The Power of Your Voice, Empower Martial Arts

When most people think of Karate or Tae-Kwon-Do, the first thing that comes to their minds is the crane pose from The Karate Kid or a goofy yell. In martial arts this goofy yell is called a “ki-hap” and it serves several purposes.

The main purpose of a “ki-hap” is to increase your power when executing a technique. Science has shown how exhaling simultaneously with a technique can increase your power by up to 15%. It causes a small burst of adrenaline to escape while at the same time reminding you to breathe when you’re nervous.

Yelling is also a great way to draw attention to yourself if you are feeling threatened or are being attacked. The worst thing you can do is freeze up and not say anything. Yelling can signal other people to help you or even scare the aggressor away entirely.

For testing purposes, ki-hap’s are used as a form of communication to signal your partner during one-step drills and self-defense routines. This is one way of showing respect to your opponent by making sure they have a plan before attacking.

Finally yelling is a great form of stress relief that is generally frowned upon in many activities. Coming from a stressful day at work or having trouble with bullies at school, EMA wants to relieve your stress and build confidence through the power of your voice!

For more information or questions on this topic or how to get involved in Empower Martial Arts contact Mr. Holgerson at tj_holgerson@hotmail.com or leave a comment below.