Kiai's in competition

[ShotokanKid]

My dojo teaches a short kiai. I guess the long kiai is supposed to show focus

[koryu]

Personal opinion only... just to let everyone know in advance...

 

The purpose in tournaments, and the way to win (in my personal experience), is to over-emphasize EVERYTHING! Whether it be movements of the head, techniques, stance changes, breathing, or kiais. Everything needs to be over exaggerated to be noticed. If you have a very strong point that you are good at, then focus on that to win tournament karate.

 

Unless an instructor is strictly training students to win tournaments (which I have seen), then these aspects of the kata are not trained on a regular basis, during classes and so forth. Although, I could take any kata out there and turn it into a winning tournament kata. It may not necessarily be that they are trained in such a way, they just know the game of tournament competetion and play just the way that everyone else does.

[Kieran-Lilith]

And if you do them at the wrong time, push-ups.....hmmm....lots of push-ups....

 

There are kiais at preset points in kata, I agree. But labeling any other kiai as wrong is what I disagree with. Kiais should be a natural extension of any punch or kick. Maybe a person decided to put a bit more effort into a punch or kick sometime and they kiai. I do not think that is wrong. Maybe awkward in a dead silent class . One of the things instructors got other students to do at winter camp was to kiai on every count of the kata.

 

Well, it's moreso if you do them on stretches. That's not good for you, you could pull a muscle while trying to stretch and that's not good. So, that's the push-up thing there.

[Sandan]

Yes, short sharp is the best way to go. I'd be dubious of the long kai even in Jion (which is supposed to have a longer one at the end) Also I think that if you kai short and sharp you move faster!

[jarrettmeyer]

Personal opinion only... just to let everyone know in advance...

The purpose in tournaments, and the way to win (in my personal experience), is to over-emphasize EVERYTHING! Whether it be movements of the head, techniques, stance changes, breathing, or kiais. Everything needs to be over exaggerated to be noticed. If you have a very strong point that you are good at, then focus on that to win tournament karate.

Unless an instructor is strictly training students to win tournaments (which I have seen), then these aspects of the kata are not trained on a regular basis, during classes and so forth. Although, I could take any kata out there and turn it into a winning tournament kata. It may not necessarily be that they are trained in such a way, they just know the game of tournament competetion and play just the way that everyone else does.

I agree with this completely. There is a difference between kata and competition kata, even if it is supposed to be the same form. Right or wrong, there are things that are changed and embellished for competition.

[ivette_green]

But remember, the louder and longer you kiai, the more people will be watching. They will be watching for Mr./Ms/ Loudmouth to screw up.

Doesn't a loud kiai show spirit? Isn't short and loud the way to go? BTW, I do agree that long kiais are just annoying!

[ladyj]

Kiai's are means to projecting energy. I agree that labeling a kiai as wrong is not a good thing. I think it is preference and how you were taught. I have competed in all kinds of competition over the past 13+ years and have always used a short explosive kiai and have never had any judge complain or tell me to kiai longer. The next time you watch someone who kiai's alot and/or for long periods and see how exhausted they are due to the energy they are releasing. Talk to your instructor and see what they tell you their reason is.

[Sam]

Yeah short and powerful [imho] is the way to go....

All from the diaphragm - much air as possible in a short amount of time.... screams just annoy me and hurt my ears.

[aefibird]

My kiai's are loud but that's because I have a big mouth...

We generally go with the short-but-powerful approach to kiai-ing in my dojo. We have to kiai in set places in kata, but otherwise student's are allowed to kiai whenever they like (although not excessively or stupidly).

Training for competition kata is different for training traditional kata IMO, therefore kiai's are just another one of the changes made in order for judges to sit up and take notice. After all, if yours is the 15th Bassai that they've seen so far that morning then they're gonna be on the look-out for something a bit different. I don't agree with all of the changes made for competitions but I can see why people do so.

[cleung]

Competition is a different environment than in the dojo. This is especially the case with some certain circuits like NASKA where many competitors including myself, go crazy with the kiais. If it's the norm for particular circuits, then that's the way it is. Watch the people who win and see what they are doing.