Kiai!

Did you know that a Kiai (pronounced like the words "key" and "eye" put together) is the shout or noise that a person makes when performing a technique in Karate? In Korean the same shout is referred to as a Kihap. These shouts are meant to emphasize certain techniques, or they can be used to tighten muscles when executing techniques. We see a parallel to the Kiai as we watch other sports. It is not uncommon for tennis players to shout while smashing the ball. It is common to see football players celebrating with a battle cry of sorts after scoring a touchdown. These shouts are very similar to the same ideas that a Kiai brings to martial arts.