Kiai

One thing that draws passersby into a dojang is the yelling they hear coming from inside the dojang. What the people hear is the kiai/kiyup being sounded by the Taekwondo students while they are training. Just like the uniform, colored belt, and bow, the kiai is an integral part of taekwondo training. When people hear a kiai, they immediately associate it with the martial arts.

Samurai warriors were renowned for their powerful kiai in battle—a startling war cry that was said to paralyze opponents with fear. A warrior who could summon a powerful kiai would rarely be viewed as weak or tired by his opponents. Unfortunately, most people think of the whining howl used by Bruce Lee or other movie martial arts is the sound that all martial artists make. Actually, the grunt or puff sound used by boxers is closer to a kiai than most movie martial arts yells.