Wado Myth: Where and Why do I have to kiai in kata?
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:24 am
This has been mulling over in my mind last night for some reason so I starting this thread just to expunge it so I am not wide awake at 4am again.
I have been on courses where people have asked where are the points in a kata where you have to kiai, or whether kushanku has 3 or 4 kiai (or whatever the number is), and the question has been met by a blank look from some of the Japanese instructors or a long talk by Jiro Ohtsuka.
I noticed a reviewer's comment on Amazon after buying the Ohgami Kata Book that they were slightly disappointed as the book didn't show where the kiai points were.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews ... ewpoints=1
I checked the two JKF Shitei Kata Books and for the non-Wado kata they state where the kiai points are, for Wado there were none indicated.
Shiomitsu sensei's syllabus books don't indicate a kiai in kata. When flicking through I saw for a section on kihon kumite when withdrawing back to kamae he says to maintain the correct maai, and correct kiai (probably touch on this later).
Suzuki sensei's Karate-Do book doesn't have kiai points when describing kushanku.
From the depths of the Yahoo mailing list, there was a detailed explanation. I will post the link here but not the content as time has passed and I would prefer to give them a chance to update or reiterate and not set it in stone here.
http://sports.dir.groups.yahoo.com/grou ... ssage/6304
So, why are people both in the mainstream and outside fixated on the kiai points? I have heard people say that such and such did a kiai in the wrong place, or people should fail the grading because they got it wrong or docked points in kata competition.
I have a feeling this is going to be a multi-level answer for people at different stages of their Wado lifetime...
I have been on courses where people have asked where are the points in a kata where you have to kiai, or whether kushanku has 3 or 4 kiai (or whatever the number is), and the question has been met by a blank look from some of the Japanese instructors or a long talk by Jiro Ohtsuka.
I noticed a reviewer's comment on Amazon after buying the Ohgami Kata Book that they were slightly disappointed as the book didn't show where the kiai points were.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews ... ewpoints=1
I checked the two JKF Shitei Kata Books and for the non-Wado kata they state where the kiai points are, for Wado there were none indicated.
Shiomitsu sensei's syllabus books don't indicate a kiai in kata. When flicking through I saw for a section on kihon kumite when withdrawing back to kamae he says to maintain the correct maai, and correct kiai (probably touch on this later).
Suzuki sensei's Karate-Do book doesn't have kiai points when describing kushanku.
From the depths of the Yahoo mailing list, there was a detailed explanation. I will post the link here but not the content as time has passed and I would prefer to give them a chance to update or reiterate and not set it in stone here.
http://sports.dir.groups.yahoo.com/grou ... ssage/6304
So, why are people both in the mainstream and outside fixated on the kiai points? I have heard people say that such and such did a kiai in the wrong place, or people should fail the grading because they got it wrong or docked points in kata competition.
I have a feeling this is going to be a multi-level answer for people at different stages of their Wado lifetime...