GLOSSARY of TERMS
A Partial Kung Fu Glossary
About the Glossary These are a list of words compiled from many
sources and are not a total glossary by any means. If you have a
definition to add please contact us and we'll add it to our list.
A
Acupuncture: (On Mandarin: Zhenci liaofa) One of the most
widely known therapies from Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Acupuncture
therapy, needles are used to stimulate precise points on the body
to rebalance or unblock the flow of vital energy within the body.
Acupressure: Uses finger pressure or massage instead of
needles to accomplish the same goal. Aikido: "Way of Harmonious
Energy." A mi tou fo (O Lay Toe Fut): Buddhist greeting, a phonetic
of Amitabha. An (On): Press, push down
B
Ba gua (Bat Gwah): Eight diagrams
Ba gua zhang (Pa Kua Chang): "Eight Trigram Palm." An
internal martial art which emphasizes the use of internal strength
in close fighting with circular footwork and body movements. Baguazhang,
or Bagua, is based on the Classic of Changes or Yi Jing (I-Ching)
and is well known for its fast, evasive footwork, intricate coiling
and numerous palm strikes.
Bang shou (Bong Sao): Wing arm block
Bian tui (Lun Wan Toy): Roundhouse kick
Bing qi (Bing Hey): Weapon.
Bi sai (Bey Choy): Competition, contest
Bo (Po): Parry, brush aside
Buddha: "Enlightened One." The Buddha refers
to an Indian sage by the name of Siddhartha Gautama
who lived from 560-480 BC.
Buddhism: (In Mandarin: Fojiao): An Indian
and Chinese philosophy discovered by The Buddha. Bu
Hao (Um Ho): Not Good
C
Cai (Chai): Pluck, pull
Ce chua tui (Juk Dun Toy): Side thrust
kick
Ce ti tui (Juk Yee Toy): Side kick
Chan (Sim): Zen Chin Na: See Qin
na Chuai
(Chai): Stamp foot, kick with
heel
Chuai tui (Chai Toy): Sidekick
or stomp kick
Chuan (Chuen): Thrust Circle
Walking: A skill-development exercise,
or gong, used in several internal
Martial Arts but especially emphasized
in Baguazhang. Like Zhan Zhuang or
standing gongs, circle walking develops
posture, coordination and internal
strength, but has the added benefit
that it helps develop movement skills
at the same time.
Coiling: The spiral body
movement that is characteristic
of some internal martial arts. The
coiling movement is the natural
expression of spiral energy being
transferred from the legs and waist
to the upper extremities.
Confucianism: (In Mandarin
Ru; Cantonese Ro) A philosophical
system founded on the teachings
of the Chinese sage Confucius.
Confucius: A Chinese
sage who lived from 551-479
BC and founded Confucianism.
D
Da: Strike
Da (Dai): Big
Da lu (Ta Lu): "Big Roll
Back." A two-person Taijiquan
exercise used to develop
the corner powers (Cai,
Lieh, Zhou, and Kao).
In some styles such as
Chen-style Taijiquan,
Dalu is considered to
be a Push Hands drill,
whereas in others, such
as Yang-style Taijiquan,
it is treated as an exercise
distinct from Push Hands.
Da qiao (Dahp Kiu): Joining
bridge
Dan tian (Dan Tim):
The region just below
the navel, center of
qi power where deep
breathing is directed.
Lit. "red field" A Daoist
term referring to a
center of energy located
approximately two inches
below the navel and
inside the lower abdomen.
The location roughly
corresponds to the center
of mass of a person
standing in a natural
posture, hence it is
often referred to as
the "center of being."
In the internal Martial
Arts, Qi is considered
to be stored in the
Dantian. In the Chinese
Classics, the Dantian
is referred to as the
place where one produces
the elixir of immortality.
Dan (Darn):
Single
Dao (Do):
Also Tao. The way.
Dao jiao (Do
Gow): Taoism.
A Chinese philosophical
and spiritual
system, founded
on the principles
of the Dao De
Jing written by
Lao Tzu. Dao literally
means "the Way."
Diao shou
(Ngow Sao):
Hooking hand
Ding
bu (Ding
Bo):
Also Ding
Bo Mah.
T-stance,
empty stance
or cat stance.
Duan
(Tun):
Short,
close
Duan
(Dun):
Rank,
grade
E
Eight
Trigrams:
See
Ba
gua.
The
Bagua
are
the
basis
of
the
Classic
of
Changes
or
Yi
Jing
(I
Ching)
Each
of
the
trigrams
has
an
associated
martial
movement,
and
are
represented
in
many
forms
of
Kung
Fu
including
Baguazhang,
Taijiquan
and
Praying
Mantis.
The
movements
are:
ward
off
(peng),
roll
back
(lu),
press
(ji),
push
(an),
shoulder
stroke
(kao),
elbow
stroke
(zhou),
pull
(cai)
and
rip
open
(lie).
External
(In
Mandarin:
Wai):
Referring
to
the
use
of
muscular
force
or
mechanical
energy
in
the
physical
body.
F
Fa
(Faht):
Skill,
method
Fa
jing
(Fa
Ging):
explosive
energy,
exert
strength.
Five
Elements
(In
Mandarin:
Wu
Xing)
A
system
in
Chinese
philosophy
based
on
the
observations
of
the
interacting
processes
of
the
natural
world.
In
the
Five
Element
system,
distinctions
can
be
made
between
five
dynamic
processes,
functions
and
characteristics:
Water,
Fire,
Wood,
Metal
and
Earth.
Form
(In
Mandarin:
Taolu)
A
formally
defined
posture,
movement,
or
set
of
movements
used
to
teach
coordination
and
technique
to
a
student
of
Kung
Fu.
The
basic
postures,
movements
and
techniques
of
a
Martial
Art
are
often
collected
into
a
form
or
group
of
forms
for
ease
of
practice
and
memorization.
A
group
of
formal
movements
may
also
be
called
a
set.
Often
called
by
the
Japanese
term
Kata
in
the
U.S.A.
G
Gong
(Kung
or
Gung):
"Work."
A
practice
or
exercise
used
in
Kung
Fu
to
develop
a
skill
or
"power."
There
are
many
kinds
of
gongs,
both
internal
(neigong)
and
external
(waigong),
leading
to
many
different
kinds
of
skills
or
powers.
Gong
bu
(Gung
Bo):
Also
Gung
Chin
Mah.
Bow
stance
Gong
fu
(Kung
Fu):
Also
Kungfu,
Gung
Fu.
Time,
workmanship,
skill,
art,
effort.
A
common
generic
term
for
any
Martial
Art
that
originated
in
China.
The
classical
Chinese
terms
for
Martial
Arts
include
wushu,
wuyi,
quanfa
and
quanshu.
Guan
(Kwoon):
Literally
Hall,
but
in
martial
arts,
it
refers
specifically
to
the
school
or
gym
where
one
is
instructed
in
the
Chinese
Martial
Arts.
H
Hao
(Ho):
Good
He
shang
(Wo
Seung):
Monk
I
Internal
(In
Mandarin:
Nei)
Referring
to
intrinsic
power
generated
by
the
Qi
or
life
force
energy
contained
in
the
body.
J
Ji
(Lin):
Press,
squeeze
Jian
(Jin):
Scissors
Jiao
ma
(Gwok
Mah):
Angled
horse
stance
Ji
ben
gong
(Gei
Bun
Gung):
Basic
training
Jin
Na
Shou
(Lop
Sao):
Grabbing
hand
K
Kai
shi
(Hoy
Chi):
Begin
Kan
(Jahm):
Chop
Kao
(Kow):
Lean
into
Kuai
(Fai):
Fast,
quick
L
Lan
shou
(Lan
Sao):
Barring
hand
Lao
shi
(Low
See):
Teacher
Lei
(Loey):
Rest
Lian
(Lun):
Connected,
continuous,
linked
Lian
(Lin):
Practice
Lian
wu
zhe
(Lin
Mo
Jeh):
Martial
arts
practitioner
Li
he
tui
(Noy
Hap
Toy):
Inside
crescent
kick
Lie
(Leet):
Split,
crack,
rip
open
Liu
he
(Lok
Hop):
Six
harmonies
-
hand,
elbow,
shoulder,
foot,
knee
M
Ma
bu
(Mah
Bo):
Also
Jong
Mah.
Horse
stance
Man:
Slow
Meditation:
Thought,
reflection,
and
contemplation
in
order
to
train
the
mind,
focus
the
awareness
and
cultivate
the
spirit.
Sometimes
referred
to
in
Mandarin
as
Neigong
or
"Inner
work."
Mei
hua
(Moi
Fah):
Plum
Flower
Mei
hua
Zhuang
(Moi
Fah
Chen):
Plum
flower
poles.
A
pattern
of
poles
set
in
the
ground
on
top
of
which
martial
artists
practice
special
forms
Men
(Moon):
Gate
or
door.
Refers
to
openings
in
defense
or
a
specific
school
or
lineage
Mu
zhuang
(Mok
Jong):
Also
Mok
Yan
Jong.
Wooden
dummy
N
Ni
Hao
(Lei
Ho):
A
greeting,
literally
"you
good"
Nian
shou
(Chi
Sao):
Sticky
hands
P
Pao
(Pow):
Cannon
Pai:
School
or
system
Pai
shou
(Pak
Sao):
Slapping
hand
Peng
(Pang):
Ward
off.
Peng
Jing
(Pang
Ging)
Ward
Off:
Ward
Off
Power
Pi
(Pek):
Split,
cleave,
cut
Pian
chui
(Pien
Choy):
Side
punch
Pian
ma
(Pien
Mah):
Side
horse
stance
Push
Hands
(In
Mandarin
Tuishou):
A
two-person
exercise
in
Taijiquan
used
to
teach
students
the
martial
aspects
of
the
Taiji
principles.
Q
Qi
(Chi):
Vital
energy,
the
energy
of
life.
Lit.
"gas."
Qigong
(Ch'i
Kung):
"Energy
Work."
Exercises
designed
to
coordinate,
develop
and/or
increase
Qi.
Qian
deng
tui
(Chun
Dang
Toy):
Front
heel
kick
Qian
kun
(Kin
Kwan):
Heaven
and
earth.
Qian
and
kun
are
Opposite
trigrams
of
the
bagua.
Qiao
shou
(Kiu
Sao):
Bridge
hand
Qi
gong
(Chi
Kung):
Also
Hei
Gung.
Exercises
to
cultivate
qi,
usually
systems
of
deep
breathing
techniques
Qi
xing
(Chut
Sing):
Seven
star
Qin
na
(Kum
Na):
Also
Chin
Na.
The
Chinese
art
of
bone
and
joint
locking.
Quan
(Kune):
Also
Chuan.
Literally
fist,
but
can
mean
martial
style
or
a
form.
R
Release:
Potential
energy
stored
in
the
musculoskeletal
structure
is
directed
outward
into
a
strike,
whip,
or
push.
Ri
yue
(Yu
Yuet):
Sun
and
moon.
Root:
Rooting
is
the
skill
or
quality
of
aligning
the
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