Welcome to Sacramento Dojos

I am a young old codger in the martial arts. I yearn for the good old days, and talk about the martial arts “when we were doing it right”. I am not much different than your Punong Guros, Si Gungs, and Dads and Grampas who complain that young people have messed everything up. At 42, I am at the gateway of sorta-still-young-but-approaching-old-fartdom; still young enough to mix it up with the young guys, but old enough to have to nurse old injuries and bad joints after our match. When you’re on the floor competing, I am one of those guys in the audience whining about how the martial arts are barely recognizable to what it use to be when we “did the real martial arts”.

This is not to say that I don’t respect the way martial arts are done today. Today’s competitor is trickier and more athletic than yesterday’s, and in many ways he has improved the way we did it. But you guys sure could use some tips from the old guys.

Right now, I am only going to share with you the yell. Also known as the Kiai (Japanese), the Kihap (Korean), or Jiao Han (Chinese)–depending on your style.

It’s so much more than simply yelling out a word. When I watch these competitors on the floor doing their forms, I cringe, because it is obvious that no one has taught them the correct way to use the yell–let alone execute the yell. What’s even more sad is the more competitors do it incorrectly, and many  judges either don’t know any better or don’t care. It is just as important as having strong stances, fast hands, strong blocks, and focus; yet, one wouldn’t know after watching the competitions. The competitor must fully understand the yell, how to do it, and why it’s done. Judges and teachers, then, should make sure to include this criteria when deciding on a “good” martial arts form over one that is just done for kicks, so to speak.

First, let’s give a little background on the yell in the martial arts:

• The yell is not just a sound you make when fighting. It is a battle cry when in combat. The yell is used when fighting man to man, either in preparation to fight or while fighting en masse. The yell adds to the chaos of fighting for one’s life. When many people are fighting simultaneously, your yell should be heard by the opponent you are fighting directly–as a warning that you are planning to kill him. At the moment you face a man in the midst of battle, no one in the battle exist; only you and him, for the duration of that short match. Then you turn your focus on the next opponent. The screaming that one would hear on the battlefield, then, is not the combination of all men screaming at each other, but what is overheard by many one-on-one skirmishes.
• The yell is not used in an ambush situation where the element of surprise is needed. If a group of men ambush another group, the yell may be used to overwhelm them but only after reaching a close distance. What you see in the movies is inaccurate; warriors sneak up on the enemy quietly, and then scream when noticed or once they are within striking distance.
• The warrior’s cry is used to bring out rage from within during training. It is similar to what power weightlifters do when attempting to exert themselves.
• The yell traditionally was not used as an accompaniment to the technique, meaning the yell is not used along with the strike or an individual technique. Instead the yell was used to bring about the initial attack, once launched on the opponent. Once the duel has begun, the sounds one makes is more of a growl or grunt, while fighting. This is different from the yell, and serves a separate purpose.
• In the advanced level of many martial arts, specific yells are used to give strength to various organs and attributes of the fighter. For example, the “hard breathing”, or the sound “haaa”/”sshhh”/”ssss” while executing a dynamic tension push is meant to harden the muscles and veins and arteries to allow chi to flow to the limb where you will need more strength. This sound and movement is used when the limb is feeling soreness or fatigue, and the fighter needs more energy for striking. While using this technique, chi is collected and stored in the limb and the let out (with an accompanying yell) once you strike with that hand/arm. Other yells or sounds are used to strengthen certain areas of the body. For example the soft “ssshhh” sound is used to strengthen the “triple burner”–parts of the body that are not protected by the rib cage–when in combat. Not all yells are equal, nor are they all used for the same purpose.

I have a disdain for teaching by any other means than in person, so we will keep this article superficial. So let’s stop there…

For martial arts competitors and judges, here are the basic rules of using the yell/scream for martial arts forms:

1. The yell’s main purpose is to build emotion in the “yeller”, as well as fear or intimidation for the “yellee”. Notice, I did not say identify them as “attacker” and “defender”. What is meant here is that the yeller is the person doing the yelling. The yellee is anyone watching the yeller.
2. The yell is to be directed at the one watching the yellee, not so much an “imaginary opponent” as we are often told. Don’t believe me? Ask your grandmaster. When demonstrating a form, you will make eye contact with whomever is watching you while you are facing that direction, and the yells and faces you make will be directed at those people. The form is a demonstration of your martial arts skill, and it is also to show the spectator that you are a warrior. We don’t want them cheering you on as if you were a dancer on stage; the spectator who has made eye contact with you should walk away with the feeling that you were about to pounce on him. For that reason, when facing the judges in your form, and you yell, you will address the judges, not some imaginary opponent. your yell, your eye contact, your weapon, will be pointed at them. This sends the message that you are a warrior, not a performer.
3. The yell should be like the techniques in your form:  strong, loud, short, quick, and forceful. Long, screamy yells do not match a quick, strong punch. I know what you’re thinking. “Didn’t you just say that they don’t go “with” the techniques?” Yes, I did. Earlier, I was giving you the use for the yell in attacking. We are now talking about performance of the kata.
4. The yell is not used with your voice, meaning it does not come from high in your throat, but low in the throat–below the voice box. If that confuses you, think of a growl. (Matter of fact, growl right now. Try a growl that sounds like your speaking voice, and then try one that comes from deeper within–almost from the lungs) Now, growl that growl into a yell. The yell should not sound like your voice, but something drom deeper within you and more animistic. Now that’s a yell.
5. Don’t yell too much, or it will take away from the effect of the yell. I have seen champions yell on every technique. Wait–worse–I have seen a champion “asah, asah, asah, yattah” thoughout the entire form. This guy is no longer doing martial arts. He is dancing a routine that is supposed to represent the martial arts. I sure hope he doesn’t think those sounds are helping his martial arts fighting ability by doing so!
6. The facial expression while executing a martial arts form should be serious. NEVER smile during a form. Not even after a form. This isn’t “So You Think You Can Dance!”–its a demonstration of combat ability. Let your face display a warrior’s face during combat, and your yell will reflect that attitude. But without it, you’re just making sounds. When making eye contact with someone while doing the form, that person should feel uneasy. That’s what the martial arts are all about. This isn’t a beauty contest.
7. Finally, as I said, not all yells are the same. And styles vary from art to art. Find out what their use is in your system, and then do so accordingly. In the Chinese martial arts, for example, the yell is not used as a battle cry. The yell is used to invoke different strengths to support technique. However, in weapons forms, the yell in Chinese arts are a battle cry.

If you would like an example of how the battle cry/combat yell/scream is used for combat, take a look at the video below. Thank you for visiting!