How come when Martial artists do their kata why do they shout kiya, hya, well you kno what Jason Frank shouts?

Question

Im not be ing a dick, I just wanna know if it helps with the strikes

Answer 1

You Release the lungs raising the diaphragm allowing the abdomen to move easier. The same reason you exhale when you lift so you do not press on your internal organs. Holding your breath tightens the diaphragm and can slow your punches as well. The shout is rather optional. however it should come from the abdomen and be full. This also helps when you take a blow to the abdomen by allowing room for the organs to move up and not be pressed as hard to the diaphragm. I like shouting really loud i have the gift of a really loud voice. This can sometimes distract the opponent for a split second. I know some fighters that have their own word the say gives them encouragement and focus.

Answer 2

There are many valid reasons for using that technique, and many misconceptions regarding it also.

The sound itself is not truly necessary, as it is the breath that is the important feature. In the moment of being close enough to strike your opponent (all movements in most forms / kata assume or reflect this distance) the opponent is also in a range to strike you back at the same time. The breath is designed to:

1) Relax and deflate the lungs allowing more freedom movement and the generation of more speed
2) Tense the abdomen muscles while contracting the diaphragm
3) Expel excess air from the lungs

All of these things will help if the oppontent manages to strike you in the solar plexus at the moment you move into their range. Thus the breath is a transitional component. You breath in as move between strikes and out as you strike.

The noise should not be a word and it should not come from your throat, but many people misinterpret this - possibly as a result of Bruce Lee and other martial art movies. Indeed, in the Korean arts if you use the work Kiap (which I've heard some students do) you are basically shouting "ENERGY FORWARD" - which is kinda silly.

Thus, the noise should simply be an exhalation of breath which can be augmented by a vocal component provided the primary purpose is expelling air and tightening the abdomen muscles.

Hope this helps somewhat

Ken C
9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do
8th Dan TaeKwon-Do
7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 3

Firstly, you are not supposed to yell. A yell is from the throat.

It is not supposed to sound like "kiya". This again, like ninja masters/schools and shallow-no technique-kick-punch only kahrotee is an American invention.

The sound was taken from the term it is known by KI AI, pronounced kee-eye, which means breath-harmony.

The reason for the sound is so your teacher can tell if you are doing it correctly. Being that nearly all "teachers" execute it incorrectly themselves, their students develop bad habits.

When you have mastered a kata, you just do the breath at the point where you normally would Kiai. The breath comes from the Tanden, just below your navel. (Dantien in Chinese).

You are unifying your breath with your body, hence "kiai", this intensifies your technique.

The sound you should be making should sound like the letter "a" or the number "8". Niether letter nor number is associated with this... just the idea of the sound you should make.

Answer 4

Yes, it helps with the strikes according to my old Karate instructor.

Answer 5

Focus.

Answer 6

yes and no... it's more for intimidation