Ep 248 - Energy: Belt It Out to Bring It Up

Energy is everything. If we don't have energy we can't do much of anything. It's important for you to have energy not just for yourself, but so you're there for others. Furthermore, we may have energy — but what if we're full of negatively-charged energy?

Students of many Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean martial arts styles — including Shotokan, Taekwondo, Aikido, Karate, Goju-ryu, Kobudo, Kendo, Kyokushin, and Judo — use a kihup (sometimes spelled kiai, kihap, or kyup) to startle an opponent, intimidate, or to exude confidence.

Kihup comes from two root words. "Ki" is energy or life force. "Hup" means to gather or concentrate. Therefore, a kihup is a gathering or concentration of energy and power.

A kihup serves many purposes, but it's always synchronized with movement. It conjures up greater force when striking. It protects our bodies by exhaling and preventing getting the wind knocked out of us if we get hit. It intimidates an opponent or assailant. And it increases our confidence while relieving anxiety as it releases negative energy at the same time it's "working in" good energy. Tim and Steve talk about this amazing burst of air, which some even call a spirit shout.