Questions tagged [terminology]
For questions about words, phrases and definitions that are specific to martial arts.
64
questions
3
votes
1answer
74 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
95 views
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, ...
4
votes
3answers
88 views
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
101 views
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
154 views
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
196 views
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
115 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
130 views
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?
2
votes
1answer
549 views
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-...
2
votes
1answer
266 views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
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"...
5
votes
2answers
549 views
What is Uki-gatame?
In 2017 the Kodokan recognised 3 new osaekomi-waza classifications:
uki-gatame⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
ura-gatame
historically has referred to multiple pins, but in modern use refers to a hold with one's back to uke ...
4
votes
2answers
328 views
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
819 views
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-...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
191 views
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, ...
3
votes
1answer
134 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
369 views
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
334 views
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, ...
9
votes
2answers
547 views
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
702 views
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?
4
votes
1answer
376 views
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?
3
votes
1answer
609 views
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 ...
12
votes
1answer
863 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
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 (...
5
votes
1answer
290 views
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 ...
8
votes
6answers
554 views
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
496 views
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'...
9
votes
5answers
512 views
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
157 views
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
320 views
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?
2
votes
2answers
228 views
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
155 views
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. ...
-4
votes
1answer
161 views
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 ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
How do you call a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan (or Kung Fu in general)?
I know that practitioners of Japanese martial arts are called with a -ka ending (e.g. karate ka), but I wouldn't know how to denote a practitioner of Tai Chi Chuan or other Kung Fu styles. I recall ...
-2
votes
1answer
235 views
An Ontology of Combat II [duplicate]
I've been thinking about creating an ontology of grappling/martial arts techniques recently. I know there are things like flowcharts for BJJ.
Google directed me to this question: An Ontology of ...
8
votes
2answers
195 views
What is the name of dynamic, non-resistant form of sparring in Japanese?
I think most of the Judoka know the ladder of Tandoku renshu, Uchi komi, Yakusoku geiko, Randori and Shiai as well as Kata as classical training forms.
But in Ne waza, there was another name ...
3
votes
3answers
231 views
What is the name of the side-turn defense in Capoeira?
It's the motion at the 3 second to 4 second mark here where the capoeiristra pivots so that their side faces their opponent and they're sitting back a bit. It's often done before a Queixada, ...
18
votes
4answers
3k views
What are the signs that a dojo could be classed as a McDojo?
McDojo is a portmanteau of the words
McDonald's, a famous American fast food chain
dojo
This conveys a emphasis on commercialism and an assembly line approach to the detriment of martial arts. ...
6
votes
1answer
284 views
The source of Muay Thai techniques terminology
I guess, a lot of people here are familiar with "Muay Thai - The Art of Fighting" book, or at least with its list of Muay Thai techniques copypasted all over the Muay Thai related web.
The list where ...
2
votes
0answers
75 views
Why do we say "kiyay" in karate? [duplicate]
In all of the karate styles I have seen that fighters scream loudly by yelling "kiyay" during kumite when they think that they got a point. I am also a karate student and when I joined my karate ...
0
votes
1answer
197 views
What does it mean to be rooted, and how is being rooted different from being balanced?
Being balanced means that your center of mass is supported by your body's structure. How is being rooted different from being balanced?
-1
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1answer
388 views
What is the difference between a Teacher & an Instructor? [closed]
Although I could answer this question according to my class; In general terms with all forms of martial arts how can we define the difference between them ?
****What else i would like to hear****
...
12
votes
18answers
9k views
Non-sexist equivalent of "Man up" within the dojo
The common interpretation of the phrase according to the New York Times and
urban dictionary and dictionary.com is about living up to a stereotypical image of masculinity. There are other meanings ...
asked Mar 22 '16 at 8:18
Sardathrion - against SE abuse
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14
votes
9answers
2k views
What Defines Something As A Martial Art?
I've recently run across several conversations where someone goes to great lengths to clarify that a certain style is not a martial art. Mitro's answer to this question on Krav Maga for example:
Is ...
8
votes
7answers
814 views
What is this name of this kind of joint lock?
Can someone tell me the name of this joint lock?
Here is a still of the final position:
It seems to be an Aikido technique (is it?) .
Thanks
8
votes
8answers
5k views
What is a grandmaster?
In your own school, you have a Sifu (師傅 or 師父) or sensei (先生), which is frequently translated as master or teacher. In the same way you have a grandfather, who is the father of your father, you have a ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Is there any special term for eskrima sticks?
Is there any special name for eskrima sticks? Like in aikido there is bokken, jo, tanto, is there some original name for the sticks other than just "sticks"? I only know the term sinawali, but this ...
