David Brent Wolfe Dictionary of

English Martial Art Terms

- F -

• Fake is a simple preparatory movement designed to distract an opponent's awareness. It thereby interfers with the opponent's timing allowing one to gain an advantage in both distance and timing.
• Feint means a false attack meant to distract or tempt an opponent.
• Five angles of attack is a phrase created by American karate instructor Joe Lewis. The five kinds of offensive approaches to a standig opponent are:

1. Direct angular attack,
2. Indirect angular attack,
3. Combination angular attack,
4. Arm and leg immobilization attack, and
5. Broken rhythm angular attack.

• Fletched relates to an arrow having enough feathers for flight. A young bird is fledged. The usages are not interchangeable, but each means it's got enough feathers for flight.
• Fletcher is an old word meaning an individual who makes bows and arrows.
• Flow is the ability to smoothly move between the ranges of combat without any disturbance in the transition from technique to technique. This requires the sensitivity to fit your technique to your opponent's continuously while in motion.
• Forearm block is known as quan bi zu dang in Chinese.
• Forearm twist is known as xuan wan lian xi and as quan bi lian xi in Chinese.
• Form is a routine or set of techniques linked together to teach combinations of techniques, methods of movement, balance, timing of techniques, and other skills in a systematic way. The useage of forms permits the average quality instructor to pass on the insights of great fighters and instructors.

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