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Sometimes, in martial art circles, called the, “Kiai Yell.” When attacked don’t think about blocking, hit him. Scream, a scream will cause a freeze in your attacker allowing some time for your techniques to work. If you are attacked by someone with a weapon, say a knife, reach with one hand behind your hip and scream, “Drop the Weapon,” in a strong cop like voice. It is amazing how many will see a gun and change their minds about attacking.
Think about this example as an explanation of the kiai yell, a means to instill a momentary freeze in your adversary. Use such tactics as a means of encouraging the adversary to give up the attack. Don’t make threats, etc., because those tend to escalate things. Use the mind-tactics that cause an adversary to freeze, psych them out, or influence them in a more positive way for you.
There are a variety of benefits in the practice and application of kiai. In self-defense this can be used to gain you time, time to reach a goal like leaving, moving to gain distance, articulate to influence witnesses and make you breath and to do what you need to stop the threat, etc. The kiai shout can cause a freeze, i.e., to reorient to observe and orient (OODA loop) giving you time to do something else while they decide on how to act, DA of the OODA. Say, do something weird or unexpected as well. Rapid movement with rapid speech … Keep a calm professionalism, use a Dragnet type voice while talking …
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Great words. Interestingly enough I saw a program about sumo and realized there are no kiai in sumo. Apparently, there is no grunting or purposeful noise making as it takes away strength from our body. It sounded a bit strange and I intend to investigate further. I've also wondered why one doesn't kiai at the release in the practice of Japanese archery. Interesting relations to karate as I was often told to use kiai on certain strikes. Not sure about this, but I agree with you and the effect of a powerful kiai on a possible threat. Thanks for the post.
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