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
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.
sais
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