There's an additional complication in kendo, because your kiai is actually the name of the strike (or rather, what you're trying to hit). Yes, that's right, you have to call your attacks (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CallingYourAttacks) for real. So the kiai for a strike to the head is "MEN!" though it ends up more like "EN!", a strike to the midsection is "DO!" but ends up (since you usually continue through) as "DOOOOOOOOH!", and one to the wrist is "KOTE!" but contracts to "K'TE!" or "TE!"