Kiai

Pronounced 'Kee-eye'. Kiai is the so called martial arts shout or spirited shout - but it is far more than that. It is a way of developing confidence, a way of strengthening the body, and a way of disrupting the equilibrium of your assailant. You should kiai on the last technique in a set, in a line or when turning, but keep it short and percussive during the performance of a set, because the next person in line to call cadence must do so without a pause in the rhythm started by the first person. Don't forget to practise counting through each stepping sequence (or set) and to kiai when appropriate.

Chikara

There are some additional terms related to the art of kiai that will become increasingly important. The first of these is 'chikara' which means power, or that force used to effect a particular movement. In the basic stages of Shinseido, when we effect a strike or parry etc. we should do it with great power and effort - as if our lives depended upon it. Many beginners lack the confidence or are afraid to be as demonstrative as the free use of chikara demands, and this is something that you must try to come to terms with as soon as possible.

Kime

Another term related to the art of kiai is 'kime' (pronounced kee-meh). Kime is the ability to focus chikara into a single beam of energy which culminates in explosive power. It will take time to develop this, but until you have mastered this ability, your techniques will be empty and lack effectiveness. There are no easy ways to develop kime, and I suspect that only consistent and regular practise is the answer to this situation. I do believe however, that unless you generate full power in your techniques and put in maximum effort, you will not discover kime.

Zanshin

A third related term is 'zanshin'. Zanshin literally means 'awareness'. However, it is a special sort of awareness that relates not only to the time before or during an event, but particularly and most importantly to the period after an event. Without awareness, we cannot hope to respond effectively should we be faced with serious assault. Without awareness we cannot manage that attack successfully. More important, in martial arts thinking, is the awareness that exists after we have successfully handled a violent situation. During training, a student may give the occasional inspired performance, only to ruin it by finishing hastily and without proper awareness and decorum. The moments after the last technique in an exercise or form should not be dismissed without thought, rather, lend to that momentary period the greatest awareness of all and the greatest dignity.