Questions tagged [terminology]
For questions about words, phrases and definitions that are specific to martial arts.
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Name of two stances and their weight distribution
Beomseogi
An official video mentions the name of Beomseogi when the right foot is in front as Oreun Beomseogi. Also, in other times of the video, the naming is consistent:
Right foot is front: Oreun ...
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What is the origin of the kick name, "Chikyo Chagi"?
Related to Alternative name for downward kick?, what is the origin of the kick name, "Chikyo Chagi" (possibly 치쿄 차기)? Is it named after the Chikyō-dō region? Does it come from the Japanese ...
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Are the names of the timing of counters eg Tai-no-Sen, Go-no-Sen used in martial arts other than Shorinji Kempo?
In Shorinji Kempo instruction we are often told to practice a counter with a specific timing. These timings are named as follows:
go-no-sen, block and then counter attack, (usually requires ...
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Alternative name for downward kick?
My WT dojang uses a different name for the downward kick (axe kick, hammer kick). Instead of naeryeo chagi (내려차기), we say something that to my Spanish-speaking brain sounds like chiko chagi. I've ...
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What is a "drop" seoi-nage?
In competition judo people often talk of a "drop" seoi-nage. How is this different from a seoi-otoshi?
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How is "front" uchi-mata (Yagura-nage) classified?
There is a competition throw in judo which resembles:
an uchi-mata lifting with the front of the thigh, or equivalently
an obi-tori-gaeshi where you continue the turn after lifting (as opposed to ...
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Is there an existing name for this hook-sword-like shortsword design?
I was looking to add this premise of a weapon for a character I'm writing. I remembered this style existed in Breath of the Wild as an Eightfold Blade. While it does have a hilt, it is only a very ...
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What is the difference between retzev and a combo?
The concept of retzev (in krav maga) is kind of vague to me at the moment, and I'm wondering if there is a difference between retzev and a normal trained combo (in other martial arts).
Is it that the ...
user11733
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What is a "reverse" seoi-nage?
The IJF recently banned "reverse" seoi-nage in competition, due to the difficulty of breakfalling safely. But how exactly is a reverse seoi-nage defined? What variants are/aren't legal?
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Difference between renraku-waza and renzoku-waza
Judo has a lot of terms inherited from Japanese. Two such are renraku- and renzoku-waza. In the BJA syllabus these are translated as:
Renzoku-waza is the Japanese terminology for combinations of ...
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Why do so many Japanese Martial Arts have a (different) technique called tsubame gaeshi?
Japanese sword forms, Judo and Shorinji Kempo all have a technique called Tsubame Gaeshi (which roughly translates to swallow counter).
Why is the phrase Tsubame Gaeshi considered sufficiently ...
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What is the difference between Uchi-Mata and Hane-Goshi?
Classical uchi-mata involves reaping uke's back leg up and twisting them over their grounded off-balanced leg. However a common competition variant involves loading uke on tori's waist and reaping ...
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Non-kodokan throws in the BJA syllabus?
The BJA syllabus lists a number of non-kodokan names for throws. Some of them are clearly names for common competition variants,1 but some I have never heard of e.g. ashi-dori, which looks to me like ...
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What is the technical name for this movement performed by Master Wong in Birth of the Dragon?
I recently watched Birth of the Dragon on Netflix, and absolutely loved it. However, one particular movement caught my eye above all others, simply for the overwhelming appearance that something ...
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What does it mean to "eat bitter" in Chinese gongfu
This is an old Chinese idiom, but it seems to have a special importance in Chinese martial arts, where it might be said to be a central maxim. Essentially, some form of:
"To get good gongfu, ...
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What is the difference between a sword and a knife? Which are machetes?
I've gotten interested in the metallurgy of blades, and been watching a lot of early Forged in Fire. It's interesting to see basic applications with different blades by people who handle a lot of ...
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Meaning of the Chinese Sifu? (Shifu)
I ask because it is commonly regarded as having the exact sense of Sensei, of Master, or Teacher, but these don't convey the full meaning. Sensei, for instance, shares the same characters as the ...
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What does "create a frame" mean?
I've seen "create a frame" on many martial arts websites, but what does this signify?
The Tripod Position: A Tool to Help Any Athlete Move Better | Breaking Muscle
The working concept is ...
user11653
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What is the meaning of the pseudonym Eui-Am in TaeKwon-Do?
I have been searching for the meaning of the pseudonym Eui-Am. I know the definition, but what does it mean. This is the most I can find "The Taekwondo pattern Eui-Am was named in honor of Son ...
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Who are Tori and Uke?
Many questions about aikido and judo refer to partners as Tori and Uke.
The name of a throw where the tori starts from a headlock
Etymology and meaning of ukemi
Name this technique against Chudan ...
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Is the 'sticker' a kosoto-gake, or de-ashi-barai?
There is a foot-sweep technique in Judo known as "the sticker", 1 2 3 4 5 though it is variously described as a variant of kosoto-gari / gake, and de-ashi-barai.
How does the Kodokan classify this ...
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Naming system of Judo techniques
Is there a system to the way judo techniques are named? Many techniques seem to share components of names (harai, guruma, gaeshi etc) - is there a standard uniform way these words should be ...
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What is "momo-guruma"?
What kind of judo throw is momo-guruma? It doesn't appear to be recognised by the Kodokan by this name, how is it performed and/or classified?
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Etymology of Tsubame-gaeshi?
Why is tsubame-gaeshi ("swallow reversal") thus named? Wouldn't it have been more natural to name it deashi-gaeshi in line with the other kaeshi counter-throws?*
* Osoto-gaeshi, ouchi-gaeshi, uchi-...
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What is "Tengu-nage"?
Famous judoka Yokoyama Sakujirō was known by the nickname Tengu, and his tokui-waza was hence named tengu-nage:
Yokoyama's specialty was tengu-nage ("mountain-devil throw"), said to be nearly on a ...
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Etymology of Yama-Arashi?
Most1 Kodokan judo techniques are named in a somewhat systematised way, describing the major visual/mechanical components of the technique (e.g. koshi-guruma "hip wheel", o-soto-gari "major outer reap"...
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What is Uki-gatame?
In 2017 the Kodokan recognised 3 new osaekomi-waza classifications:
Osaekomi-waza
Notes
ura-gatame
Historically has referred to multiple pins, but in modern use refers to a hold with tori's back to ...
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Is there a specific name for a downward-smashing roundhouse kick in Capoeira or other arts?
I can provide a descriptive image if necessary, but it seems reasonably evident to me. Normally, roundhouse kicks deliver a more lateral blow, generally striking and then pulling the leg back whether ...
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What is kubi-nage?
I have occasionally seen a throw called kubi-nage ("neck throw") referenced in Judo. This isn't a Kodokan-recognised name, but the throws I have seen described as it appear to be very similar to koshi-...
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What is the difference between a choke and a strangle?
In martial arts which permit submissions, a distinction is sometimes made between "chokes" and "strangles", however in my experience these terms are not used consistently.
What is the difference ...
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What is a "shoulder lock" in Judo terminology?
In a judo context, "elbow-lock" has a broader definition than in other martial arts, referring to both armbars and bent-arm rotational locks (since both manipulate the elbow joint for effect, ...
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Why is a "scarf hold" so-named if you don't wrap around the opponent's neck (like a scarf)?
Judo's kesa-gatame is often translated as "scarf hold", but the technique is defined by wrapping your arms and upper body around uke's neck and arm, more like a seatbelt, as opposed to wrapping around ...
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How is "Tai Chi Chuan" pronounced in Cantonese?
In the "lost interview" of Bruce Lee with Pierre Berton (1971) he says "Tai Chi Chuan" is Mandarin, but I don't fully get the Cantonese version when he tells it.
I hear "Tai te kuen" ... but I'm not ...
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Origin of kawazu-gake?
There have been multiple proposed etymologies for the judo throw kawazu-gake (河津掛):
Named after a famed sumo wrestler, Kawazu Saburo Sukeyasu
Named after "frog" (蛙 old japanese kawazu, ...
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Why is the first dan called shodan, as opposed to ichidan?
Subsequent dan grades in judo are named numerically nidan (二段), sandan (三段) etc, but the first grade is called shodan (初段) "beginning grade". Is there a particular reason for this as opposed to the ...
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What is the difference between kosoto-gari and kosoto-gake?
Kosoto-gari and kosoto-gake are superficially similar techniques. I have seen many high level judoka call what I would have called -gari -gake and vice versa - what distinguishes these techniques?
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Etymology of tomoe-nage?
Tomoe-nage is often translated as "stomach throw" or "circle throw", but these are not direct translations. What does tomoe mean, and why is the throw called this?
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What does "smash" mean in BJJ?
What does the term "smash" mean in a BJJ context?
Examples:
I had to get beaten up by better guys to get good and the current whitebelts deserve to get smashed too.
The upper belts I rolled ...
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De-ashi-harai or De-ashi-barai?
I have seen 出足払 ("advancing foot sweep") written two ways by the Kodokan, with the 払 part transcribed as 'harai' (は)1 or 'barai' (ば).2 3
How is the name of this technique pronounced in Japanese? With ...
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How are armlocks categorised in Judo?
I had always thought that the distinction between ude-garami and ude-hishigi-...-gatame was that the former referred to bent arm figure-four elbow/shoulder locks and the latter referred to armbars (...
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Is there a canonical resource for the classification of Judo mat techniques?
For throws, I use Toshiro Daigo's book Kodokan Judo Throwing Techniques published by Kodanasha International, Tokyo 2005. It specifically addresses some of the arcane points of Kodokan classification ...
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Kiai, the Hara and Dantian (etymology and philosophy)
I'm trying to figure out what, precisely, Kiai means.
I've done some reading, and am aware that the Kiai is supposed to come from the Hara, or Dantian - the stomach area.
Literally Kiai, means 'join ...
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Difference between wrestling and grappling
Many times, when my sensei teaches me a technique, he takes reference from either wrestling or grappling. I always thought the two are different terms for the same art until the master told me that it'...
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Is there any specific name for a move when a fighter dodges their opponent's punch and counter-punches at the same time?
Another question for move names, sorry.
This time I've failed to Google up / Wikipedia up a name for a move when a fighter dodges and counter-strikes at the same time.
I know there is such a thing ...
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Is there any move (push?) in combat sports that hits an opponent and increases the distance to the opponent, while not throwing them to the ground?
I think pushing an opponent strongly is what I look for?
But while Wikipedia has an extensive article about throws, I can find little about pushes wrt combat sports.
Maybe pushes are so impractical ...
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Sandan meaning in Taekwon do
I found my dad's certificate which says "Sandan" on it.
What does that mean?
Is it a 3rd degree Black Belt?
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standing and crouching posture name in Aikido
I'm trying to remember the specific Japanese name of a common posture/stretch I used and heard of in Aikido during training and warming-up.
Basically it was called by our sensei "standing and ...
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What is the name of the postition with the leg retracted (in japanese)?
Recently my karate teacher told us to find out the name of the position (or it might have been the act of retracting your leg after a kick - I can't remember) when you retract your leg after a kick. ...
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WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT A DOJO COULD NOT BE CLASSED AS A McDOJO? [duplicate]
If a McDojo conveys an emphasis on commercialism and an assembly line approach to the detriment of 'martial art', what would the signs be of a dojo which would benefit the 'martial arts'. Which dojos ...
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