Why do they say "hi-ya" in martial arts?

Question

i've heard that its s to hit harder, but i dont really know, can someone please explai why?

Answer 1

most of the time its KIA or ACE, u hit harder  when you do this.

Answer 2

Because it would be rude not to say "hi-ya" to your dojo mates upon entering the mat

Answer 3

Hi-ya is a greeting it means hello.

Answer 4

answer the question to every one else, but what ever you prefer to say it makes you hit harder just like when you know your going to get hit you brace this also happens when you kiup or what ever an it also forces you to breath when you fight you would be surprised  how easily it is to stop breathing when your fighting.

Answer 5

Well, in Hawaii they say Alohah and aloha ha, Koreans say awn yawng haw sheem nee kaw and Kalifornians say ola, but hi ya works if the person doesn't get offended by the insinuation that he might appear to be high.  Mandrin is ni haw ma.

The shout is for a couple purposes, one it startles a person giving you a slight element of surprise and it expels air so that you are more resistent to powerful strikes and kicks and you are able to exert more power.  Anyway, the abdomen is tightened causing the diaphram to expel air out.

Answer 6

For starters, it is yelled or screamed. The primary reason for that is that yelling forces you to breathe, which is surprisingly easy to forget to do when you are concentrating on something else (like your opponent). Yelling can also clear the air from your lungs before a kick or punch forces the air out. Other people say that it builds your own self-confidence and intimidates your opponent, but that would depend on the person you are fighting. The last reason would be during certain types of competition sparring, where yelling helps you get the point from the judges.

Answer 7

They call that a kai and there are several reasons behind doing it.  First it does allow you to punch, kick, and strike faster and harder by doing a kai.  Next time you are at the gym try lifting the weight while breathing in and then try it with the same weight breathing out.  You will find that it is easier to lift the weight by breathing out.  Secondly if you are close enough to hit or kick someone they are basically close enough to hit or kick you.  If you have ever had the wind knocked out of you then you know it does not feel good and some people are temporarily incapacitated when it happens.  By doing a kai it lessens the chance of having the wind knocked out of you.  Third is that it is felt that it helps coordinate and harness your inner strength or "Ki" with those physical things that you are trying to do.  Some people do not believe in this metaphysical concept of Ki, or as the Chinese call it-Chi, but I believe there has got to be something to it since breathing out does indeed make it easier to lift that weight overhead at the gym.  Lastly is the psychological aspect.  Your opponent can sometimes find this loud yell intimidating and if you have an opponent scared or beat mentally then it becomes that much easier to beat them physically.  This does not work quite so much on trained, experienced fighters but still you have the other reasons for it as well so many martial artists use and believe in it and the existence of Ki or Chi.

Answer 8

It's to exsert (spellings probly wrong) your energy more, basically making your kicks and punches faster and stronger.

Answer 9

Stop watching those Bruce Lee movies. He is the only one who does "hi-ya" most others do Kia- or kiyup which is more deeper. Have you ever heard Jackie Chan, Jet li, Tony Jaa, etc., do "hiya?'' I use those actors as an example because they are probably the only martial artist you know right?

If you can, send me a video of a person seriously going "hiya" thats not Bruce Lee, and is legit enough that a lot of people know who he is.

Answer 10

If someone is teaching you to yell "hiya, that person is not trained in proper bujutsu (budo).

It is the result of McDojo training.

The sounds used ARE specific sounds that vibrate and enhance power.

The word "Kiai" means "breath - harmony". The purpose of kiai is to synchronize the breath with the execution of the technique.  

It serves to amplify your power and also lessen the effect of a blow you may receive in an attack.

"hiya" is BS.

Answer 11

Generally speaking everyone says their own "Hi-ya" in a different way. It creates a highers bloodflow to the muscles and you punch kick and basically hit stronger. It is also a sort of primal scream. If you can yell very loud it can really scare your opponent. it focuses qi and can turn tides in fights.

Answer 12

perhaps