Sounds in martial arts.

 I found this version of this practitioner doing this kata. This version has no crowd clapping and cheering. This is CHATAN YARA KUSANKU by RIKA USAMI (World Champion).

Listen to the snapping noise the strikes make. These are impressive. Sound is important in martial arts I bet and is underestimated.

We listen for sound when we hit pads in class to check for how clean the strike is. Dull sound vs sharp chopping noise.  (The elbow strike is a good exemplar of this. If you do not hit with the tip of the elbow you get a mashing sound - like a wrestling smash, which is a generalised strike not a sharp incision).



The Wing Chun dummy makes a clacking sound when the arms are struck and I have seen Randy Crawford note that he listens out for a 3-beat sound to ensure if the practitioner doing a certain move is stepping to the side (1 beat) then pressing up (another beat), and then another beat sounds to show they are on the outside gate pressing inwards, now. A 3D sound effect.



Shouts are used in Karate - you hear it here, the Kai, to generate fear in the opponent, (I thought it was to generate energy ?!). Breath out is another cue. Can the coach hear you breath or not? I have seen this, as no breath out for striking means you run out of juice and the body has not enough oxygen.

Coach has encouraged us to make a 'shhh' sound to accompany our strikes and breath. That must be a power thing, too. Athletes do this - see Javelin throwers shout when they release.



Other sounds are 'ouch'/ You need to listen out for your partner say stop / or 'ouch', for obvious reasons. You may not be looking at them but need to hear them.

Jesse Encamp deconstructing his Kata back to Chinese mainland origins

The Oldest KATA in KARATE History (セーサン)



This man loves to teach. This man loves to learn too. He does what I have seen in other martial artists: they like to trace the lineage of their moves. The research is exhilarating. Here Jessie shows the Chinese routes of Japanese arts and shows applications of moves.

The way the video is presented is very good as he contrasts different styles of Karate head-to-head to show similarity. That is a good touch.