Heeya!

[disgruntled]

to shout or not to shout? what do you guys think? some martial arts feel that you should shout when you strike and others don't. personally i think that people should shout. it serves several purposes.

1) contracts your abdominal muscles (when you do it right), which prepares your body for a hit.

2) can scare a person

3) hightens your confidence

it does have a down side if you shout on every strike. it pretty much tells someone what you are about to do, but you shouldn't be shouting on every strike and should shout sometimes when you are not going to strike to throw then off.

what is your opinion?

[hurgoll]

I rarely shout, only to startle or when I give cannot hold it in anymore.

[sirdarksol]

Ah, the kiai.
It serves as an external purpose of focus. I believe that there are people who can achieve the same focus internally, but it takes a lot of practice.
If, however, you can manage to do this, being eerily silent during combat can unnerve an opponent just as much as a spirited kiai.

[Shirindo]

Originally Posted by sirdarksol

being eerily silent during combat can unnerve an opponent just as much as a spirited kiai.

Agreed.........








.......so long as you're winning!

[nangel78]

I probably would not shout myself. I agree with the other views here on this issue.