Chinese Boxing Glossary

This is a working glossary of common Chinese terms used in Chinese Boxing and Kung Fu studies. Though we strive to use Standard English terms to describe our martial arts, some understanding of the Chinese words can be helpful. These are functional definitions, geared for the martial practitioner, not the Sinologist. In many cases, an excursus could be written on each term. The dialect and transliteration of the Chinese terms reflects the original sources of the Chinese Boxing Systems we practice.

An – downward circle

Bong Sao – Wing Arm

Chi – Energy

Chi Kung (Qigong) – Energy Work

Chi Sao – Sticky Hands, a drill in many Chinese Boxing Arts

Chin Na – Locking and Seizing

Cheung Chui – Vertical Punch

Chuan – Fist or Boxing

Chung Kuo Chuan – Chinese Boxing, Energy Boxing

Dit Da Jow – Fall and Hit Wine (Medicine)

Fa Jing (Fajin) – Explosive release of force

Fukien Pai Ho Chuan (Fujian Be He Quan) – Fukien White Crane Boxing, a system of boxing from Fukien Province, China

Gong Ka – Chinese Boxing

Gou Chuan – Dog Boxing, Ground fighting

Heng – Earth, a horizontal vector

Hsing-I Chuan (Xing Yi Quan) – Mind-Will or Form-Will Boxing

I (Yi) – Intent, Will

I Ching – Book of Changes

Ji – Horizontal forward circle

Jing – Force expression

Kong Sao (San Shou) – Free Fighting

Kung Fu (Gong Fu) – Skill obtained through hard work, Time well spent

Kuoshu – National Art, common term for martial arts in Taiwan, ROC

Li - Strength

Lu – Horizontal backward circle

Nei Jia – Internal Arts

Nei Kung – Internal Work

Pa Kua Chang (Bagua Zhang) – Eight Diagram Boxing

Pak Sao – Slapping Hand

Pao – Exploding; Fire, a zig-zag vector

Peng – Fullness; also Hsing-I wood vector; also Tai Chi upward circle

San Ti – Three Bodies, backward weighted stance

Sao (Shou) – Hand

Shen – Spirit

Shuai Chiao – Throwing

Sung – relax

Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) – Great Polarity Boxing, Grand Ultimate Boxing, Yin-Yang Boxing

Tan Tien – According to Chinese Medicine, an energy center approximately three inches below the navel and two inches inside the body (Sometimes called the ‘Lower Tan Tien’)

Tsaun – Water, a rising vector

Tsun Kwan – According to Chinese Medicine, and energy center located between the eyes in the forehead (Sometimes called the ‘Upper Tan Tien’)

Wa Lu – Energy that Springs from Internal Energy, a Southern style of Chinese Boxing

Wei Jia – External Arts

Wei Kung – External Work

Wu Hsing – Five Element Theory (Sometimes called Five Phases or Processes)

Wushu – War Art, common term for martial arts in the PRC

Yim Wing Chun – Beautiful Springtime Boxing, a Southern system of Chinese Boxing from Foshan, China