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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2009 15:20:27 GMT
Hey guys and girls,
Having watched more cutting vids than I can remember I have noticed a recurring theme which I find somewhat strange. In ninjitsu we are taught about kiai and it's importance. Kiai is to focus energy, technique and mental focus. There are two methods of Kiai.
The first one we are taught is a shout from the diaphragm that is said by some to focus chi energy. I find personally that it focuses how my body moves and my mind works and the power with which I can strike. Without the Kiai my techniques are sloppy and they lack focus and power compared to with the Kiai.
The other type of Kiai is what is called a shadow Kiai, a secret Kiai which is release as a breath and as a thought at the moment of the strike. It is little more than a breath but the power that is generated and the level of focus is difficult to describe.
It is amazing how breathing affects cutting and power and mental focus. Anyone agree or disagree?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2009 16:27:18 GMT
Breathing affects everything when it comes to physical exertion; proper breathing techniques are taught in almost every major martial art (I say almost but I believe ALL do) based on the desired outcome. Boxers are taught to marshal their breathing- breaths too heavy and deep can cause you to get dizzy from the overflow of oxygen in the blood; so I agree.
I guess what I do is a shadow kiai as I'm not prone to shouting (unless roused) and no offense, but I always found it somewhat comical, and not in the least bit intimidating or fearful.
I think with the kiai, it gives one something with which to focus on; conditioning the body's response not just to the thought, but the kiai performed just prior to the action.
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Post by randomnobody on Jun 2, 2009 16:37:49 GMT
Back in the olden days when I used to practice kenpo we did some dabblings with kiai. We encouraged it as a method of "increasing power" (mostly for lack of a simpler method of explaining the theory) and in many cases the majority did benefit from a kiai-accompanied strike. I suppose it could have a psychological affect on one's ability to "go all-out" or "release" their "full strength" or what have you, but another benefit we were taught was the effects of a kiai upon being struck, primarily in the abdominal region; the idea being the tensing of the diaphragm and surrounding stomach muscles "hardening" the body and reducing impact damage. It helped quite a bit, actually. Of course, as I personally developed in the style, I began to abandon the kiai as a shout, per se, and move more toward the "shadow kiai" you refer to. All to the dismay of my instructors (yes, we called them instructor, not sensei, not master) but to my own benefit. I found I could focus more on my technique without having to fuss about with screaming every time I threw a punch or two and my body developed the whole "hardening" concept into a reflex bordering on instinct. If I saw a punch/kick/whatever coming, I'd simultaneously "harden" all the muscles in the area I felt it was aimed at while moving to avoid or deflect it. This way, if I managed to avoid the hit, all was well, but if I took the hit, all was still pretty well...well. An amusing anecdote, if I may. Once upon a time, my school was practicing for a tournament in the area, which was to be the first one I would be permitted to participate in. Each of us was to enter three divisions: armed kata, unarmed kata, and sparring. I was to perform out second kama-based kata for the armed, our third or fourth unarmed for...unarmed. In class. my instructors would speak highly on my form and power of technique, but insist I incorporate a stronger kiai. So, the day of the tournament, I begin my kata. I throw out my best kiai to each strike. The judges offered that they'd have preferred to see as much power in my technique as my kiai. I gave up on loud at that point. Then, in the sparring match, I was up against a fellow two ranks above me, from another school. We were pretty much even, then one round I (silently) threw a kick that stopped half an inch from his nose, and let my foot hang there a good second or two before letting it down and taking a punch in the gut which the judges gave the other guy a point for, winning him the match, by a point. (punches are worth one point, kicks two) After the match the other guy confessed he felt I should have won. The judges apparently decided since I didn't kiai, the kick was no good. "They didn't see it" since I didn't kiai with it or something. Wasn't long after that I quit.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2009 17:38:12 GMT
It is rather difficult to judge a kiai.
I find the shout that is designed to intimidate an opponent ridiculous. However we never worked on shrieking out a kiai, it was always a controlled short burst of sound that was designed to do many things. Also depending on the situation the kiai could be used defensively as well. The kiai when done properly, coupled with meditative techniques can have an astounding affect on muscle groups and such.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2009 18:46:29 GMT
Agreed; although they do not call it that in boxing, the premise is the same- if you listen closely, you can hear some boxers grunt or exhale - it coincides with a thrown punch. Some are louder than others, some are quiet and some have yet to breathe correctly in order to focus for a punch but it is there.
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Post by randomnobody on Jun 2, 2009 18:49:58 GMT
Yeah, that's pretty much all I ever did. Still do sometimes, if I run into something. Haven't fought anybody in years. I guess that's a good thing.........
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Post by wiwingti on Jun 2, 2009 19:24:33 GMT
when you exhale at maximum, your muscles contrac at maximum too, this is why it is important to exhale for a boxer. it mean more you exhale ,when you punch, more your punch will be strong but,
yeah there is a but,
you have to control ,when to do it , because if not,, you will have a ( don't know how to say it in english,too much ventilate is no good)
hope i explained well enough to be understood lol
i did some boxe during a couple of years and learned that from my coach.
so,, always exhalte( at a normal strenght) and, when there is an openning, exhalte at maximum putting all your energie in the shot. another thing when you exhalte, contacting your muscles,if you are hit, you feel less the punch if you are hit because of these contrac muscles.
by the way,, this is what i've been explained, i do not say that it is exactly the perfect explaination.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2009 20:13:19 GMT
That's pretty much it, Marc...you got it right.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2009 22:55:26 GMT
Just to add my two cents, when I studied Tae Kwon Do many many many many ...... many moons ago we emphasized loud, short, bursting kiai's with our techniques for all of the reason others have mentioned. I now study Chinese Internal Martial Arts, specifically Cheng (CMC - ZMQ) style taijiquan in this practice there are no definite bursting exhales as most would comprehend a kiai however, you do exhale on Yang (expansive) and inhale on Yin (contracting) movements. I find you still get the benefits of the exhale however it work much more subtly in this practice. Then again taiji is a different beast from most martial arts.
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