Kiai

From Free net encyclopedia

Kiˑai (気合, 気合い) is a Japanese term that is a compound of ki (気) meaning mind, will, turn-of-mind or spirit and ai (合, 合い) being the contraction of the verb awasu (合わす), signifying "to unite". It is a short yell that some martial artists shout before or during a fight or technique. Korean martial arts may call this sound a Yatz or Kihap. In bujutsu (Japanese arts of war), it is usually linked to the inner amassing of energy released in a single explosive focus of will. A kiai can also refer to this mental focus of a martial artist.

1 Typical Usage
2 Relation to Martial Arts
3 Myth and Legends
4 See also
5 External links

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Typical Usage

Kiai is used for:

a psychological effect on your enemy.
a psychological effect on yourself, so-called "amping yourself up".
to provide an escape route for exhalation of air.
to keep air pressure in your body balanced (holding your breath while taking impact – from a kick, punch or the ground – can cause injury).
to rapidly contract the transverse abdominals and other core muscles to provide support for striking techniques and protection to the internal organs

Kiai is also used in the context of the board game Go as "fighting spirit".

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Relation to Martial Arts

Students of martial arts such as karate, taekwondo or Judo (or related arts such as taiko drumming) use kiai to focus energy when executing a technique. It also refers to the shout that accompanies some kata. The kiai is the main component of the Japanese art of Kiaijutsu, which basically means "the art of shouting". The proper use of kiaijutsu involves concentrating one's ki just as much as it does shouting. It is frequently associated with the representation of Asian martial arts in cinema and in animated cartoons too.

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Myth and Legends

There are many legends surrounding using kiai in novel ways. Some use it as a secret offensive technique that involves using your voice to create huge amounts of sound waves. In another legend a samurai froze a pack of wolves in their tracks by simply glaring at them.

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