David Brent Wolfe Dictionary of

English Martial Art Terms


    - A -

  • Achilles tendon is called akiresu ken in Japanese.
  • Adhere means to stick to something. In fighting, it would mean sticking to the opponent's arm or leg.
  • Ankle is called ashi kubi in Japanese.
  • Armor is something, normally made of cloth, wood, or metal, used as body protection. Armor went out of fashion during the 16th and 17th centuries of the Current Era with the development of lead shot. Armor provides no defense against a bullet.
  • Arquebuse were early European firearms. The maximum range was about 300 yards. But the maximum effective range was more like 65 yards.
  • ATAMA means the American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts. It was founded by Raymond "Duke" Moore on December 19, 1981 C.E. in San Francisco, California.

These are terms that I have been exposed to during my martial arts training over several decades. Some of the terms are generic martial art jargon. Other terms usages are martial art/style/organization/school specific.

Sources of information


David Brent Wolfe
This page was last modified on April 10, 2004 C.E.
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