Some More Martial Arts Terminology

Atemi Waza- Japanese: "punch and kick techniques."Kempo techniques for defense against punches, kicks, knives, clubs, and guns. Kempo tricks.e - Two triangles, head and chest. If they point in different directions, balance is off.

Balance - Two triangles, head and chest. If they point in different directions, balance is off.

Basics - Simplified moves that comprise the fundamentals of Kenpo. They are divided into stances, maneuvers, blocks, strikes, parries, kicks, punches, specialized moves and methods, etc.

Block - A defensive maneuver used to check or hinder an opponent.

Bob and Weave - Body maneuvers used to avoid an attack. A "bob" involves a vertical movement of the body. A "weave" is a horizontal side to side movement of the body.

Borrowed Force - An opponent's force which is used to defeat him. This can be accomplished by going with the opponent's force or, upon occasion, going against his force. The concept allows your opponent's force to enhance the effectiveness of your action.

Bodhidharma-India: (Da Mo) prince of a small tribe in South India who became  a warrior  priest  and 28th patriarch of the Buddhist faith. Known for setting the ground work for Shaolin. chuan-fa died in 539 A.D.Check - To restrain, hinder, or repress an opponent from taking action. This is accomplished by pressing, pinning, or hugging an opponent usually at the joints so that it minimizes his leverage and nullifies his actions.

Chuan Fa- Chinese for "Way of the Fist." the name originally given by the Shaolin Monks to their fighting art.

Chi Kung-Chinese: the practice Chin Na- Chinese: seize and control." Chinese ancestor of jujitsu which uses traps,locks,and pressure point attacks as well as holds and throws.

Chi - A Chinese term used to describe the powers that can be generated when the mind and body are totally unified. It involves total complete synchronization of mind, breath, and strength to achieve maximum force. It is that extra inner force created by the precise synchronization of the conscious and subconscious mind, along with an individual's breath and strength.

Chow,William- (AKA Thunderbolt) studied Hung Gar kung fu /Kosho-Ryu Kempo one of seven Black Belts promoted by James Mitose (signed by Thomas Young)

Chojun, Miyagi- Founder of  Goju-Ryu Karate-Was the first to introduce Kempo Karate to the U.S .In 1934 he came to the Island of Kauai Hawaii and taught more than a 100 students. Miyagi is the base for the Mr. Miyagi character of the movies .Circular Movements - Moves that predominantly loop or follow a curve. Such moves can be used defensively or offensively.

Classical - Traditional methods and moves used by the so called, "pure system" of Martial Arts.

Claws - Refers to the fingertips as used in a technique

Clock Principle - A system in teaching, to help the student to visually imagine the direction which he is to follow. Generally asked to think of himself as being in the middle of a big clock facing 12 o'clock with 6 o'clock to the rear, 3 and 9 to his right and left and all other number in their respective places.

Close Range Encounters - Action that occurs within elbow and knee distance.

Common Sense - It is that sixth sense that many lack. It is the ability to overcome problems and difficult situations by using logic.

Crescent - A path of action that can be compared and paralleled to a hooking type maneuver.

Dim Mak-Chinese:lit.(poison hand) the art of delivering damaging waves of chi to destroy your attackers organs.

Dan-Japanese: Black Belt levels 1-10 in Shaolin Kempo

Dojo- Japanese: "Place of the Way." Kempo training hall.Economy of Motion - Any movement that takes less time to execute and still causes the intended effect.

Eighteen Hand Movements - The original number of hand movements first developed to defend or attack an opponent. These moves supposedly formed the foundations of Shaolin Boxing.

Erishi Shou- Chinese " Twenty Palms." Black Belt blocking exercise.

Feint - A misleading move used to deceive an opponent.

Focus - Is the result of the entire body working as a unit at the very instant a target is struck. The concentration of mind (knowledge) breath, strength, and methods of execution must unite as one in conjunction with body momentum, torque, gravitational marriage, timing, speed, penetration, etc.

Form - Is literally a short story of motion. These motions are offensive and defensive maneuvers incorporated into a dance for purposes of learning, home training and exercise. They are usually done without a partner.

Formulate - The combining of moves into a systematized order, which when properly organized, develops into a logical and practical sequential arrangement.

Full Contact - Is the professional method of freestyling (sparring) where actual hitting is accepted as part of the rules

Hammering - A particular method of striking which resembles the action of a hammer pounding a nail from various angles.

Hiken-Japanese:"hidden fist." The Kempo fist/palm salute. Hung mun ch uan (Secret society fist) Chinese.Mu Te- Japenese:" empty hands" Specifically, the kempo open hand salute.

Hachi Ten Do-Japanese: " Eight Point Way" Basic blocking exercise in four sections.Internal Power - Force from within developed via Chi.

Judo-Japanese:lit.(the gentle way)sport Jujitsu

Ju jit su- Japanese: "gentle art." Techniques of throwing, joint-locking,holding, and choking as well as escape techniques employed in self defense.

Ju Ten Do- Japanese: " Ten Point Way" Green Belt Blocking exercise.

Kempo- Japanese for "Way of the Fist" it is originally a Chinese word (Ch'uan Fa)

Karate- Japanese for "empty hand."

Kata -Japanese: "formal exercise" or "form." A pattern of predetermined fighting movements.

Kiai-Japanese:lit.(spirit meeting) a sharp yell that uses breath to increase internal energy.

Kosho-Ryu-Japanese:lit.(old pine tree style) developed in 1560 from shaolin inspired priest Koshu

Kung fu- Chinese for skill acquired through practice."Kong shou- Chinese for "empty hand"Ki - A Japanese term for Chi.

Kiai - A loud noise cause by the rapid expulsion of air from the diaphragm of the body. This expulsion of air creates stability, increases force, fortifies the body and can have a psychological effect upon your opponent. Kiai originally meant "breathing exercise".

Locks - Moves that lock the joints or body parts of your opponent to restrain him from taking further action. It combines methods of pushing and pulling.

Long Range Encounters - Action that occurs at arm length or the length of a leg.

Meditation - A brief period of mental relaxation used in Kenpo to eliminate outside distractions from the mind in order to fully concentrate on activities that are to be learned in class. Taking the time to do this helps to avoid unnecessary injury which might otherwise occur.

Mui Fa Shou- Chinese " Plum Flower Hands" Black Belt blocking exercise.

Muk Yan Fa- Chinese: " Wooden Man Techniques." 108 Black Belt techniques in shaolin kempo.Open End Triangle - Refers to the positioning of your body parts so that they form and opened end triangle. Use of these body formations help to funnel, wedge, trap, or prevent an opponent from injuring you. Obi- Japanese:lit.(belt) the one in 3 quaters inch belt tied around the body in a square knot.

Pankration-Greek: three thousand yr. old form of martial art filtered to India to become the art of  Vajramuhti Yudda.Power - Is the culmination of several principles--the sum total of which maximizes the expenditure of energy. It is the magnification of force aided by concentrated focus. Its capacity is proportionate to the physical strength, force, or energy exerted, in additions to the speed it is rendered.

Practical arts - The use of logical moves in a system that are realistic and not fanciful or impractical moves.

Practitioner - One who learns, teaches and practices the Martial Arts.

Pinan-Chinese: lit. "Peace,"harmony." Five of the thirteen kata required for Black Belt.Principles - Comprehensive and fundamental rules stemming from theories which through devoted analysis, develops into proven characteristics that make them doctrine.

Primitive Stage - That stage of learning where moves are crudely executed

Range - That distance which exists between you and your opponent.

Roundhousing - Any weapon that makes contact with its target before reaching the apex of the circular path in which it is traveling.

Rules - Generally refer to those moves that are to be followed to the letter. Such moves can only restrict flexibility and, therefore, ideas rather than rules are stressed in Kenpo.

Sensei- Japanese:  lit. (first to come or before you) the word used to call your teacher.

Sifu-  Chinese: lit.(father or master the word for skilled kung-fu teacher.

Simu- Chinese:lit. (master or mother )female kung-fu teacher.

Soke- Japanese:lit.(is that so)founder of a martial arts system the highest ranking a master can obtain in his lifetime.Salutation - A series of moves and/or gestures in Kempo to indicate respect to one you are greeting or competing against at a tournament, in opening and closing a class, etc.

Scooping - The execution of a weapon that resembles the dipping motion of a shovel. It is literally a reverse hook that is delivered vertically.

Self-Correcting - Having a thorough knowledge of the principles, concepts and theories of the Martial Arts so as to have the ability to consistently make correct judgments to maximize every move.

Shuffle - Shifting the body forward and back to close or increase the distance between you and your opponent.

Solar plexus - Always hit solar plexus at a 45 degree angle (up or down) because it's thin and a straight on strike is likely to miss it.

Spear - Refers to a finger poke as used in a technique.

Speed - Equal to the distance divided by the time (s=d/t) it takes to act or move. There are three categories of speed-perceptual, mental, and physical (body performance). However, although categorized separately in order to analyze what speed entails, these three elements, nevertheless, function as one.

Stomping - A thrusting method using the foot to strike down toward targets located on or near the ground.

Shaolin- Chinese:lit.(young (pine tree) forrest)

San Chai Na Kempo-Chinese &Japanese: "Three Powers Controlling" Kempo.Mind Body and Spirit.Sampai-Chinese:lit. second in command a senior student who serves Sensei as a model for technique 

System - Is the unification of related concepts, ideas, principles, facts, truths, and basic elements of a particular school of Martial Arts.

Take Down Maneuvers - Moves of defense or attack that cause an opponent to fall to the ground to immobilize, restrain, control, or to further attack.

Talon - Refers to a grab attack as used in a technique.

Target Areas - Vital areas on your or your opponent's body which can cause injury or damage when struck.

Te - An Okinawan term which means "hand". Their Art was originally called Okinawa-te or "hand Art" of Okinawa. This was later changed by the Japanese to karate meaning "empty hand". This change greatly angered the Okinawans who were Chinese by descent.

Technique - Pre-planned moves that can be used defensively or offensively with successful results.

Telegraphing - Body language that often works against you. These movements warn your opponent of your intended action and help to prepare him for his defense. This can also work against your opponent.

Traditional - Generally refers to those practitioners of the Martial Arts who adhere to custom or the original concepts and moves of a particular system

Trapping - Any stratagem designed to catch a natural weapon to prevent it from escaping.

Vital Areas - The major weak points of the body. See target areas.

Wu Shu-Chinese:Mandarin national martial art of China . total sum of all Chinese arts

Wing Chun-Chinese:lit. (beautiful Springtime) developed by a budhist nun named Ng Mei (Bruce Lee's base art)

Zen - Buddhist form of meditation perpetuated by Tamo (Daruma).

Zone Theories - This entails visualizing imaginary boundaries or zones of height, width and depth superimposed on your or your opponent's body.