YOU AND YOUR BIG MOUTH!

 By Phillip Starr

It's been said that the voice is a second face and I believe this to be true. Think about it; people who tend to be withdrawn, shy, or fearful rarely speak with much feeling or volume. In fact, it's often rather difficult to hear their words at all! Their voices are, in my opinion, outward expressions of the condition(s) of their minds and spirits. If the spirit is weak and timid, if the mind is skittish and afraid, the (quality of the) voice reflects their condition.

You might wonder if increasing the volume and spirit of the voice can promote the development of a strong spirit and bolster one's courage. I believe that it can. However, it is necessary to maintain proper physical posture, ensuring that certain bodily structures are aligned. This fosters the free flow of vital force (qi) while it also brings the diaphragm into the position from which it can provide maximum assistance in speaking with greater volume and spirit. Thus, the physical posture and voice are interrelated. This is the main reason that I sometimes have students (including beginners) count cadence during certain routines that are practiced in class.

The posture and movements of people whose voices are weak and lack spirit usually reveal their timidity. Think about it. The mousy-voiced fellow who addresses you often looks at the floor or over your shoulder because he cannot work up the nerve to look you in the eye, as it were and the feeble-spirited lady may cower a bit, intertwining her fingers as she speaks to you. As inside, so outside. As I've said in earlier articles (see the article entitled, “Inseparable”), body and mind are inseparably united. The body is the visible, outward expression of the (condition of) the mind. Mind and body mirror each other perfectly.

Naturally, as a martial arts enthusiast, you'll wonder if practicing the kiai (shout) can help improve the quality and power of the voice. Yes, I believe it can. However, that same strong spirit must be carried over into the student's natural speaking voice. This usually requires some practice. By the way, this will also help those who are fearful of public speaking. Adjust the physical posture and focus on the spirit of the voice. Frankly, it's difficult to speak in a feeble, trembling voice when one's posture is correct; the two just don't go together very well at all. Correct posture (and consequently, correct movement) promotes self-confidence and that is readily evident in the voice.

In traditional martial arts, it is said that the voice is a very powerful weapon and this statement is truer than most people realize. But bear in mind that there is a right way and countless wrong ways to execute a strong kiai. I have discussed this in my book, “Martial Mechanics.”

Keep these ideas in mind today as you go out into your daily life and when you practice your chosen discipline. In a short time, you'll see how your voice can begin to change many aspects of your life...