Too much yelling...

[armanox]

Anyone other then myself notice that when they're at a competition, that people just yell and yell and yell? And also kiai excesively. Maybe it's just a result of many of them doing sport karate vs my training in traditional karate? But it seems that exessive shouting has become status quo in karate outside of Okinawa/Japan.

[Sohan]

I see it in my dojo, though we don't compete. Sort of like having a fancy sport car to make up for certain deficiencies, I see excessive kias as a way to make up for deficient power or technique.

We have a fellow in our dojo that continually grunts, hisses, and kias loudly to everything in our class, but forgets his techniques and falls apart terribly in two person free sparring. The quietest guy in the class is probably our most dangerous.

With respect,

Sohan

[ps1]

Yup...see it all the time.

[Brandon Fisher]

It is distraction from poor technique sometimes. But to me its just pointless.

[bushido_man96]

I agree. The yell is supposed to surprise and emphasize a technique. There is no surprise and no emphasis if it is done on every technique.

[parkerlineage]

I agree very much. At the last tourney I judged, there was this girl who stood six feet away from me and literally screamed her name, instructor, etc. into my face. Her form was pretty good, but she screamed the whooole time. I think she ended up getting second or something...I put her down for third or fourth.

I tend to just focus on letting out breaths at the proper time, or tightening my body just as a kiai would, but minus the yelling. Although, I must admit to a bit of drama myself in tournaments - unfortunately, that's usually what wins, though.

[bushido_man96]

If a good form has a couple of good, well placed kihaps, then it is great. But too many, aye.

[Ti]

I have a lack of it

[Shotokan-kez]

I have never been to a taurnament so i wouldn't know. I had never noticed excessive kia's in our dojo, just very loud one's...which even i am guilty of.

[Shui Tora]

When I compete, I must remember to only Kiai when I think I have performed a good technique in order to gain a point(s)...

i think it is unnessecary (sp?) to kiai all the time, when your techniques are not getting the points... Only Kiai where appropiate...