The David Brent Wolfe Dictionary of

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.

- S -

• Saam, (Cantonese), means the number 3.
• Saam bo jin is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step piercing arrow.
• Saam bo loi deng choy is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step inside.
• Saam bo pai kiu is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step slicing bridge.
• Saam bo pin kiu is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step parallel-level arms.
• Saam gung pai kiu is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step slicing bridge. It is the same form as Saam bo pai kiu.
• Saam gung pin kiu is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step parallel-level arms. it is the same form as Saam bo pin kiu.
• Saam jin yiu kiu is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning three step shaking off the bridge.
• Saam kok bo, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning an advancing triangular step.
• Saam kok ma, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning a triangular stance.
• Saam pai fut, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun phrase meaning three times praying to Buddha.
• Saam sup, (Cantonese), means the number 30.
• Sai qian shen ti xun lian means conditioning.
• Sai sau is the Chow gar term for deflecting hand.
• Sam chien means three conflicts. It is a empty handed routine from Fukien Province in the Ngo Cho style. It may have been the ancester of the Okinawan karate form called three conflicts, Sanchin.
• San means the number three.
• San means fanning. It is also a term used for one of the thirteen Taiji quan broadsword techniques.
• San cai jian means three power sword. It is the name of a sequence of three techniques using the straight sword.
• San cha mean a trident such as a tiger fork.
• Sang te pi is the Fukienese term for the martial art weapon known as a karate sai. This is also a Chinese traditional weapon taught in the Ngo Cho style of kung-fu.
• Sang Sau Kun means Double Roundhouse Fist. It is an empty handed routine of the Ngo Cho style.
• San ji means three punches.San jie gun means three sectional staff. Each section of the staff is about a meter or three feet long.
• San lu jai yaw is a Mei Hua praying mantis style routine meaning Third Route Essence.
• San ma means half horse stance or cat stance. (1)
• San ma pit sau is a Shaolin Fut gar term meaning half horse carving hand. (1)
• San ren means three man combat.
• San sau is a phrase used to mean free fighting.
• San shou means sparring.
• San shou means free hand boxing.
• San shou shou tao means free sparring glove.
• San ti means three essentials stance. It is a basic stance in Hsing-i chuan and some other styles.
• Sao means hand.
• Sao means sweep. It is also used as a term for one of the basic straight sword techniques.
• Sau means hand.
• Saw sau is the Chow gar term for locking hand.
• Say, (Cantonese), means the number 4.
• Say ma means slide/step back horse. (1)
• Sei ping ma, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning horse stance.
• Se Mun Kua Sau means Sweeping the Four Directions. It is an empty handed routine of the Ngo Cho style.
• Se Mun Pa Kat means Hitting in Four Directions. It is an empty handed routine of the Ngo Cho style.
• Sen biao is the rope dart. Basicly it is a double edged blade attached at the end of a rope. It was thrown out at an opponent. It can be spun around or wrapped around the body and limbs.
• Ser ma is the Chow gar term for double step.
• Seung Gup Darn Guen means single ended double ended form. It is a staff routine in the Choy Li Fut style that uses both single and double ended techniques in the same form. Single ended means that both hands are held at one end of the pole. Double ended means that both hands are in the middle third of the pole with the thumbs towards each other.
• Seung Lung Kup Hei Guen means Twin Dragons Inhaling Air Form. It is a double ended staff routine in the Choy Li Fut style. Double ended means that both ends of the pole are used for thrusting and hitting. The hands are held in the middle third of the staff with the thumbs towards each other. It is a precision form attacking pressure points.
• Shan means to dodge as in dodging an attack.
• Shan means a mountain or mountains.
• Shan means a quick avoiding or flash.
• Shang bu means stepping forwards.
• Shang bu choug quan means step forward and thrust fist.
• Shang bu qi xing means stepping forwards to form the seven stars. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Shang san bu means stepping forwards three steps. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Shang ti hou yang means to rock back.
• Shan tong bei means flashing turn to back. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Shao Hong Chuan means Small Red Fist. It is a Shaolin style routine. It is one of a pair of routines, small and large.
• Shaolin means young forest.
• Shaolin Abbot is Shi Yongxin. He became the 30th abbot of the Shaolin Temple in 1999 C.E. The 29th Abbot, Shi Xingzhen, died in 1987 C.E.
• Shaolin Five Shape Eight Method Boxing is said to have been created by a Shaolin master, Bai Yu-feng, in the middle of the 17th century C.E. The five shapes refers to animal movements of the tiger, crane, dragon, leopard, and snake. The eight methods refers to dynamic exercises, meditation, internal qigong, using different sounds while breathing, body turning and foot work, grappling, leg techniques, and finally hand techniques. It is a northern style of martial arts.
• Shaolin he shang means a Shaolin monk.
• Shaolin nan quan means Shaolin southern style fist.
• Shaolin quan means young forest fist. Emphasis is on striking effectively. It blends hardness with softness performed in a flexible and natural posture. It is designed for combat in close quarters. Every movement is for attack or defense, not for show. Hit the vital points. Attack without hesitation whenever there is an opportunity, an opening. Movements should be flexible, unexpected, and varied. Hit out at lightning speed.
• Shaolinsi means Young Forest Temple. The Indian missionary monk Batuo stimulated the Emperor Xiao Wen in 495 C.E. to build a monastery on the Songshan Mountains for him. It was built on the shady, forested side of the Shaoshi range. Lin means forest or woods. Therefore, it became known as the Shao mountain forest. Thirty years later, an Indian missionary monk, Bodhidarma, arrived in China and ended up teaching at the Shaolin monastery. Bodhidarma is credited by some with introducing martial arts into the monastery in addition to his teaching of Chan method of mediation. The first recorded use of the Shaolin monks by an Emperor was when Emperor Taizong used a group of monks against Wang Shichong, putting down his revolt. Thirteen are recorded as cited for meritorious service. Monk Tan Zong was given the title equal to major general. In 1341 C.E., a group of monks attacked and defeated a group of peasants revolting under the name of the Red Turbins. Monk Jinnaluo became famous in that fight. The remains of a statue of him survives at the monastery. In 1522 C.E., a group of 40 monks under the leadership of monk Yue Kong fought Japanese pirates at Songjiang River in Zhejiang Province. They lost and died. In 1723 C.E., the temple was rebuilt and the monks placed under the supervision of an abbot appointed by the Emperor's court. The Shaolin Temple celebrated its 1,500 anniversary in 1995 C.E.

  Travel arrangements to the temple can be arranged through Wang Yu Min at China International Travel Service (CITS), 48 Zongyue Sreet, Dengfeng, Henan, China Postcode 452470; telephone: 0371-2874734-2872137, FAX at -2873137.

• Shao zhou tian means the small heaven circle. It is a circulation of the Qi through the meridians under conscious control. The meridians have never been found after much scientific research at many levels. Therefore, consider this drill a mental exercise taught by some styles of Chinese martial arts.
• Shao zi gun means lashing staff. It is a long staff with an attached short staff or stick that is used as a flail.
• Shat geng sau, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun phrase meaning throat cutting hand.
• She means snake.
• She jian means snake straight sword. This sword's blade has wavy edges on both sides. The waves gives it the look of a snake crawling forward.
• She qiang means snake spear. The spear blade is wavy like a snake's movement.
• Shen means spirit.
• Shen means the trunk of the body or the body.
• Shen ti means the whole body.
• Sheung chi sau, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning double sticky hands.Sheung kuen, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning double punches.
• Sheung lo, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning upper level.
• Shi means a form, set, or routine.
• Shi ba luo han shou is a system of exercises known as the Eighteen hand movements of the Luo Han. It has been attributed to Bodhidrama teaching at the Shaolin temple. He is credited with introducing Chan Buddhism to the temple.
• Shibo is an older uncle.
• Shidi is a younger brother.
• Shi'er Xing Quan means twelve animals boxing. It is a style of Xing yi quan. It is based on the movements of twelve animals.
• Shifu is pronounced Shir-fu. It is Sifu in Cantonese. It means revered father/master, a male master. Part of the confusion in the use of this title is the fact that the 'fu' character in Chinese can be either the actual character for father or the character for priest.
• Shigu is an aunt.
• Shijie is an older sister.
• Shi jie means a world champion.
• Shimei is a younger sister.
• Shimu is a female master.
• Shi Pa Shou means Eighteen Elders. It is an empty handed routine of the Seven Star Preying Manis style.
• Shishu is a younger uncle.
• Shixiong is an older brother.
• Shi zhan zi shi means an on guard position.
• Shi zhi means crossed.
• Shi zhi jiao means crossed feet. It is a technique in the Chen family Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Shizong means grandmaster/ancestor.
• Shizu means founder.
• Shizufu means revered grandfather/grandmaster. It is a male grandmaster. The Cantonese is Sigung.
• Shizumu is a female grandmaster.
• Sho guerk means side back kick. (1)
• Shou means hand.
• Shou shi means conclusion or closing the form.
• Shou xing means hand form.
• Shou zhi means the fingers.
• Shuai means throw.
• Shuai jiao, (shuai chiao), means hold the horn and throw. It is a form of wrestling dating from the earliest historical records of China.
• Shuang means double or twin.
• Shuang bai lian means double white lotus. It is a Chen family style of Taiji quan technique taught in the routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Shuang bi shou means twin daggers.
• Shuang dao means twin broad swords.
• Shuang feng quan er means to hit the opponent's ears with both fists.
• Shuang he zhang means double embracing closing palm strike. It is a fundamental palm technique in the Yin Fu lineage of Ba qua zhang.
• Shuang jian means twin straight swords.
• Shuang shou dao means a two handed broad sword.
• Shuang shou jian means a two handed straight sword.
• Shuang tui shou means double push hands. It is a technique taught in the Chen family style of Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Shuang tou qiang means a double headed spear. This means a spear head at each end of the staff. A shorter version is sometimes used in pairs.
• Shuang zhuang zhang means double striking palm strike. It is a fundamental palm technique in the Yin Fu lineage of Ba qua zhang.
• Shu bo is the Chow gar term for mouse step.
• Shuenn means to follow.
• Shui means water.
• Shun means to be in harmony or accord with something such as an opponent.
• Shun bu means aligned stance. This is used to mean that both limbs on the same side of the body are forward.
• Shyh ba sou is a Chi Xieng seven star praying mantis form meaning eighteen old men which teachs ambidextrous skills.
• Sibak is Cantonese meaning teacher-elder uncle. A senior teacher in the same generation as your teacher.
• Si chuan nan quan means Sichuan province southern style fists.
• Sidai is Cantonese meaning younger brother. A fellow student who started studying after someone in the same generation of students.
• Sifu is the Cantonese for Shifu, teacher-father.
• Sigung is Cantonese meaning teacher-grandfather. A teacher's teacher.
• Sigungbak is Cantonese meaning a grand-teacher's older brother. A senior individual in the same student generation as a teacher's teacher.
• Sigungsuk is Cantonese meaning a grand-teacher's younger brother. A junior individual in the same student generation as a teacher's teacher.
• Sihing is Cantonese meaning elder brother. A fellow student who started studying previously to an individual.
• Si je, (Cantonese), means elder sister. A female student who starting studying previously to an individual.
• Sijo is Cantonese meaning teacher-ancestor. Used to mean the teacher of the teacher's teacher. Sometimes used to mean the founder of a Chinese martial art style. Sometimes used as Tai sijo meaning great teacher-ancestor.
• Si jook, (Cantonese), meaning teacher nephew. A student of a younger or a junior teacher. It is the same as sijuk.
• Sijuk is Cantonese meaning teacher-nephew. A student of a junior or senior teacher of one's teacher's generation.
• Sik fot means skilled technique. It is one of the Northern Shaolin empty hand routines that form the Ten Hand Sets.
• Simo is Cantonese meaning teacher-mother. It is sometimes used as sifu's wife.
• Si mui, (Cantonese), meaning younger sister. It is a female student having trained less time than an individaul.
• Siong ma, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning advancing stance.
• Si pak, (Cantonese), means elder brother. It is a male student having trained a longer time than an individual.
• Si pak gung, (Cantonese), is the elder brother of a si gung, a teacher's teacher.
• Sisuk is Cantonese meaning teacher-younger uncle. Used to refer to a teacher who is junior in status to one's teacher.
• Sitai is Cantonese usually meaning a nun. However, it is sometimes used to refer to a grand-teacher's wife.
• Siu lin wan kuen is a Sil lum empty hand routine meaning small continuous punching form.
• Siu lum tao means Small Idea Form. It is an empty handed Wing Chun routine. It is the first of the Wing Chun routines taught to students.
• Siu moy fa kuen is a Sil lum empty hand routine meaning small plum flower form.
• Sok sau is the Chow gar term for noose hand.
• Song means relaxed.
• Song means to go with or accompany someone.
• Song quan means an open or relaxed fist.
• Song yao means a relaxed waist.
• Sot means smashing, to smashing something.
• Sou means to search for something.
• Sub Jee Kune is a White Eyebrow style routine.
• Su du means speed.
• Su du means tempo.
• Suerng ma means forward/step horse. (1)
• Su gin bei qian means Su Chin bears a sword. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• Sui nim tao, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun phrase for a routine called little idea form.
• Sul min jeung means Small Cotton Palm. It is a routine in the Eagle Claw style.
• Sun bin means rising horizon. It is was originally a Zha Quan style form. It is also currently taught in Bei Shaolin Quan Men as one of their forms. The routine was named after the famous general Sun Bin.
• Suo bi means a hammerlock.
• Suo shuang bi means a chicken wing.
• Sup, (Cantonese), means the number 10.
• Sup baat um gen sau is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning eighteen internal dark power hands.
• Sup baat yau loong is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning eighteen swimming dragons.
• Sup jee jau kau da sau is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning continuous hiting hands form.
• Sup Ji Kau Da is a Choy Li Fut style empty handed routine.
• Sup pa sao is the Cantonese term for a specific Praying Mantis beginner form.
Sup yat, (Cantonese), means the number 11.
• Sup yee, (Cantonese), meand the number 12.
• Sut, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term for knee.
• Syh lu bun da is a Chang chuan praying mantis routine means four directions fist. It is a long range fist set which teaches elaborate kicking skills.

Sources of information

1. Suggested by Mrs. Jay Acdan in an email dated 13 March 2004.