Kiai

Directory: Techniques → Offensive Techniques

Kiai (気き合あい, Kiai lit. "Fighting Spirit" or "Mental Readiness")^[13]^[14]^[10] is a ki attack that appears throughout the Dragon Ball franchise.

Overview[]

It is a technique where the user affects the air currents around him with ki to produce powerful shockwaves in order to strike the opponent.

It can be used to attack or counter some techniques and can be used in different ways, as invisible punches, powerful screams, a shockwave glare (called Kiai Hō, -気合砲- lit. "Fighting Spirit Cannon") or even air explosions coming from the entire body. The counter version used to dispel weaker attacks is called Kiai Keshi in Daizenshuu 7, as shown by Tien Shinhan and Pikkon on a few occasions.

SSAdultGohan — Gohan, as the Golden Fighter, using a Kiai

The blast's power, speed, range, and force vary based on its user; however, there are also variations of the technique that have been shown to have different effects. For example, Goku's version is oftentimes projected from his hands, but it can also be released from his eyes. Tien's version can also be released from his hands and can deflect and nullify ki blasts with no damage done to his surroundings. However, Uub's variation seems to channel and release the technique from his entire body and was shown to be able to lift the tiled flooring of the World Martial Arts Tournament's arena. Furthermore, unlike the other variations, the power of Uub's Kiai is fueled by his rage rather than the concentration of his ki. Android 17 can fire a kiai from his palm that explodes upon contact with the opponent and uses it in lieu of energy attacks. In Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, it is shown by Piccolo that a kiai can be used to restart a person's heart in a manner akin to a defibrillator.

Variations[]

Kamehameha Deflection - A variation used by Tien Shinhan.
Shockwave Fist - A variation used by Goku that was taught to him by Kami.^[2]
- Soaring Fist - A powerful Kiai variation used by Goku in his Ultra Instinct forms.
  - Spirit Pulse - A single shot variation of Soaring Fist used by Goku in his Ultra Instinct forms in Xenoverse 2.
Exploding Wave – A version of the Kiai that affects the area's geomagnetic field, creating explosions in the terrain.
- Angry Explosion - Innocent Buu's version of the Exploding Wave.
Spirit Boost - A variation used by Goku.
Spirit Shot – A variation used by Goku.
Shockwave from the Fingertips - A variation used by Third Form Frieza in the manga. In the anime and video games, it is replaced with Crazy Finger Beam.
Gravity Impact - A variation used by Cell in his Perfect form.
Aero Blast - A variation used by Future Trunks.
Invisible Eye Blast – A Kiai shot from the eyes.
- Infinity Rush - A powerful variation used by Jiren.
Angry Shout - A powerful Kiai scream used by Kid Buu and Uub.
- Brutal Buster - A stronger variation of Angry Shout used by Majuub.
God of Destruction's Roar - A Kiai scream used by Champa.
Kiai Defibrillation - A kiai chest compression technique used by Piccolo and Goku.
Flash Fist Crush - A powerful shockwave attack used by Hit.
Inner Flame - A Kiai roar used by Goku in his Ultra Instinct forms.
Revenge Shot - A variation used by Baby.
- Variant Drive - A rush attack variation used by Baby.
Lightning Hammer - A rush attack used by Super Saiyan 4 Goku.
- Super Bombardment Fist - A variation of Lightning Hammer where Goku follows up the Kiai with a blue 10x Kamehameha. Appears in Dragon Ball Legends as the Ultimate Move Arts for Super Saiyan 4 Goku (DBL19-05S).

Video Game Appearances[]

In the Budokai Tenkaichi and Raging Blast series, it is available as a smash attack combo.

In Dragonball Evolution: The Game, the Budokai version of the technique is used by some characters. It is a short-ranged energy burst, but it doesn't push the opponent away like it does in other games.

In Ultimate Tenkaichi, in full power ki mode, it can be used as an additional attack if one uses the smash attack rush; the user will kiai blast the opponent into some random large rocks.

In Xenoverse, the Kiai appears under the name Ki Blast Cannon.

In Xenoverse 2, the Super Skill Shockwave appears as a weaker version of Ki Blast Cannon capable of making the opponent stagger.

In Dragon Ball Legends, there are several Kiai-based techniques used by certain characters most as their Special Quirk Skill Arts or as part of certain Ultimate Move Arts. When they appear as Special Quirk Skill Arts l, the Kiai doesn't cause damage though their knockback can be used to interrupt certain attacks as well as allowing the user to put some distance between them and their opponent. When used as part of Ultimate Move Arts, Kiai-based techniques do inflict damage as part of the Ultimate Move Arts.

Trivia[]

In Akira Toriyama's 1998 manga, Kajika, the Kiai technique is used extensively by members of the Kawa tribe, such as Kajika and Isaza.
In real life martial arts, a Kiai is a shout that a martial artists yell that acts as a battle cry and serves to empower themselves through releasing their energy. The concept has become a notable part of Asian martial arts in popular culture, especially in martial arts films, in writing rendered in variants such as Hi-yah!, Aiyah!, Eeee-yah!, or Hyah!.