December 20th, 2015

Sensei Lorenzo Aguon (Go-dan)
Ueshiro Hawaii Karate Club
Under the direction of Hanshi Robert Scaglione

"KIAI"

Definition - Red Book (pg 61)

Spirit continuing force or spirit. Killing technique. Has nothing to do with shout or noise or sound.

In Japanese Ki=Energy and Ai=emphasis, to join

This "Kiai" is often associated with a yell in most martial arts. However, when we train, that yell is really a companion to the release of our "Stored energy", our "killing technique", our "fighting spirit".

In every kata we train, their is a time we release a yell on a particular technique which most deshi believe is the "Kiai move". So are those the only moves in our kata that are "Kiai"? NO. That is why we often hear our sensei say "Every move is Kiai!"

There is so much involved in "Kiai". Its a strong display of our fighting spirit. Good kiai needs to start from the hara. There is no wrong time to use Kiai. Practice "Kiai" and you will feel your training and fighting spirit rise to another level.

Domo Arigato,
Sensei Lorenzo Aguon (Go-dan)
Ueshirp Hawaii Karate Club