Chinese martial art terms

When possible, terms are given in Mandarin (Hanyu) pinyin spelling. The older spelling of the Wade Giles method is used when it is the more commonly known version. For some terms the most common version is given in Cantonese.

A

• An means 'push.'

B

• Ba gua zhang means 'eight trigram palm.' It was founded by Tung Hai ?.

C

• Cai means 'pull.' It is a corner power.
• Chen is the name of the family which created Taiji quan .

D

• Da lu means 'big roll back.
• Dantian (Tan t'ian) means the 'field of cinnabar'. It is located about 4 inches below the navel.

E

F

• Fa jing means the 'explosive expression of energy.'

G

• Gong means 'work'.
• Gong fu (kung fu) means 'skill acquired through hard work'. Only in recent times has it become related to any meaning associated with martial arts.
• Guan (kwoon) means a 'training hall'.

H

I

J

• Ji means 'press.'
• Jing means 'energy.'

K

• Kao means 'shoulder stroke.' It is a corner power.
• Kua means the 'inguinal basin' or the fold on the inside of the hip joint.

L

• Lieh means 'rip open.' It is a corner power.
• Lu means 'roll back.'

M

N

• Nei means 'internal'.

P

• Peng means 'ward off.'

Q

• Qi (ch'i) means 'breath' or 'air' or 'energy'.
• Qi gong means 'breath work' or 'energy work'.
• Qin na (Ch'in na) means 'seize and hold.'
• Quan (ch'uan) means 'fist'.
• Quan fa (ch'uan fa) means 'fist way'.

R

S

• Shaolin means 'young forest'.
• Shuai jiao (shuai chiao) means 'hold the horn and throw'. It is a form of wrestling dating from the earliest historical records of China.
• Song means 'relaxed'.

T

• Taiji quan (T'ai chi ch'uan) means 'grand ultimate fist'.
• Tuishou means 'push hands.'

U

V

W

• Wai means 'external'.
• Wu means 'five'.
• Wushu means 'national art'.
• Wu xing means 'five elements. The five elements are: water, fire, wood, metal, and earth.

X

• Xing yi quan (Hsing-i ch'uan) means 'mind form fist'. It is one of the three major internal styles.

Y

• Yang is the name of the first variation of the Chen family martial art known as Taiji quan. Yang Luchan was a servant of the Chen family who was the first outsider to be taught by them. He moved from the Chen village to Beijing where he started teaching Taiji quan. His sons and grandsons modified and spread their own versions as Yang family style Taiji quan through out China. Yang style now has the largest number of practioners of Taiji quan, most of whom just practice for the health benefits, not martial skills.

Z

• Zhan zhuang means 'post standing'. A person stands with their arms out in front of them with the arms structured as if they were encircling a tree.
• Zhou means 'elbow stroke.' It is a corner power.