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.

- Y -

• Ya means to press down. It is also a term used for one of the basic straight sword techniques.
• Yan means the type of bird known as the swallow.
• Yan means to hide, conceal, or cover up.
• Yan bie jin chi means swallow separates its golden wings. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• 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.
• Yang guerk is a Shaolin Fut gar term meaning jam kick. (1)
• Yan shou gong quan means concealed hand hit fist or more commonly known as hidden thrust punch. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Yan zhou means elbow cover.
• Yao means the lower back, the waist, or the kidney region of the body.
• Yao means eagle.
• Yao means to shake. It is also a term used for one of the basic straight sword techniques.
• Yao zhan bai she means to cut the white snake at the waist. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• Yat, (Cantonese), the number 1.
• Yat baak, (Cantonese), the number 100.
• Yau kung mon is a Chinese martial art style that is supposed to have been founded in the Tang Dynasty, about 800 C.E., by a Shaolin monk called Ding Yang. It is taught in the United States by Van Tak Kei, originally from Hong Kong, in his three schools located Los Angeles, San Deigo, and San Francisco. The style teaches 18 different types of weapons to polish and strengthen the practioner's prowess. The Yau kung mon style uses partner routines in teaching targeting and timing. His instruction includes the Lion Dance.
• Yau ma, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun term meaning right stance.
• Ye means to tuck, to tuck in, or to thrust in between.
• Ye cha tan hai means flesh eating demon explores the sea. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• Yee, (Cantonese), means the number 2.
• Yee chi kim yeung ma, (Cantonese), is a Wing Chun phrase meaning character 2 adductor stance.
• Yee kup saam bo jin is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning second level three step piercing arrow.
• Yee sup, (Cantonese), means the number 20.
• Ye ma fen zhong means parting the wild horse's mane. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Ye zhang means downward palm strike. It is a fundamental palm technique in the Yin Fu lineage of Ba qua zhang.
• Yi means intention. This is the mental decision to intend to do something.
• Yi fang shou wei zhu do quan fa means defensive boxing.
• Yi jing means the book of changes. It is a divination book written during the Zhou dynasty period, 1122 B.C.E. to 255 B.C.E.
• Yi jin jing is a text called muscle tendon changing. It has been credited to the Indian Buddhist missionary Boddhidarma, known in China as Tamo, as the founder of Shaolin kung-fu. Historians have only been able to trace the routine to the late 19th century.
• Yi lu jai yaw is a Mei hua praying mantis style routine meaning first route essence.
• Ying means eagle.
• Ying feng gun bi means rolling away from the blade. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• Ying jow means eagle claw.
• Ying jow pai means eagle claw family. Family in this context is used to mean the members of this style.
• Ying kum sau is the Chow gar term for eagle claw hand.
• Yi shou bei dang kai lai quan means to parry or deflect.
• Yiu kiu is the Chow gar term for shaking off the bridge.
• Yong means "braves". It is used to mean full time soldiers as opposed to being members of a militia, tuanlian. Full time professional soldiers are considered to have a higher status than members of a militia.
• Yong chun means eternal spring or springtime. In Cantonese, it is wing chun.
• Yong quan is the name of the accupressure point (K1) located on the sole of the foot.
• You means right, as in right side of the body or the right hand.
• You bo cao xun she means right separate the weeds to seek out the snake. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• You fan shen kan means right separate the limbs to expose the body and chop. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called Chen village broadsword.
• You tsa jiao means right wiping throw foot. It is a technique taught in the Chen family style of Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• You xia means a Chinese knight-errant.
• Yu means a woman.
• Yuan hou means an ape.
• Yuan hou xian guo means the ape presents fruit. It is a technique in the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Yu bei means to prepare or to get ready.
• Yu bei shi means prepare to begin the routine.
• Yue bu means to leap. The landing is on the foot that did not take off.
• Yu nu chuan shouo means jade woman, or fair maiden, works the shuttles. It is a Chen family style of Taiji quan technique taught in the routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Yue means long stick axe.
• Yue jia quan is a Chinese martial art style created by Yue Fei, 1103 - 1142 C.E., a famous Song Dynasty general. It has been past down by his descendants living in Hubei Province. Since he was killed by court officials, his family has lived very low profile.
• Yum yearn kum la sau is a Chow gar empty hand routine meaning Yin Yang seizing hand.
• Yun means to swing or branish a weapon. It usually implies swinging over the head.
• Yun means cloud. It is one of the basic straight sword techniques.
• Yun shou means cloud hands. It is a technique from the Chen family style Taiji quan routine called old frame first set, Lao jia yi lu.
• Yu sut is the Fukienese term for soft art or jujutsu. The soft art techniques are taught in Ngo Cho style kung-fu.
• Yu Zheng Sheng was a martial arts instructor at the Huang-Pu Military College during the 1930's. Huang-Pu was the top military officers academy in China at this time. Yu Zhang Sheng taught Hong quan, red fist system; Hua quan, flower fist system; Pao quan, cannon fist system; and Zha quan, Zha family fist system.

Sources of information

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