"This Ki, this energy, hit the youth like a bolt of lightening and snapped his head back. At that moment the young man saw his knife for the first time and saw what he was really about to do."
Perhaps you have heard the phrase, "The shortest distance between two points is a straight line." If you think about this, you know that it's true. This principle came out of the study of physics, which is a science of how things work. Keeping this principle in mind, you can see how, in Karate, a punch, strike, or kick will have its most powerful effect if it is done in a straight line. Japanese Karate depends on this approach.
Another scientifically sound method of achieving great strength is focus. Focus is a process of developing a powerful defense or counter-attack by a series of movements done in a certain order.
For example, do you know how to do a reverse punch? The fist is thrust straight out from the body and, at the same time, the hips are twisted towards the target in order to use the strength of the hips and trunk of the body to give more power to the punching arm. The body is relaxed but in proper form.
Being relaxed and in proper form, the punch has great speed.
As the fist nears the target its speed is increased to its highest point and at the moment of contact the muscles tense, the breath is exhaled sharply (to bring the large and powerful stomach muscles into play) and all one's energy is concentrated 37
for an instant at the fist. Then the body instantly relaxes, the breath is inhaled and one is immediately ready for the next movement.
Focus
Focus is the ability to concentrate all the body's energy, through the correct Karate form, on a certain target, for an instant.
It is essential, also, to have the correct attitude, the mental strength of confidence, without which Karate would not have its tremendous power. Both physically and mentally, focus is one of the most important elements in the art of Karate.
Kiai
Kiai (Key-ah) is another important principle in Karate and the fighting arts.
Ki = energy
Ai = union
Therefore, Kiai means a union, or coming together, of energy. Isn't it a perfect word to describe that piercing yell that is heard when a Karate-ka (a Karate student) completes a movement? It is done by a sharp breathing out and tightening of the abdomen muscles in the Hara (the lower stomach). So, this shout also gives strength to the block or attack.
Kiai is also mental. The following is a story told by Terry Dobson, a skilled teacher of Aikido, which is another form of the Japanese Martial Arts that uses evading, throwing, and holding down techniques to stop an opponent. The story illustrates the effect that Kiai can have, even from a distance.
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When he was in New York City a few years back, Dobson witnessed a strange and near-fatal scene. While walking down 14th Street on a late autumn afternoon, he noticed two teen-agers run out of an appliance store and down the street. One of the boys had a large TV set in his arms; the other boy was trying to get it into a shopping bag as they ran together. The TV was much larger than the bag, so they were having some difficulty. Just then; the shopkeeper ran out after them in hot pursuit. The shopkeeper was well-dressed in expensive clothes and jewelry. From across the street Dobson watched this chase scene. Since the TV was too big for the boys to carry and still run fast enough to lose the shopkeeper, the boys sat it down on the sidewalk. One of the boys ran across the street leaving his companion. The shopkeeper caught up to where the lone boy was standing by the abandoned TV set. The shopkeeper, not paying attention to the youth, bent over to inspect his property.
As he did, he turned his back on the boy.
From across the street Dobson saw something happen. A change took place on the boy's face, and a look of rage suddenly appeared. The boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife. The blade flashed in the sun as he raised it above the shopkeeper's back.
Dobson was stunned by the violence that was about to be committed. Physically there was nothing he could do; he was too far from them and there was no time. In a few seconds the shopkeeper could be mortally wounded. Suddenly from a deep place inside Dobson, a silent scream raced upward from his belly to his head. "NO!" he shouted! In a split second, a great impulse of energy streaked from Dobson to that boy. This ki, this shout, this energy, hit the youth like a bolt of lightning and 40
snapped the boy's head back. At that moment the youth saw his knife for the first time and saw what he was really about to do. In that moment of realization, he turned around, closed his knife and quickly walked away. The shopkeeper had not seen any of this. He was busy inspecting his property. His life was almost taken but he would never know.
This ki (from Kiai), this union of energy, can be called upon in times of emergencies. It seems to be a natural part of us.
Through the practice of Martial Arts you can more easily summon this great power at will. In addition to being a power or energy that can give great strength to the performance of Karate techniques, it also gives unusual power and intensity to tasks of everyday life. For example, in other sports, or in dangerous activities like rock climbing or rushing down the rapids of a river in a boat, Kiai can be helpful in summoning great strengths to meet the challenges. Kiai has been known to help people survive in many emergency situations. Kiai has been called the "life source" - the source of energy that is in all things and moves all things. It has been given many names but it is common to all people. It is the life blood of the Art of Karate.
