kiai

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[samurai_kenshin]

My sensei insists on a strong kiai for every technique. The problem is I;m 13 and my voice cracks constantly. It's not embarassing, just...annoying! WHat should I do? Tell sensei? Just wait it out? Feedback, please, it's much appreciated.

[Chris Birke]

Just let your voice crack! Everyone's been through that, don't worry =)

[maikerus]

Kiai. It is a good way of creating a technique. If you don't do it now, you will get in the habit of not doing it, and I believe that that will limit your Aikido in some way.

As Chris said...we all have been there. It won't last forever ... really :)

--Michael

[pezalinski]

My advice? Enjoy it -- and pay attention to how weird it can get :D

Kiai or KWATZ!

:confused: I think the "breaking kiai" might actually be more effective at disarming someone than a "standard" kiai -- much more surprising.

[theflyingheadbuttsuplex]

guess what? I'm 13 too :cool: my voice is not craking that much, but try making you kiai a little lower :eek: and a strong cracking kiai is enough to make me drop my jo! (short staff) :blush: :ki:

[ChrisHein]

The Reason for Kiai is to put forth your intent, the actual sound makes no differance.

-Chris

[samurai_kenshin]

guess you're right, and I may try suprizing sum1 in rondouri (sp?)
ADDED: What would be the scarriest kiai you've ever heard. Mine is when this new uchi-deshi stayed for about a month and he launched himself at someone in rondouri and it sounded like "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" and sensi jumped about a foot in the air!

[Jeremy Young]

I agree. Start trying to kiai now so that later you will already have that custom of doing it. It has been explained to me that aside from getting a "deer in the headlights" look from uke, the kiai is to help unify the muscles into one big movement...or something to that effect. So as far as i know that is the goal of the kiai to begin with. And besides (and like others have already pointed out) we are used to a deep kiai....but a loud, cracking one?!? :eek:

[bryce_montgomery]

About a few weeks ago, our Isshin-ryu teacher went over proper kiai when performing a strike. When he did so he pointed out that it makes the strikes quicker and it also serves to "suprise" an unsuspecting opponent...for example, in our dojo we spar using padded practice swords and we usually partner up and go at if for a while. Well, the other day I was sparring with another guy from our dojo and I did a really strong kiai that scared him half to death as I entered to cut. This kiai allowed me to open him and move in quickly with power to execute my desired intent....This being said, I don't believe it really matters if you voice cracks when you are performing this (it in no way hinders the kiai, it probably actually helps the "catching off guard and attention" factor) so I'd say just keep going at it.

Best,
Bryce

[samurai_kenshin]

thanx for the advice!

[theflyingheadbuttsuplex]

The first time I heard my sensei kiai, I was sitting in seiza. I jumped about half a foot of the ground from seiza! A good kiai is a [u]very[u] good thing to have!

[Ketsan]

Do it from the stomach, I had that kind of problem in the cadets trying to shout orders at people.

[samurai_kenshin]

Do it from the stomach, I had that kind of problem in the cadets trying to shout orders at people.
You mean the cracking? Lol, that had to be funny! Oh, and Burt, isn't the bo the short staff?

[Misogi-no-Gyo]

My sensei insists on a strong kiai for every technique. The problem is I;m 13 and my voice cracks constantly. It's not embarassing, just...annoying! WHat should I do? Tell sensei? Just wait it out? Feedback, please, it's much appreciated.
Hi James,

You can tell him that you are studying the most advanced aspect of kiai - the silent kiai. This is not a joke, either! If you are interested and write me privately, I will share with you some practical methods for developing this as part of your training.


.

[samurai_kenshin]

Hi James,

You can tell him that you are studying the most advanced aspect of kiai - the silent kiai. This is not a joke, either! If you are interested and write me privately, I will share with you some practical methods for developing this as part of your training.


.
I didn't know there was a silent kiai...

[Misogi-no-Gyo]

I didn't know there was a silent kiai...
Shhhhhhhhhhhh! (whispering) ...you do now.



.

[Aragorn]

I didn't know there was a silent kiai...

Dont be afraid james....
Neither did I
:sorry:

[saoriw]

It was hard for me to do it first, I sound like 14 y/o even though I was there decades ago...:) Yet, I am trying to do it as the best I can at times as my teachers instructed, so did my fellows I train with. Then what I find is that Kiai has a huge effect and I care less about the sound I make...

Good luck,
Saori

[samurai_kenshin]

It'll pass...eventually *turns blue*

[Aragorn]

During one of my classes, we did a kiai test and i got rank 2 or 3(and i was white!!)

[samurai_kenshin]

You've all helped alot, thank you.