Almost everyone gets the chills when they watch the “Haka” being performed: a traditional war cry, dance, and Maori challenge that comes from New Zealand. It’s performed not just by men, however; but by both women and children for fun, as well as in welcoming guests and in celebrating great results and successes.
However, the war haku was originally performed by warriors before a battle, in order to intimidate the other side. It’s characterized by energetic movements, stepping firmly onto the ground, and followed through by shouts.

It was popularized by the New Zealand rugby team whose players perform a haka before every game. However, on the video below, you can see an extremely powerful haka performed by a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team in New Zealand as well!

HAKA “KA MATE MAORI” LYRICS:

Kikiki! Kakaka!
Kauana kei waniwania taku tara
kei tarawahia, kei te rua i te kerokero!
He pounga rahui te uira
ka rarapa ketekete kau ana
To peru kairiri mau au e koro e!
Hi! Ha! – Ka wehi au ka matakana,
ko wai te tangata kia rere ure tirohanga
ngā rua rerarera
ngā rua kuri kakanui i raro! Aha ha!

Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
Ā, upane! ka upane!
Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!

HAKA “KA MATE MAORI” LYRICS (ENGLISH TRANSLATION):

Let your valor rise, Let your valor rage!
We’ll ward off these haunting hands
while protecting our children and wives.
For thee, I defy the lightning bolts of hell
while my enemies stand there in confusion!
O God – to think I would tremble
to a pack of wolves seeing fear, or running away
because they would surely fall in the pit of shame
as food for the hounds who chow down in delight!

I may die, I may die, I may live, I may live
I may die, I may die, I may live, I may live
This is the man
Who summons the sun and makes it shine
A step upward, another step upward!
A step upward, another step upward, the Sun shines!