A Kiai Too Far! What Does Kiai Mean to You?

Kiai, as I teach, serves several purposes:

Kiai, as the name implies, is used to harmonize one's energy, or ki. Now, I'm not talking about the mystical "ki master's" ki, but rather the ki that functions as a metaphor for your mind and various other body mechanics. When you "center your ki" you're just letting your mind focus in on the here and now. Kind of like "physche-ing yourself up" only in more calm and composed way. This kind of kiai is used before a break (especially a difficult one).

Secondly, a well timed Kiai helps add power to an attack. I think this more has to do with intent, but power is power, so it helps.

Lastly, a kiai acts as a defense against a counter-attack. That is why it typically accompanies a "finisher" technique in kata. If you get hit while moving in for a hard blow, you take more impact than if you were just standing still, so the kiai is a way to release all the air and tighten the hara.

Anyway, if you notice, none of these rely on an audible kiai. The sound is just secondary, in my opinion. If you make a sound, fine, if not, also fine, as long as the sound is a short quick one syllable sound ("Ki-ah" is two syllables) that you're not trying to force (this usually results in a horse throat, the tell tail sign of improper kiai).

Now, kiai that can knock opponents out, that's just crap, based off the crappy translation of "spirit shout." And who started pronouncing it Kia? It's not a car. That's almost as bad as Harry Carry.

Understanding what kiai are, what they can be used for and the various types there are involves being trained by someone who truly understands "kiai-jutsu". You cannot use any kiai as a weapon all by itself.

Heres' a quick rundown of what kiai are and the psychology behind their use:

In times of duress the human animal will enter either a fight-or-flight mode. The former allows one to focus on a more offensive mindset. Predators, human or otherwise, use the adrenaline rush in order to accomplish a goal of subduing prey. In the human animal this is often utilized in order to rape, mug, maim, or murder. So how can the victim use a spirit yell in order to change the predatory instinct of an attacker? The "prey" can employ a kiai of authority, mimicking the attackers father, mother or another figure of authority which causes the aggressor to question himself and his motives. In this instance use of a very loud and short "HEY!!!" or an expletive "MUTHA FU--A!!!" basically letting them know that you are not gonna be easy prey can be a very effective psychological ploy, plus it serves to trigger your body to release even more adrenaline and take one out of the flight state of mind/body. In fact they (the attacker) may have bitten off more than they can chew so to speak. Their mind and body will begin to shift out of a mode of predatory focus into one of a prey animal and self-doubt.

Other kiai are used to startle prey animals like when a raptor screams as it swoops to grab a rabbit running along the ground. Coyotes will also use a high pitched yelp to freeze prey in their tracks before pouncing. The karate-ka can use this same ploy in order to break an opponents concentration and basically freeze them in their tracks.

Once you have shifted the aggressors mind to one of a fight response to the flight reaction the use of powerful phrases in a loud voice like "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE NOW I HAVE TO KILL YOU!!!" or "YOU'RE BLEEDING EVERYWHERE!!!" will often put the predator (now your prey) into a state of near helplessness and shock.

So how do I know that this type of kiai-jutsu works? Because these are things I have used in real street fights before.

You can also use them to harden your body for impact, especially the midsection.

Just like Dillman and the use of PPs exclusively for fighing, kiai jutsu as seen in those clips is incomplete and ineffective against folks who are not afraid of you. Kiai jutsu is an integral part of good karate jutsu training, but it's use like dian xue or kyusho jutsu, is not an exclusive thing. It's use is in conjunction with the physical. Understanding the kiai's use in Okinawan karate is a must. Otherwise why do we learn to use diaphragmatic yelling in our forms and kihon training?

It definitely isn't to show the judges at a Paul Mitchell sponsored tourney that you have pizzazz! HYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY-YAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! x 30 seconds or more.

BTW those clips are ridiculous, but aren't most so-called martial artists just walking jokes anyway?!

Literal translation means "Spirit", if i'm not mistaken. What I was taught is that "kiai" means spirit, and in some parts of katas, (And for the 5th strike in a moving drill), is used to add extra "Spirit" to your technique.

^^Didn't know that. Thanks for the info

We train with kiais in some of our techniques, and are taught the proper times to use them. A kiai can be used for a variety of reasons.

1. The reason it translates into "spirit" is because at the very moment you deliver a loud, concentrated kiai, your mind is completely clear of all thought (go on, give it a try). With a clear mind, you are free to focus completely on a single strike, delivering it with maximum effectiveness. With a mind clouded by fear, uncertainty, and so on, you cannot focus completely on fully devoting yourself to the fight, more specifically the strike you use a kiai on.

2. To surprise the opponent. Most wouldn't be expecting their opponent to suddenly scream at them with full intensity. It catches most people off guard, making them confused when the person who delivered the kiai simultaneously moves in very quickly. Again, a clouded mind detracts from your ability to fight.

3. To completely drain all air from the lungs. When you exhale, right before you breathe in again, there is still some air in your lungs that has not been pushed out. A kiai forces a person to exhale completely. The main purpose of this is to prevent injury when falling (so you don't get the wind knocked out of you), or if you're taking a strike to the stomach.

Not sure about everyone else, but the way I know it, you don't have to literally say the word. I'm taught to just force every bit of air out of my lungs in a very loud manner. It actually sounds more like a very loud "hai" (for most people, at least).

How many of you karateka lift weights? DO you grunt loudly when lifting heavy? This is often done exhaling and tightening the abs. Which would serve well to defend your midesction from striking damage, like getting the wind knocked out of you, while still instilling some fear into the opponent.

A Kiai is a verbal cue to the other Bodyguards in an attempt to protect the "king" in the Shuri castle. The Kiai were sounded to call off the attack on the intruders and begin to protect the escape route as well as other signals later on. (you notice most Shotokan Kata have 2-3 Kiai's)

This is seperate from the concepts of breath control, energy and power. Those you may notice do not require audible yells.

Now the Kiai can and does serve other purposes some explained in the post, but the historical purpose of the loud yell was simply a signal. The other ideas and definitions were added later.