Kata Kiai Question?

Can anyone tell me why kiai in kata (such as goshinjutsu) are so muted/minor compared to what I would think of as a kiai as a mighty lion roar? If you are just doing it to be barely indistinguishable from a burp, what's the point?

Do you state this as a fact, or by experience from other performers?

Because when my partner and I perform kime no kata, we really perform kiai from out of our toes. Often people from other parts of the building come to see what is happening with us

Jacob3 wrote:Do you state this as a fact, or by experience from other performers?

Because when my partner and I perform kime no kata, we really perform kiai from out of our toes. Often people from other parts of the building come to see what is happening with us

I don't know enough to state anything as fact, just that this is how I was taught to kiai during kata and from watching other kata performances. I've never seen a kata performance with "real" kiai.

Jacob3 wrote:Do you state this as a fact, or by experience from other performers?

Because when my partner and I perform kime no kata, we really perform kiai from out of our toes. Often people from other parts of the building come to see what is happening with us

Me too! I have been known to wake up the sensei when practicing kime no kata! Kiai is kiai not meow

Mike

This was interesting to me, because it seems like "kiai" in judo is dead and gone. Again, this is an observation based solely in my experience of being involved in judo for several years, dropping out for 35 years, and coming back into it again recently.

When I was first learning judo, we started with ukemi. Our club consisted completely of beginners, so we were all starting from "square one." I think we spent the first two or three weeks laying on our backs and sides slapping the mat yelling "Kiai!" And I do mean yelling. We learned to kiai when we fell so we didn't have lung-full of air when we slammed onto the mat. Then we did kiai when throwing, to get more power in our throws when needed. Judo was a loud sport! As we progressed, the kiais became more organic, less "rehearsed," but it was still ingrained into our practice.

Now, there's nobody in our club that does a kiai. The other night, was doing randori with a young shodan. The guy was fast and very nimble and I had tough time staying on my feet. At one point, I saw my opening and I shot in for ashi guruma. Without thinking, I let out a robust kiai and over he went. I think the kids and some of the guys who have been practicing for only the past couple of years were kind of surprised. I've watched judo videos of competitions and I don't recall hearing many kiais.

Is the kiai dead--a relic of the past?

GregW wrote:Is the kiai dead--a relic of the past?

Not yet.
I have the same recollection from learning in the early 1980's. Two competitors from our club were actually famous for their kiai. The deep cry they would let out while attacking was usually what made the difference for a successful throw.