Chen-style Taijiquan
Chen style is characterized by low stances, overtly visible coiling and distinctive power releases or fa-jing.
Chi (Qi)
Breath of Life
The primordial energy which is the basis for the universe and everything in it. It is the matrix out of which matter and energy are formed, and is expressed as the life force in all living things.
Chi Kung (Qigong)
Energy Work
Exercises designed to coordinate, develop and/or increase Chi.
Chin Na
Seize and hold
The Chinese art of bone and joint locking. This art of grappling and controlling an opponent's limbs, usually by manipulating the joints or muscles, is present in many styles of Kung Fu.
Chi Sau
Sticky Hands
A two-person exercise that teaches the student how to stick to their opponent.
Chuan (Quan)
Fist
Most often used to identify a fighting style. e.g.: Taijiquan, BaGuaquan, etc.
Dan-tian
Field of Cinnabar
A Daoist term referring to a center of energy located approximately two inches below the navel and inside the lower abdomen.
Dao or Daoism (usually spelled Tao or Taoism)
A Chinese philosophical and spiritual system, founded on the principles of the Dao De Jing (usually spelled Tao Te Ching) written by Lao Tzu.
Dao literally means the Way.
Eight Trigrams
In Chinese: Ba Gua
The Ba Gua are the basis of the book Classic of Changes, or I Ching. Each of the trigrams has an associated martial movement, and are represented in many forms of Kung Fu.
External
In Chinese: Wai
Referring to the use of muscular force or mechanical energy in the physical body.
Fa-jing
Expression of Power
The explosive release of strength or power which was previously stored. Especially emphasized in the martial aspects of Taiji Chuan, fa-jing is classified as the use of internal strength to produce a powerful strike, whip, or push.
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Five Elements
In Chinese: Wu Sing
A system in Chinese philosophy based on the observations of the interacting processes of the natural world. In the Five Element system, distinctions can be made between five dynamic processes, functions and characteristics: Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth.
Form
In Chinese: Daolu
In Japanese: Kata
A formally defined posture, movement, or set of movements used to teach coordination and technique to a student of Kung Fu.
Gong
Work
A practice or exercise used in Kung Fu to develop a skill or power. There are many kinds of gongs, both internal (neigong) and external (waigong), leading to many different kinds of skills or powers.
Gong-fu (Kung Fu)
Skill from Hard Work
A common generic term for any Martial Art that originated in China. Kung Fu is a comparatively modern term -- it has only been used in the 20th century. The classical Chinese terms for Martial Arts include wushu, wuyi, quan-fa and quan-shu.
Guan (Kwoon, Wu Guan)
Training Hall
The school or gym where one is instructed in the Chinese Martial Arts.
Internal
In Chinese: Nei
Referring to intrinsic power generated by the Chi or life force energy contained in the body. In the internal Martial Arts (Neijia), the use of Internal Strength is of utmost importance.
Jing
Power
Any skill, strength or ability developed as a result of, and as the goal of, practice in Kung Fu. Jing is a generic term which applies equally to the strength or force developed by a skilled movement and to the skill or ability to execute a movement or postural technique correctly.>
Peng; Peng Jing (pronounced: Bung Jing)
Ward Off; Ward Off Power
The power of bringing internal strength from the legs and waist to the hands or point of contact with an opponent, usually from the Taijiquan posture known as Ward Off. The Ward Off posture uses a wide, well-rooted stance and an extended arm.
Root
A term common to many Kung Fu styles and other martial arts, rooting is the skill or quality of aligning the feet and body so force is transferred efficiently into the ground, allowing for maximum stability and balance.
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Shuai Jiao (Shuai Chiao)
Hold the Horn and Throw
Considered by many to be the oldest form of Kung Fu surviving today, the wrestling art of Shuai Jiao can be traced back some 4,000 years.
Silk Reeling
In Chinese: Chanssu Jing
A category of exercises in the internal arts used to develop coordination, strength and suppleness while drawing on internal strength. To process silk, a single strand must be pulled and wound using continuous and uninterrupted pressure. Developing and applying internal strength requires the same concentration, and the concept of reeling silk is used as a teaching aid in instilling these sometimes hard to comprehend principles.
Sung
Relaxed
The quality of suppleness and ease of motion which accompanies proper movement in the internal martial arts. Not to be confused with limpness, sung describes a quality of relaxed coordination of the entire body in movement.
Sun-style Taijiquan
A style of Taiji developed by Sun Lutang, a famous master of Xingyiquan and Baguazhang. Sun learned Yang-style Taiji and developed Sun style as an offshoot of that system, incorporating ideas from Xingyiquan and Baguazhang. Sun style is characterized by compact movements with little visible coiling.
Tai Chi (pronounced: Tai-ji)
The workings of the Yin and the Yang. Which is represented as a circle divided between a dark and a light half, the Taiji symbol represents two mutually complementary forces in nature: Yin, the force characterized as dark, cold, stillness, passiveness and potential; and Yang, the force characterized as light, warmth, action, aggressiveness and expression.
Taijiquan (T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Tai Chi Chuan)
Yin-Yang Boxing
A Chinese internal art form based in the principles of Yin and Yang. Today's predominant styles of Taijiquan are Yang, Sun, Wu, and Chen.
Tui Shou
Push Hands
A two-person exercise used to teach students the martial aspects of the Taiji principles. Push Hands practice begins using simple, pre-defined sets of movements to teach coordination. Over time, more complex movement patterns are added and constraints removed until Push Hands becomes the Taiji equivalent of free sparring.
Yang-style Taijiquan
The most widely known style of Taiji in the world. The legendary fighter Yang Lu Chan, learned his art from Chen Chang Zhing in Chen village. His grandson, Yang Cheng Fu, reevaluated the art and developed it into a distinctly different style, replacing the changing tempos and rising and falling postures with a sedate, even tempo and uniformly large, open postures. The popular "Yang Long Form" consists of 108 postures.
Zhan Zhuang
Stake Standing
A standing gong or exercise in which the practitioner stands motionless in a particular posture to develop internal strength.
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