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.

X

• Xi means wash. It is one of the basic straight sword techniques.
• Xi means knees.
• Xia bu means to step backwards.
• Xia bu kua hu means to step backwards to ride the tiger. It is a technique in the Chen family Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Xia dun means to crouch.
• Xian means to present or to offer up high.
• Xia wai mo means low external smearing. It is one of the basic straight sword techniques. It is a lower level sliding block done with the side of the sword blade. The sword starts from the center line, the sword tip is held higher than the gripping hand, and deflects the attack to the side by dropping the tip below the gripping hand. External in this technique means catching the attacking weapon from the outside edge of the opponent's body and sliding his weapon across in front of his body to expose the side of his body.
• Xiao means small.
• Xiao means to slice. This is normally done on a diagonial.
• Xiao fan che is a Fan che praying mantis routine meaning small chariot. It contains large arm swinging movements.
• Xiao Luohan Quan means Small Worthy One Fist. It is a Shaolin style routine. It is one of a pair of Luohan/Lohan routines, small and large.
• Xiao qin da means small capture hit. It is a technique in the Chen family Taiji quan style routine called old frame first set, Lia jia yi lu.
• Xie means oblique or on a diagonal.
• Xie bu is the resting stance.
• Xie nei mo means low internal smearing. It is one of the basic straight sword techniques. It is a lower level sliding block done with the side of the sword blade. The sword starts from the center line, the sword tip is held higher than the gripping hand, and deflects the attack to the side by dropping the tip below the gripping hand. Internal in this technique means catching the attacking weapon from the centerline of the opponent's body ans sliding his weapon away from the centerline to expose his torso to attack.
• Xie pi means diagonal chop. It is one of the basic straight sword techniques.
• Xie tuo means diagonal block. It is one of the basic straight sword techniques. It is a strong diagonal block upward with the thick dull section of the blade.
• Xei xing means oblique walking. It is a technique from the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Xin means feeling, heart, or mind.
• Xing means walking.
• Xing hui zhang means spirit meeting palm. It is a Chinese intermal martial art system created by Zhao Daoxin by combining elements of Yi quan, Taiji quan, Baqua zhang, and Xing yi quan.
• Xing shou means parallel hand movement. It is the second empty handed routine in the Zha quan martial art system.
• Xing yi quan (Hsing-i ch'uan) means mind form or mind intent fist. It is one of the three major internal styles. Ji Jike, also known as Ji Long-feng, of Shanzi Province is credited by modern researchers as the founder. He lived during the late Ming Dynasty. Ji was famous for his skill with the spear. He is supposed to have transformed his spear skills into empty handed fighting techniques. The style teaches the useage of many weapons including the broadsword, the straight sword, the staff, the standard length spear, a long spear, and the double hook swords. It also includes several two person routines.
• Xin wor means the solar plexus or the pit of the stomach.
• Xin yi liuhequan means form and will, six harmonies boxing. It is another name for Xing yi quan.
• Xinyi quan is an alternative name for Xing yi quan.
• Xiong means bear.
• Xiong means the chest.
• Xiou gia shyh is a Guang bang praying mantis routine meaning small gesture form. It teaches sweeps and repetitive attacks as skills.
• Xi qi means to inhale or to breath in.
• Xis chong means to strike downward.
• Xi Sui Jing means Tendon Changing and Marrow Purification Exercise. It is a Shaolin style routine credited to the Indian Buddhist missionary Bodhidarma, known to the Chinese as Tamo. Historians have only been able to docment this routine to the late 19th century C.E.
• Xuan feng means a tornado.
• Xuan feng jiao means tornado foot. It is a Taiji quan technique practiced in the Chen family style routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Xuan ji bu means tricky stance. It is one of the basic stances in almost all Chinese martial art styles. It is also known as false stance, Xu bu.
• Xuan wan lian xi means forearm twist.
• Xu bu means false stance or empty stance. It is one of the basic stances in almost all Chinese martial art styles. It is also known as tricky stance, Xuan ji bu.
• Xue gou means the blood groove on a sword. Myth has it that the groove permits blood to flow through the groove easing the pressure on a thrust into the body and also permitting easier withdrawal. The actual reason for the groove, according to researchers, is that it strengthens the blade.
• Xue sheng means student.
• Xun lian means to practice.