What is Kiai

Variation from http://www.horindojo.co.uk/Articles/What%20is%20Kiai.pdf

When asked “what is Kiai”, I would think that most students of modern martial arts would answer with something like; “a shout of power”, “a fierce yell”, or something similar.

The term Kiai is a compound of two Kanji (Chinese characters).
The first Ki has a meaning of ‘mind’, ‘will’ or ‘spirit’.
The second Ai is a contraction of the verb ‘Awasu’, to unite.

So you can see from this meaning that ‘Kiai’ is more that just a shout, it is the ability to concentrate the whole of one’s being – mind, body & spirit in a single unified action. The vocal part of Kiai does not start in the throat but instead should erupt from deep within the pit of the stomach or the Hara.

Kiai wo kakeru (to utter Kiai)
To attack your enemy with Kiai exactly at the moment when your enemy has no Ki in their Saika Tanden (hara).

Fukushiki Kokyu
The art of deep, diaphragmatic breathing

There are also esoteric meanings behind Kiai, these have an effect on specific moves & the coordination of weapons, spirit, and body. The main of these being
Yo no Kiai
In no Kiai

Yo no Kiai can be subdivided into;
i) Kiai of winning = Yaa!
The use of this Kiai is to make the enemy feel that they have already lost.
ii) Now attacking Kiai = Aa!
The use of this Kiai is to make the enemy feel one has found their weakpoint. The enemy will not then be able to use full power as their hearts have been unstabled.
iii) I already know your next technique kiai = Towa!
This makes the enemy feel that one knows their intentions, thus destroying the desire in your enemy to continue.

In no Kiai, is most famously used for the Toate no Jutsu (techniques of striking from a distance), In no Kiai is silent in application but still has the ability to defeat your enemy. Deeply research the understanding of how sound interacts with action!!

Other Kiai used in training involves the use of Kiai in conjunction with Kime (or focus), each time a Kansetsu waza (locking techniques) is used on an enemy it is accompanied with a low deep belly Kiai of “Uuhhmm”, this is to add emphasis to the control of the techniques and to counter any resistance offered by your enemy. This type of Kiai is very important for Ju Jutsu training.

It is said; “If the mind be kept one & undivided it will accommodate itself to ten thousand varied circumstances. That is the reason why a superior person can keep their mind empty & undisturbed”.