what's the deal with shouting in TKD?

Question

I just started learning Taekwondo

Answer 1

Hi Pip !!!

Answer 2

Yes a Kihap is for helping you with your power but that is not the only thing it is for.
1.As you Kihap or breath you are relaxing the body as you kick.Try a high kick as you hold your breath then try it while you Kihap.You should see a difference in the height of your kick.
2.Other purposes of Kihaping is to intimidate your opponent or to make them hesitate.
3.To help you to train to breath (correctly) As you kick you are exerting yourself.You start to breath harder and your heart rate is beating faster.The blood pumping through your legs is burning up the oxygen your breathing in.The more you kick the more oxygen you burn.As a lower belt level you are more likely to focus more on the kicking part than the breathing so every time you kick you are supposed to yell or Kihap to help you to keep the oxygen flowing in the blood stream to go to those muscles that are needing it.
4. So you don't pass out and last longer in a sparring match

Answer 3

You may say that it's to release energy (ki) and to focus your power, etc. but I'm not buying it. I've been doing Karate for a long time now and we are able to direct and release power without all the shouting.
My nephew takes TKD and I've seen how they teach there. They are just shouting. They have them shout in english, korean, japaneese, chineese. They yell the alphabet, they yell things like "I will do my best Master!!!" and "DAR RI MAR Tae Kwon Do" (the name of the school) and they yell "1...2...3...Hiiiii-Yahhhhh" (no I'm not kidding).
I don't know about other schools, but thats what I see at different schools here in Ohio. There is no mention of ki, no mention of dirrecting power or focus.
THEY ARE JUST YELLING!

Answer 4

In Martial Arts, the body is rooted at the center which is call Chi or Ki depending on the school. Drawing energy for the body center in conjunction with controlling your breathing is part of what these sounds are about. Watch a cat jump down from a high place and you will here a Chi!

Answer 5

One big "point" to Tae Kwon Do is learning how to focus all of your energy, or ki (also known as qi or chi), into one act, like the act of punching. You use all of the potential energy in your body to make the punch, thereby causing it to be very powerful. The "shout" you're talking about is called the "kiop" (I think that's how you spell it), and it performs several functions. It allows you to practice harnessing all of your energy into your abdomen and expelling it through your lungs. The kiop also gives an indication to your opponent what he or she can expect from your punches and kicks--because the more focused and powerful your kiop, the more focused and powerful your punches and kicks. It shows how well you are able to harness and control your ki. Sometimes a kiop can make someone decide not to fight with you, because they can tell--if your kiop is strong--how formidable an opponent you would be in the fight. ... This isn't all the kiop is "for," but it gives you a general overview and a starting point for understanding the "shouting."

Answer 6

It is to help you release the energy. It makes a technique a lot more powerful. You have to not just yell, but yell breathing out from your diaphragm. Try punching with your mough closed try to punch yelling kihap. You'll see the difference.

Answer 7

It is to help you release the energy. It makes a technique a lot more powerful. You have to not just yell, but yell breathing out from your diaphragm. Try punching with your mough closed try to punch yelling kihap. You'll see the difference.

Answer 8

It is called kihap. It is a tool to help bring your mind, body, and soul into harmony when practicing. It's not for making you sound "bad" or "fierce".

Answer 9

welp...i certainly agree wit SenseiRob...shoutin 4 nottin... >_<

Answer 10

to show energy, strength and confidence.