Grand Master Gene Perceval

The martial arts yell or scream

Why do martial artists yell or scream in a martial arts class or when confronted by an attacker?

Something that seems as simple as a scream is really not if executed correctly. In the martial arts the blood curtailing scream given with force has many functions and takes several years of practice to master with its full potential. As a martial artists we use every part of our body that can be used as a weapon, and this includes the scream as well.

The scream in Japanese is Kiai.

In Korean the screem is Kiap.

One major problem most all new students have when learning the martial arts is when you move or exert a force of energy. The student has a tendency to hold their breath until the movement or force has been completed then releasing the trapped air. When doing this you will find yourself out of breath very quickly when you do a succession of rapid movements you will find yourself lacking a sufficient oxygen supply.

If you are a singer and was voice trained correctly, you are well aware of using your diaphragm abdominal muscles much like an accordion, the more pressure pushed the more comes out and bypassing the vocal cords creating this sound. Caution: if you are a singer you must let your instructor know beforehand when yelling or screaming, by doing screams you can destroy the fine voice mechanisms vocal cords.

Whichever category your adversary falls into, you have a very special and powerful weapon to use against him or her. This weapon is noise. Noise in the form or fashion that is most effective and the least likely to fail you. Almost every technique learned and practiced in the martial arts has this one element in common; a yell. A loud, clear, sharp yell that is forced from the center of your body by your diaphragm should be focused on your assailant face and ears. This concept is central to your learning an effective defense system.

It should be clear that a powerful yell/scream is a weapon. You, your attacker and every other human being is born with, and will die with two fears: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. When utilizing these fears that he or she already has, combined with the greatly increased likelihood that when you yell or scream will attract attention and increase the probability of getting third-party assistance against the assailant makes its mastery very worthwhile.

The scream is a form of breath control that is forced up from the center of your body and focused outward to your adversary, by the use of your diaphragm abdominal muscles. This is important for a number of reasons.

The scream is a poor defensive tool when you are tense or upset. Your throat may become constricted and "dry" in such conditions. If, however, you are prepared and trained to use your diaphragm to execute your yell this problem will not arise.

When confronted with a potentially threatening situation, your body will produce and inject into your bloodstream large amounts of adrenalin. The oxygen you breath in after a loud, bloodcurdling scream will act as a catalyst with this bodily stimulant and briefly gives you more strength, better hearing and sight and more speed.

Another important factor when using the scream is that it will frighten your assailant. Plus, it may even make him or her run away for fear of assistance.

In a threatening situation, using the scream as a defensive tool may give you the opportunity to escape unharmed. We know how effective a yell can be from statistical studies. In one study, sixty percent of all assaults on women were successfully repelled all by a loud, clear, sharp yell. Making lots of noise when confronted or when you suspect or are about to be confronted is a reported success in escaping attacks; some of which have been used against armed assailants.

Another reason for using the yell or scream is to rid yourself of the fear of being attacked and hurt. While you are screaming, your fears will be put aside, enabling immediate retaliation with astounding results.

For example: When you have received a blow to the head, you are temporarily bewildered and dizzy. By utilizing the scream, the liquid inside of your equilibrium's "three circular canals" will begin to vibrate - clearing your head and stabilizing your balance for a few seconds - just long enough to retaliate and ward off further harm. Note: this is most effective on the initial scream. Repeated yells will not result in a clear head and stabilized balance. Therefore, as this condition will last only a short time, you must act immediately.

When screaming, the higher the sound pitch themore terrifying the scream is perceived and induces fear to the listener. When we hear normal sounds, that sound is delivered to a section of the brain that makes sense of that sound. Screams, however don't follow that route, screams are sent from the ear to the amygdala, the brains fear center, a region of the brain that is primarily associated with emotional processes.

Yelling vs. Screaming, screaming sounds scared. It is high pitched and loud, designed to attract attention and help. Yelling, sounds made shows anger and outrage. The two must be practiced just like any movement in the martial arts. Things to consider, by screaming without an attack, or where people can come to your aid, there is also that slim possibility it could turn against you by having the assailant wanting to quiet you immediately. If you are a women and feel you might get help, then scream and keep on screaming, for one scream is not enough in most cases. Remember screams will attract attention. Also a single scream might not be enough to give out your location. By screaming and attacking or fighting back sends a message to the attacker, that perhaps pickings will be better with someone else. Through time, learning proper breathing and breath control, are exactly where the power starts and finishes. The scream will slowly start to emerge.

The Kiai (which is Japanese), means, the meeting together of energy. This is the "cry which gives life". In Korean the meaning of Kiap is very similar to the Japanese, meaning "A concentration, coordination, and gathering of energy, power, or force. The art of perfectly concentrating all one's energy, physical and mental, upon a given object, with unremitting determination. It is the shout made at the moment of attack. Or in a mild use, given as a command by an instructor for a student or students to act, attack, or proceed. The student may scream with control as to add more force into a blow.

When a martial artist releases this form of energy, and pin-points its direction at the face of his or her enemy. This in turn will momentarily paralyses the enemy's functioning and render the attacker more susceptible to your attack or counter-attack.

The attackers head should shoot back with surprise. A chill should be sent down their spine. Goose bumps might appear. And fright might set in for a second or two. A moment of confusion. What and how the attackers reaction is will determine the outcome.

The sudden scream enables a person carrying out a violent movement (if intended to do so) to purify their mind of extraneous thoughts, leaving simply the pure energy (ki) which causes him or her to act.

There are four kinds of Ki-ai - Ki-ap:

1. Low and weightily at moments of action.
2. High and ear-piercing.
3. Normal for purposes of resuscitation, shake off a blow.
4. Silent, used in certain meditation exercises.

How to scream, Ki-ai, Ki-ap in the martial arts:

Starting from the very beginning of life, when you bring home your new baby. There comes a time when something is bothering that baby, and the natural thing to do is cry. And cry, and cry some more. Sometimes as long as an hour or so, (I hope not that long) Yet the baby's throat is not the least bit irritated. Yet if we were to do the same thing at our present age, our throats would be so sore we then have something to cry about. Again, short practice sessions in time will help you develop the perfect scream and or yell.

If you were to watch closely at what the baby's doing, you would notice their little stomach pumping up and down with each scream or yell. Important Not from the chest area.

The air which is pushed out, by-passes the throat-which is the correct placement, and not the throat. So as the baby cries you hear that EH-EH-EH-EH sound.

Lets take another look other than a baby, and change the EH sound to an AH sound. This is the sound in which you try to obtain. This sound is deeper, similar to when you are exhausted in sound.

When you breath in, the air should push your abdomen out. Within that abdomen area you have your stomach. The diaphragm separates the abdominal and the thoracic cavities. The diaphragm pushes down on the stomach when inhaling pushing the stomach outward. And when exhaling the abdomen is pulled in.

Visualization.

Picture yourself that you have an upset stomach and you know your going to vomit soon. You lift the lid of the toilet bowl, suddenly you bend at the waist and feel your stomach contracting, and with force you project vomit. Several things are happening, the vomit surpasses the throat giving that AH sound each time you vomit. (Hope you are feeling better).

Now that you got the general idea, we can move forward and practice our scream, Ki-ai, Ki-ap. In the beginning, don't overdue it and get a sore throat. It's going to take practice. At this time don't try to make your scream very loud, but concentrate on what is happening with your exhale. Power will come in time. Now that you have a mental idea of the sensation, practice carefully.

Working with a partner.

This is a great way to learn how to bypass the throat.

1. Stand up straight and relaxed, not collapsed, and breath normally.
2. Your partner is going to stand at your side facing one of your shoulders.
3. Your partner is going to place one hand against your lower spine, not with force, just to stabilize your balance.
4. Your partner is going to place the other hand on your abdomen.
5. You must breath deeply but normally. You must relax your mid section completely as you breath.
6. Your partner is going to gently apply pressure with his/her hand on your mid-section.
7. Keep breathing in and out with your mouth open. Do not hyperventilate as to cause loss of carbon dioxide and become dizzy. sufficient to be heard.
8. Not knowing when, at some point your partner will suddenly push with some force inward into your abdomen.
9. Take notice, that sound you make will be involuntary. The sound will bypass the throat and the sound will come out naturally. Your partners other hand on the spine will support your balance. Remember the vomit action.

Visualize your-self as being an accordion, the more pressure pushed on your mid-section the more the air comes out. The natural tendency when someone applies pressure to your mid-section is to resist with equal force, DON'T DO IT.

1. A. as you breath deeper and take in more air, your abdominal is going to expand larger.
2. A. you are going to make sure that your mouth is open as if you were taking in a mouth full of food.
3. A. let out a AH continuous note sound, not a scream but loud enough.
4. Without any anticipation on your part, B. your partner, will give a sudden semi-hard push into your stomach while supporting your back for balance.

This is what could have taken place if you were to fully scream.

Your EH sound that you gave out should have sur-passed your throat, with a smooth moderate yell/scream. This is the beginning step in perfecting the perfect scream without damaging your throat.

Revewing the benefits of the scream.

1. A powerful scream is defiantly a weapon if used and timed properly. A well planed scream at close range directed at an adversary when under attack will startle your adversary leaving them temporary confused and perhaps paralyzed for a quick instant, during that instant you must take advantage of your martial arts skills and use a defensive tactic to give you the upper hand.
2. Changing the scream into a controlled loud scream will also attract attention and enhance the probability that a third party or more may come too your assistance against your assailant.
3. When you are nervous, tense, or upset, your throat becomes constricted and dry, in this condition your voice becomes a poor defensive tool. If, however, you are prepared and well trained, you will use your diaphragm to execute the yell and this problem will not arise.
4. When confronted with a potentially threatening situation, your body will produce and inject large amounts of adrenaline into your bloodstream. The oxygen you breath in after a loud blood curdling scream will act as a catalyst with this bodily stimulant and briefly gives you more:
1. Strength.
2. Better hearing.
3. Better sight.
4. More speed.
5. During a confrontation the scream will rid yourself of fear at that instant enabling you to defend yourself with astounding results.
6. When receiving a blow to the head by an aggressor you become temporarily confused and dizzy. This is what actually is taking place.
   There are three semicircular canals in your inner ear called your equilibrium, these canals have a specific function.
   First canal senses your up-and-down movements.
   Second canal senses your side-to-side movements.
   Third canal senses your tilting movements.
7. This could be somewhat like a level that a carpenter uses, when this liquid is uneven so is you level of balance. Being struck in the head can unstabilize your balance, by utilizing a powerful scream the liquid will vibrate for a quick instant only clearing your head and stabilizing your balance. You must react at that instant to retaliate and ward off danger to you. This scream is only effective on the initial scream. Repeated scream will not result in a clear head or in stabilizing your balance.
That is why in the martial arts maintaining your head level will help you improve your balance dramatically.

Grand Master Gene Perceval




In the arts scince 1955