The Kiai in Self-Defense

How many martial arts or self-defense professionals teach you that the kiai “yell” has certain benefits in self-defense, i.e., the kiai yell, a primal scream if you will, blocks out everything else and focuses you; it induces greater strength, allows application of more force; it, along with adrenal effects, reduces pain; it eliminates distractions and helps you to concentrate. 

For the uninitiated yelling or the primal scream is one of the most difficult physical reactions to perform. The only way to get past this impediment to the kiai yell is to practice with the proper mind-set. In a adrenal stress filled situation where you need to act often the kiai yell will trigger your “go” button and allow you to act in an appropriate self-defense legal manner. 

We martial artist tend to go with the more dramatic form of explanation of the kiai, the combat yell that is supposed to shock your adversary for that moment that allows you to act while the adversary is stuck in the OO bounce, the observe and orient. This pulls them away from that instant of action attacking, it is about putting them into the freeze. In a way this is true but as with most things martial, there is more.

The kiai in self-defense, when visualized and enacted, i.e., visualize a situation and do the kiai out loud and for real, can provide a mind-set/mind-state that when the stuff hits you instantly kiai and act. You can even use the kiai as your trigger. Train and create a mind-set to kiai yell and then act. Consider the benefits of the SD Kiai as stated in paragraph one, to focus; to gain strength; to apply greater force; to reduce pain; to forget about injuries; to eliminate any distractions so you can concentrate of running, finding safety or if forced to apply force immediately, directly and explosively. 

Remember to remove any distinctions about applying a kiai yell to some move or technique or combo but kiai yell as much as you can until you achieve success in self-defense be it running away, gaining distance and time or simply to act appropriately for self-defense. 

if you create a mind-set/mind-state the associates violence with the kiai yell and you train it properly and if you can, train it with an adrenal flood reality based situation, it will be there for you and will work to break the freeze and help you act. Make mind-set training for self-defense your personal trainer and train the kiai yell as one of your defense mechanisms. 

Kiai (気合 ?) /ˈkiː.aɪ/ is a Japanese term used in martial arts for the short yell or shout uttered when performing an attacking move. Traditional Japanese Dojo generally use single syllables beginning with a vowel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai

Remember, it is not just an attacking shout or yell when performed but a means to trigger your go button and allow your body and mind to perform under the stress of violence. It can be a part of the adversary startle response to your kiai but it should be closer to the trigger effect that helps you properly defend and protect yourself and others. 


Add in that the kiai is also a means to trigger proper sanchin like breathing, the breathing from the diaphragm that also provides some control for our adrenal flooding effects also important to breaking the freeze and acting. It doesn’t have to be for the attack or counter-attack but a means to allow you to act be it running or standing your ground. 

Primary Bibliography of Self-Defense:
MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Meditations of Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" YMAA Publishing. 2008.

Secondary Bibliography of Self-Defense:
Ayoob, Massad. “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self-Defense”Gun Digest Books. Krouse Publications. Wisconsin. 2014.
Goleman, Daniel. "Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition]." Bantam. January 11, 2012.
Miller, Rory. "ConCom: Conflict Communications A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication." Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 2014. 
Miller, Rory and Kane, Lawrence A. "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-making under Threat of Violence." YMAA Publisher. New Hampshire. 2012
Miller, Rory. "Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide." YMAA Publications. NH. 2012.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publishing. 2011.
Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1995
Morris, Desmond. “Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior.” Harry N. Abrams. April 1979.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1993.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense" MJF Books. 1997.
Maffetone, Philip Dr. “The Maffetone Method: The Holistic, Low-stress, No-Pain Way to Exceptional Fitness.” McGraw Hill, New York. 2000
Strong, Sanford. “Strong on Defense_ Survival Rules to Protect you and your Family from Crime.” Pocket Books. New York. 1996.
and more … see blog bibliography.

My Blog Bibliography

Cornered Cat (Scratching Post): http://www.corneredcat.com/scratching-post/
Kodokan Boston: http://kodokanboston.org
Mario McKenna (Kowakan): http://www.kowakan.com
Wim Demeere’s Blog: http://www.wimsblog.com
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