There is no reason to grunt like a pig when you are playing tennis. Tennis and Karate are not the same thing.

The grunting disguises the sound of the raquet hitting the ball, which can be used by the opponent as an audible cue, and can potentially distract the other player. So arguably it is a form of cheating. Anyway it is extremely annoying and unnecessary.

I've been practicing Kendo for 26 years. Before yesterday, I couldn't make myself a good kiai in the practice. Win or lose is not the purpose, how can I make a good ippon is my purpose in daily practice. Good ippon is effected from good kiai.

Hm, I was taught by my TKD instructor that the kiai or a sound thereabouts was more often than not involuntary when the strikes are done with proper force. White belts (beginners) were taught to do it to overcome fear of the sound, learn to be comfortable with intimidation, and to help them remember to tighten their diaphragms and core muscles during fighting to help prevent internal injury should the opponent hit you in the abdomen. I know I can't help but half-grunt, half-shout when I'm striking as an upper belt now because every single muscle from my foot up through my core and down my leg or arm all fire and squeeze at once thrusting towards impact. Same reason why serious weight lifters can't help do it either in the gym–the air is simply squeezed out because if you hold your breath, you'll seriously hurt yourself.

basically grunting is a technique empowering yourself, not everybody uses it though. anyway it really should'nt matter much to us, neither we can judge its necessity. this may be annoying, but again, why should it matter whether its tennis or karate?

I've been a karateka for a short time, and right from day 1 we've been taught that the kiai is a vital part of our ongoing training for many reasons including those mentioned above. There are some parallels to the grunts in tennis, in terms of aiding the exertion with each raquet hit; I would agree though that the grunting (I reckon that's just a polite way of saying "yelling/screaming") really detracts from the game itself.

its all about proper breathing. that is the essence in fighting! any gorilla can be put down with proper breathing.

I havent played tennis, but i have been training karate for a while. Kiai all about exhalation. The force you are exerting tenses you up and the screaming helps you release the stress in the body otherwise you will not last long in a fight. If you are naturally strong and dont kiai, you would last longer if you did. This is also in addition to all that has been said.

The main thing that the Karate master didn't say is that the Kiai also adds power. When exhaling you are concentrating your muscles and producing more power. In tennis it's the same; forcefully exhaling and vocalizing it by grunting can produce a more powerful stroke.

This topic was the result of Tennis screamers which is annoying to many.But it really serves the purpose to those who do.It also does during climax.Try it but pls dont disturb others.

Let's all have a great big pitty party for the tennis purists of Wimbeldon!! These so called tennis experts have demonstrated their inflexible and intractible attitude toward the game's players since Wimbeldon has been in existence, whether it was in the form of racquet construction, what constitutes required behavior (e.g., bowing and scraping in the presence of English upper crust), or proper attire, especially for women players, and so on. The game of tennis is just that; a game. And today's players, most notably beginning with Monica Seles, exhibit more athleticism and strength than just about anyone before them. To the purists, who just want to hear each other politely clap and mutter "hear, hear" on a good shot, anything contrary to their expectations is unacceptable. To the rest of us, who can only marvel at a top ranked female (or male) player hitting 90MPH ground strokes and 120MHP serves, a little shouting or grunting as a byproduct of the exertion expended seems pretty natural. Quit your bellyaching or, if you can't handle it, go watch something more in tune with your desire for a sedate activity, such as paint drying.

One thing I know, Morgan Neill is one of the best CNN and worlds journalists. He is one of the very few that knows how out of something very simple creates a very interesting story. Great job, man...All the best, Alban from Kosovo