Unable to Kiai - Is this a roadblock?

Hi,

So in a nutshell, I'm unable to kiai. Although I don't like the term, it's essentially a minor disability in my vocal chords. Above a loud conversational tone, my voice increases in pitch tremendously, so that anything approaching the volume or intensity of what most would consider an acceptable kiai comes out as a screech, similar to stepping on a cat's tail.

Yes, I've tried to fix it. Yes, other people have tried to help. Yes, I've spent many, many hours in my basement trying to get it.

I'm at the point where I need to accept that this is the body I was born with, and I can't kiai.

The problem is that I've recently changed dojos due to my old one closing. While my old Sensei was fine with me just saying the word "kiai", the new dojo has informed me I will not be able to advance further without being able to do it.

I also kind of wanted to take Kendo, but heard that requires a ton of kiai's.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Have you tried using vocal warmups to strengthen your warm vocal chords?

also do you breath from the abdomen when shouting, its hard to be high in pitch whilst breathing from that low down.

what word is your kiai suposed to be?

 

I've tried it all. I promise. For two years I have literally tried everything suggested to me by experienced martial artists, from searching on the web, and even consulted my physician. If you heard me talk in real life you'd understand. While I do sincerely appreciate suggestions (and frankly, will try any that I haven't yet), I'm at the point of accepting that it's not happening.

Our kiai was usually a "shto", but some guys did a "kah" or a "ghu" lol... I suck at describing sounds.

Edit: Yeah, I could always go to another dojo, but this is the only other school in the area that teaches this style, and I'd prefer not to throw away two year's of hard work to be a white belt in a new school

 

If your instructor thinks a kiai is actually important then the rest of the style must be truly awful. Go train in something that isn't silly.

 

Could you describe how you normally talk, if appropriate, have you tried speech therapy?

If your american, you physician doesnt need to refer you, you can just go direct.

 

It is the explosive push from the diaphragm that is important not the amount of noise and points to a lack of understanding of what a kiai is...

I kind of agree with your Sensei that just saying kiai is not acceptable but it shouldn't matter on how loud your kiai is just that your doing it correctly.

What system are you studying?

 

If you're doing a kiai properly you don't really 'say' anything and the noise that comes out is incidental. It really doesn't sound like your instructor understands what he is teaching

 

I think, aaradia made an important point there: Does the instructor it might be physical/ medical issue and not just being ashamed.

I got quite some rebukes and punishments, because I am able to kiai, just don't like it; my teacher nearly kicked me as his uke due to that (because he knew, I would be able to under that circumstances).


In addition, and that might sound rude now but I don't mean it like that: After two years, how far can you have come, that it might be that bad to start anew?
And what's so bad about being a whitebelt again?

 

And what did your physician say?

 

Mike Tyson probably couldn't Kiai. Didn't stop him kicking ass.

 

Or biting someones ear off, being found guilty for rape and being a continuing drug/alcohol addict.

He's a very bad example to use for combat sports participants.

 

How many other fighters can you name with a speech/voice impediment?!

 

Anderson silva, nate diaz, ronda Rousey, chris eubank.