when you're having problems balancing and your core muscles are tight.

Either way, by doing this you are not expelling all of the CO2 in your lungs (and bloodstream).  And this will make you feel desperate for air.  This adds to the panicky feeling folks get when starting swimming. They think they are just exhausted, but not fully exhaling is boosting their pain.  This tip really helped me.  

And I would guess that panicky or desperate feeling of CO2 buildup doesn't do much for balance either.