PRAYER

To pray before practicing Art of Self-Defence & to be Remembered all the time:

REMEMBER

"Since Karate is a martial art, you must practice with the utmost seriousness from teh very beginning."
"Try to do exactly as you are taught without complaining or quibbling."
"When you are learning a new technique, practice it whole heartily until you truly understand it."
"Don't pretend to be great master and don't try to show off your strength."
"Remember that you must always have a deep regard for courtesy, and you must be respectful and obedient toward your seniors."
"You must ignore the bad and adopt the good."
"Think of everyday life as karate training."

The Kiai

Wait a minute. Isn't the kiai the yell that I hear when students are sparring and/or fighting? How can it be technique? How? Easy! A karate master can take out an opponent with his/her kiai alone (or so the teachings say). Knowing when to use a liai, and how to properly execute and apply for it are just as important as knowing the proper way to kick or punch. It is a technique just the same as a kick or punch, but just not as physical.

A kiai is done by quickly exhaling, and at the same time making a one syllable sound. "I", "Hi" and "EE" would be good sounds to use for a kiai. You want your kiai to be as short but loud as possible. However, a kiai should not be confused with a yell. A well executed kiai will not cause the throat to feel to raw, as yelling would.

When done properly, the kiai does three things:

(1) It empties air from the lungs. This is good, because if you are struck after executing a kiai, the chances of having the "wind knocked out of you" are greatly reduced. Also, by getting as much as air out of your lungs as possible, it makes you a somewhat harder, denser target. Therefore, if you are struck after a kiai, it should not hurt quite as much.

(2) It should startle your opponent. Even a momentary pause or blink by your opponent can be the opening you are waiting for. Use a kiai to help create that opening.

(3) It should "psych" you up. Think of it as talking to yourself before the big fight. The kiai should get your adrenaline going.