Glossary
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This is where you’ll find all of the obscure martial arts references easily explained.
Looking for a term? Let me know! I’ll e-mail you a description and add it to the glossary.
- Aikido
- A Japanese grappling martial art using Ki and an opponent’s force against him.
- Capoeira
- A Brazilian martial art blending music, dance and acrobatics.
- Chi
- Universal life energy (Chinese)
- Chi Gung
- See Chi Kung
- Chi Kung
- A Chinese internal martial art, similar to Tai Chi, but repeating a specific movement instead of a series.
- Alternative spellings: Chi Gung, Qigong
- Escrima
- Filipino martial arts focusing on stick and sword techniques.
- Grappling
- Using grabbing, throwing and locking techniques on an opponent, such as aikido, judo and jiu-jitsu.
- Internal martial art
- A martial art emphasizing energy and balance over physical force, such as Tai Chi.
- Jeet Kune Do
- The martial art created by Bruce Lee. It uses techniques from many martial arts, with an emphasis on drills, sparring and using whatever works.
- Also known as: JKD
- JKD
- See Jeet Kune Do
- Jiu-Jitsu
- A Japanese grappling martial art.
- Karate
- A Japanese striking martial art with an emphasis on hard blocks and linear kicks and punches.
- Kata
- Japanese, a specific set of movements used to practice martial arts techniques.
- Ki
- Universal life energy (Japanese)
- Kobudo
- Okinawan martial art using traditional weaponry, such as oars, sais and nunchakus.
- Kung Fu
- Most Chinese martial arts fall into the broad category of Kung Fu.
- Kung Fu, Wing Chun
- A linear form of Kung Fu, with an emphasis on efficiency and straight punches. It was Bruce Lee’s first martial art.
- Kung Fu, Wushu
- An organized, regulated form of sport kung fu. Made famous by actors such as Jet Li.
- Mixed Martial Arts
- A popular form of martial arts where fighters use a blend of grappling and striking to KO an opponent or make them submit.
- Also known as: MMA
- MMA
- See Mixed martial arts
- Muay Thai
- A Thai martial art using fists, elbows, knees and feet. Fought in a ring like Western boxing.
- Also known as: Thai boxing, the art of eight limbs
- Nunchaku
- Two lengths of wood or metal attached by rope or chain, used as a weapon. It was Michelangelo’s weapon in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Also known as: Nunchucks
- Poomse
- Korean, a specific set of movements used to practice martial arts techniques.
- Qigong
- See Chi Kung
- Sai
- A bladeless dagger with two prongs projecting from the handle. It was Raphael’s weapon in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Systema
- A Russian martial art designed to be practical, using drills and sparring instead of kata.
- Taekwondo
- A Korean martial art similar to Karate with an emphasis on flashy kicking techniques.
- Tai Chi Ch’uan
- A Chinese internal martial art that uses forms.
- Tae kwon do
- See Taekwondo
- TCM
- See Traditional Chinese Medicine
- TKD
- See Taekwondo
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Chinese holistic practice using things such as herbs, acupuncture and Shiatsu.Also known as: TCM
- Wing Chun
- See Kung Fu
- World Taekwondo Federation
- Also known as the WTF, the governing body of the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.
- WTF
- See World Taekwondo Federation
- Wushu
- See Kung Fu
