KI AI 気 合

                                                            

The word KIAI is comprised of the two Japanese Kanji letters - Ki (気) and Ai (合). 

Let's take a look........

Ki (気) - is a symbol of spirit, mind, energy, force.

Ai (合) - is a contraction of the verb 'Awasu' which literally means 'to unite'.

Evidently the word KIAI means 'Spirit United'.

Kiai is the art of developing fighting spirit, almost of self-hypnosis, by extreme mental concentration. In order to perform one's attacking or blocking techniques properly, it is necessary to develop perfect concentration of spirit and strength. If one can concentrate the whole strength in his/her abdomen and maintain perfect balance then one can achieve the art of aggression and knocking your opponent down with one blow. I personally believe that this is exactly related to the ancient budo concept “Ikken Hissatsu 拳必殺” or “Ichi geki hisatsu”. It means “One strike, certain death”. By collecting your whole body strength, strike the opponent's vulnerable point with proper timing by using the proper seichusen (centreline) and with proper "Kime".

Martial artists from the east believed that a Kiai was a method of focusing their Ki (In chinese “Qi”) during sudden bursts of energy. It is thought by some that the second character of 'ai' is used as nothing more than a vocal expression to channel that energy from the individual.

Benefits of the Kiai

•        Breathing - when faced with danger as the adrenaline rips through your blood vessels, it's common that we forget to breathe, or fail to breathe sufficiently to cope with the sudden increase in our heart rate and quick depletion of oxygen through its passage into our muscle fibres. Kiai can actually remind the body to breathe.
•       Added power - if the Kiai is executed properly, the muscles around the stomach are tightened and it has been said by ancient asian physiologists that this allows energy to be transferred from the abdomen to the peripheries of the body including the elbows, knees, hands and feet.
•       Distraction - as mentioned, the sudden yell can distract the opponent, startle him or even cause him to make fault on his own techniques. A trained fighter can instantly take advantage of this gap in the opponent’s concentration to defeat him. You can utilize the gap by incorporate with “Sente” (Timing) procedures.

Let’s take a look at the opinion here of the legendary Wado master “Hanshi Tatsuo Suzuki’s view about KIAI.

“Kiai without Yelling

When warding off the opponent’s kiai you must also put your strength in the abdomen in order to keep up your courage. When the opportunity to attack comes, you must use your kiai in attacking – i.e. put your strength in your abdomen, concentrate your whole effort on the punch or kick.

Kiai with yelling

This is the same as the kiai described above, but the difference is that you yell at the same time. In yelling you must yell from the whole of your body, not only from your mouth. “

The sounds made in 'Kiai with yelling' are “ei”, “oh”, “ya”, etc. “Ei” is the easiest to yell. The object of yelling is to weaken the opponent's attack or to put him off his guard, and so one must yell properly in each given situation. It is important to practice yelling without restraint and at the top of your voice, preferably in a deserted place!

Finally I want to finish up this topic with a story.

It is said there was once a student of karate who improved his yelling after hearing a lion roaring in the zoo!

Peace and harmony,

Sensei M.Maharaj

Wado Principles

Wado Ryu has many general karate do principles in common with Okinawan karate do styles. However at the heart of Wado Ryu are some fundamental principles which may be traced directly to the influence of Shindo Yoshin Ryu jujutsu and other Japanese bujutsu, but which are not typically seen in Okinawan karate.

Maai

Maai is usually interpreted as fighting distance but it encompasses more than the physical distance between two antagonists. The combatants state of mind, and spirit, as well as the distance are all subtly related to maai. It might be said that keeping good maai is creating enough space to manoeuvre.

However, simply put, in terms of distance, if either the defender or attacker is able to strike the other with an attack without moving the feet, then maai is too short. Good maai is when the attacker can strike the defender by moving a half step forward or the defender can retreat out of range with a half step backward. Of course, this distance constantly fluctuates during fighting and both attacker and defender must be aware of the potential range of his/her own and the opponent's techniques and adjust the distance accordingly.

Zanshin

Literally 'remaining mind'. This is a word used a great deal in the martial arts. It's meaning can be interpreted in many ways but, from the point of view of training or self-defence, we can say it usually means awareness. Keeping a clear calm mind in order to be able to sense danger from all sides even from behind. One should strive to have zanshin at all times, but especially in the dojo when fighting or practising with a partner. One method to achieve zanshin might be, to look at your opponent's eyes, but try to observe his whole body. Empty your mind. Do not concentrate on one block or punch but rather let the technique come naturally. Keep zanshin even during and after rei.

Taisabaki

Taisabaki is usually translated as 'body management' or 'body shift'. However it should be noted that the root word sabaki has the concept of 'just enough' or 'optimum utilization'. So in Wado-Ryu, all movements should be practised efficiently with no wasted motion. Taisabaki often employs shifting by using the hips, though, of course, the use of the hips is essential to all Wado movement. Much of the movement and posture seen in Wado Ryu is based around traditional budo movement. The higher stances commonly seen in jujutsu and kenjutsu are used for mobility.

Sente

These three expressions describe three kinds of timing for attack and counter attack.

Sensen no Sen means to attack when the opponent's intent to attack is perceived, thus pre empting the opponent's attack and catching him/her off guard.

Sen means attacking simultaneously with the opponent as in nagashizuki. It implies that the 'defender' will be able to complete his attack first, and/or displace the opponent's attack.

Go no Sen means to respond to an attack with a counterattack or block/counterattack. However, the timing must be such as to strike immediately the opponent's attack is completed and before he is able to launch a further attack.

Nagasu, Inasu, Noru and Irimi

Nagasu is parrying, or moving with the attack, to evade a blow, often while countering. The body is moved slightly off of the line of attack so that the attacking technique is evaded, but at a close enough angle that the power of the opponent's attack can be used to increase the force of the counterattack.

Inasu is dodging and or deflecting, often dropping the body to move under, inside, or around an attacker's technique.

Noru is "riding," or moving in contact with the opponent as a means of controlling the opponent's technique or body movement.

Irimi is moving to enter, getting inside an opponent's technique to create an opening.

San-mi-Ittai

San mi-ittai are three kinds of body shifting movement which typify Wado-Ryu. The Kihon Kumite provide perhaps the best examples of san mi-ittai.

Ten-i, "to move the position" or move away from the attack.

Ten-tai, twisting and realigning the body to change the relationship of the body to the attack and further reduce the exposed target area.

Ten-gi, executing techniques while letting the attack pass through.

 Ki Ken Tai no Ichi

The co ordination of mind and body in movement. For example when fighting, the mind and body should work in unison. However, this union of mind and body will be ineffective if the technique is poor.

Hei Jo Shin

He Jo Shin is a calm state of mind and body. For example, during fighting if your attacker attempts to startle you with a feint or fake by waving his hands or tries to intimidate you by brandishing a weapon. By maintaining a calm state - Hei Jo Shin - you will not flinch but be prepared for the attack.

Peace and harmony,
Sensei M.Maharaj