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From what I can tell, the Kiai, or Kiaup shout is a definitive part of every martial art, with the possable exception of Ninjistu (Art of stealh, duh.)

So how do you intigrate this basic psychological techniqe into your training?

For those who do not know, a Kiai shout is a cry or scream of visceral, gutteral force emitted durign a strike, its fucntion in practical usuage is to bascially utiliaze the 'Get PISSED' ideal and send your mental facilties into a full combat mode, its supposed to be an empowering shout.

It was also said ot be a method of intimidation in some archaic disiplinces.

So how do you use it? Do you consider it bullshido?

I myself consider the psychological aspect tof a Kiai shout quite handy, afterall, who is goign to want to ******** with the guy who suddenly screams like a madman and takes his 'brotha' out with a brutal elbow strike? I have been told I have a particualrly brutal shout, so I guess it works for me.

What are your thoughts on this concept?

The shout isn't only psycological, its primary purpose is to tense the muscles in the torso at the moment of impact. It is merely an extension of correct breathing to maximise the power of a technique and allow the body to better withstand blows

Screaming like a madman works, but not after every strike(in combat situation I mean, cause honstly who does). I like my war cry, the Canadian army has been looking to recruit me for quite some time(bullshit!!).

I remember during my initiate stage kiaiing like Bruce Lee on PCP (hey that rymes~) and having the entire class stare at me.

Teh Awesome.

I don't even kihap, I do this weird yell, straight from the throat. I can't even describe it.

Kinda like the way Iraqi's scream: AL-LA-LA-LA-LAH!!!! in that wierd shriek way every time they blow up a car?

Ah, the good old kiai...

I remember back a few years ago when a classmate and I stood face to face yelling at each other (the reason, if worth elaborating on, was not hostility, but merely the attempt to defeat the other one in loudness), each succesive shout growing louder and more powerful. At first I was just kidding around, you know, playing Bruce Lee or the like, but as we started reaching the greater levels of shouting I put both my feet firmly to the ground and pulled off the greatest kiai my stomach could manage. Worth mentioning is that I was in kendo - if there was anything I knew it was shouting.

The dude practically fell over, despite being prepared for the shout.

Good times.

I remember watching others practice or compete back in kendo, standing by the side with some of the other members of my club, discussing which of the contestants had the best kiai.

Still feels good finishing a combo with a good kiai.

...Or initiating homework, for that matter.

So... liberating.

I haven't really gotten used to the hiss; I prefer sticking with the kiai for now.

I think that even though it may seem foolish to outsiders, it does have a noticable psychological effect, because it forces you to commit to your attack. It may scare the opponent and I remember being told that the purpose of it is if you do get hit, you won't get your breath knocked out of you.