Kiai: Difference between revisions

'''Snowflake:''' Rar.|''[[Buttlord GT]]''}}

 

 

''Kiai'' (Japanese for "unification of will", and pronounced like the words "key" and "eye" in rapid succession) is the technical term for the shout that accompanies kata (martial arts moves) in many real-life martial arts (and thus is [[Truth in Television]]). Fighters are supposed to come up with their own kiai, though often it's simply "kiai." It's commonly seen in martial-arts films, anime, and really, anybody who's [[Hot-Blooded]] and kicking ass.

* [[Hot-Blooded|Subaru]] of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' is a frequent user of these in battle.

** Taken to another level when Subaru ''[[Unstoppable Rage|completely]] [[Berserker Tears|lost it]]'' on Nove and Cinque. Sure, yelling can focus your attacks, but ''hysterical screaming and crying'' is just [[Screaming Warrior|that much better.]]

** Which, as usual, gets a [[Shout-Out]] ([[Incredibly Lame Pun|get it?]]) as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DX_IaXs5YQ an easter egg] in ''[[Super Robot Wars]]''.

** And in ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler]]''.

* In a somewhat bizarre choice by the current dubbing company for ''[[Pokémon]]'', the dubbed version of Diamond & Pearl has gym leader Candice use this term multiple times, even though the North American child demographic for the English version has probably never heard the term in their lives.

* Used in ''[[Naruto]] Shippuuden'' by [[Crazy Awesome|Killer-Bee]], host of the Eight-Tails, such as after {{spoiler|he uses his [[Wrestler in All of Us|Lariat]] attack to rip Sasuke open}}, complete with using a hand held skyward to [[Warding Gestures|throw the horns]]. "'''WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!'''" (sounds better than it reads).

* [[The Anime of the Game]], [[Street Fighter]] II V, is notorious for all the characters scream like maniacs while fighting. [[Rule of Cool|What was pretty awesome for raise the level of emotion in the fights.]] Also, Fei Long gets even more infamous in the anime for his [[Funny Bruce Lee Noises]].

* Lampshaded in ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]? Fumoffu!'' when Sousuke (as Bonta-kun) is training yakuza. He tells them to not waste movement and ''not'' to yell while attacking (this is all [[Pokémon-Speak|translated]] by Kaname).

* In an episode of ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', Larry plays tennis with his wife, who grunts loudly whenever she swings. Larry complains that it sounds like "pigs fucking."

* [[Ultraman]]... SHUWATCH!

 

 

 

* [[Richard Wagner]]'s Valkyries use the well-known cry "Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha!" Naturally, their cry is a significant musical [[Leitmotif]].

 

== Radio ==

== Tabletop Games ==

 

** To elaborate, orks in 40k are an innately psychic race; every one of them generating at least low-level psychic fields. The combined force of dozens or hundreds of orks charging into battle screaming at the top of their lungs will ''actually make them stronger.''

** Also it should be noted that WAAAGH! is their word for war—yes, the exclamation points are part of the word.

* GURPS has a skill specifically called Kiai. It requires the advantage Trained by a Master to use.

 

*** Another [[Super Sentai]] example: ''[[Juken Sentai Gekiranger]]'''s [[The Big Guy|Ken Hisatsu/Geki Chopper]]. With a hand-blade.

** Chesto is a battle cry used by Japanese martial artists and samurai in general.

* Multiple characters in the ''[[Tales (series)]]'' do this, usually when performing a [[Limit Break|Mystic Arte/Hi-Ougi]].

** In particular, Stahn from ''[[Tales of Destiny]]'' yells his head off before performing any of his many hi-ougis, and uses a typical stance while doing it.

* Soldiers in ''[[Silent Storm]]'' will unleash various kiai-esque cries when executing a long burst with a machinegun. As if it wasn't [[Badass]] enough already to fire a light machinegun on full auto whilst standing.

* Pretty much the whole cast of ''[[Sengoku Basara]]'' feel compelled to do this, but the trope winner has to be [[Screaming Warrior|Sanada]] [[No Indoor Voice|Yukimura]], who shows off his impressive lung capacity EVERY FEW SECONDS!! [[Say My Name|OOOOOYAKATA-SAMAAAAAAAA]]!!!!!

* Balrog from ''[[Cave Story]]'' shouts "Doryaaaa!" in the original Japanese, often enough that it's his [[Catch Phrase]]. The [[Fan Translation]] rendered this battlecry as "Huzzah!", while the Wiiware version translated it as "Oh yeah!"

* Subverted in the [[Nancy Drew (video game)|Nancy Drew]] game ''Danger By Design'', in that the villain's use of this trope actually gives Nancy clues about what attack the culprit is about to make, allowing the player to block each blow.

[[Category:Truth in Television]]

[[Category:Kiai]]