Sage Arts Unlimited - Student Section - Glossary of Martial Arts Terminology

H	Glossary
Ha	Cantonese, Low.
Ha Da	Cantonese, Low hit.
Ha O'ou Chui	Cantonese, Low shovel hook.
Ha Pak	Cantonese, Low Slapping outside deflection, similar to Wong Pak
Ha Tek	Cantonese, Low Kick, typically a shin kick, similar to a Coup de Pie Bas in Savate, used to jam the shin of a kicking leg or upset the structure of a punch.
Ha So Tek	Cantonese, Low inverted sweep kick.
Habang	While, in the mean time.
Hachimaki	Japanese, Head wrapping. A light cotton towel, also known as a Tengui, wrapped around the forehead to restrict perspiration from running into the eyes and face.
Hadaka-Jime	Japanese, Bare handed strangle; rear naked choke; in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mata Lion, or Mata Leo.
Hagabis	A Filipino combat method of self-defense dealing with close quarters fighting, including empty-hand grappling techniques. Sometimes spelled Hagibis.
Hagad-Hubad	Strikes and counters.
Hagibis	Literally: "Whirlwind," a throwing technique.
Hagis	To throw, a throwing technique.
Haisoku	Japanese, arch of the foot; shin/instep, used in striking.
Hajime	Japanese, Begin. Referee's command used to start a Martial Arts match.
Hakama	Japanese, Divided skirt. The skirt-like trousers or cullotes primarily worn in Kendo, Aikido, Iaido, and sometimes the upper ranks of Judo.
Hakbang	To step; footwork.
Hakbang-Paiwas	Full side step; step to avoid a strike.
Hakko Ryu	Japanese, A form of Jujutsu in which Atemi (striking) techniques are emphasized.
Halan Ti	Korean, blue belt. Signifies Heaven, toward which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae Kwon Do progresses.
Halberd	A shafted weapon with an axe-like cutting blade, sometimes used to describe the Chinese Quando and the Japanese Naginata.
Halo-Halo	Combinations; free flow sparring.
Halt	English, German term, To stop or cease action, a term used often by referrees in fencing and other competitive formats. In Spanish, Alto or Parrarse, in French, Arrête, in Italian, Alt, in Japanese, Mate.
Han Mu Kwan	Military arts school. A style of Korean Karate.
Hana	Korean, One.
Hanay	Row or line.
Han-Ay	Form.
Hanbo	Japanese, literally: "Half-staff;" or half-Bo; a walking stick or cane used as a defensive weapon.
Handa	Japanese, "Get Ready!"
Hane-Goshi	Japanese, from Judo, spring hip throw.
Hanmi	Japanese, literally: half-body. Specifically regarding a fighting lead, one's fighting stance, and the relationships between the postures of two opponents (matching/opposite).
Hanpuku Geiko	Japanese, repeated training; repetition.
Hanshi	Japanese, Master. A respected master of Martial disciplines, who is of eighth- to tenth-degree black belt rank, although not all masters receive this title.
Hansoku Gachi	Japanese, Winner by violation. The decision awarded in a match when an opponent has violated the rules.
Hansokumake	Japanese, Loser by violation. A verdict against the loser when there has been a violation of the rules in a match.
Hantei	Japanese, Judgement or decision. A command by the referee to the judges to choose the winner of a match when neither contestant has scored or if the score is tied.
Hapkido	"Way of coordinating power." A Korean Martial Art characterized by kicking without retraction and composed of three primary skills nonresistance when meeting force, circular motion to countering and attacking, and the water principle - total penetration of an enemy's defenses.
Hapos	To strike or slash.
Happo No Kuzishi	Japanese, from Judo, the eight methods or directions of off-balancing. Sometimes spelled Happo No Kuzushi.
Hapsanay	Free sparring.
Hara	Japanese, the ocean of energy, specifically referring to the center of one's balance, a point near the navel, the center of one's internal energy. In Chinese, Tanden or Tantien.
Hara Kiri	Ritual Japanese suicide with a knife, practiced by the Samurai warrior. This phrase is the informal word for Seppuku.
Haragei	Japanese, The art of concentrating Ki in the abdomen; disciplines focusing on developing the Tanden.
Harai	"Sweep" or "sweeping."
Harai-Goshi	Japanese, from Judo, sweeping loin throw.
Harai-Tsurikomi-Ashi	Japanese, from Judo, lifting foot sweep throw.
Hata	Japanese, Flag. The flags used by referees or line persons to indicate scores, decisions, or Jogai.
Hatak	To pull.
Hataw	A full power strike.
Hauri	Hip.
Hawak	To hold.
Hawak-Gitna	Holding the stick in the middle of the weapon.
Hawak-Pakal	Reverse or ice-pick grip.
Hawak-Punyo	Regular hold of a weapon with punyol.
Hawak-Sagad	Regular grip with no punyol.
Hawak-Saksak	Regular or hammer grip.
Hawak-Sandata	Methods of holding a weapon.
Hawak-Susi	Reverse grip, holding at the tip of the stick.
Hay Hey	Cantonese, begin.
Haymaker	English Jargon, an obvious, long, wound-up strike, that will most likely cause great bodily harm if given a chance to land. Typically thrown to smash one's face, this term refers to a strike that is thrown with reckless abandon and full commitment.
Henka Nage	Japanese, referring to techniques which begin as one technique and are changed by Nage in the course of delivery to become another technique; change-ups.
Hidari	Japanese, Left or left side.
Hidari-Shizen-Tai	Japanese, from Judo, left natural posture.
Higot	To tie-up one's opponent.
Hiji	Japanese, Elbow.
Hiji Uchi	Japanese, Elbow strike. Also known as Empi.
Hikiwake	Japanese, Draw or tie. Referee's term denoting a draw in a match.
Hikot	A light tap.
Hilt	English, The portion of the blade just above the handle, where the blade enters or attaches to the handle. With Renaissance-era blades, and rapiers in particular, this refers to the hand guard above the crossbars or quillions above the handle. Typical types of hilts include the cup hilt, basket hilt, disc hilt, dish hilt, ring hilt and swept hilt.
Himm	"Force" or "power."
Hindi	To wait or pause.
Hintay	To slash.
Hiraki	Japanese, opening, entering, opening engagement or movement; a term used in Aikido.
Hirate	Japanese, Foreknuckle.
Hishiryo	Japanese, Zen concept of a state of thinking without thinking, of consciousness beyond thought. Initial stage of Mushin.
Hiuan Ti	Korean, white belt. Signifies the innocence of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Tae Kwon Do.
Hiwa	To untie.
Hiza	Japanese, Knee or lap.
Hiza Geri	Japanese, literally: "knee kick." Specifically, striking with the knee.
Hiza-Gatame	Japanese, from Judo, knee elbow lock.
Hiza-Guruma	Japanese, from Judo, knee wheel throw.
Ho Sin Sool	Korean, self-defense.
Ho Goo	Korean, Protective equipment worn by Tae Kwon Do competitors to minimize injury while sparring.
Hohup	Korean, Breathing.
Hohup Jojul	Korean, equilibrium, a factor in the theory of power, a concept studied in Tae Kwon Do.
Hojo Jutsu	Japanese, The art of tying. Techniques used to tie and immobilize a victim by means of a cord.
Hojutsu	Japanese, The art of firearms or gunnery.
Hok	Thai, Six.
Hombu	Japanese, Headquarters. This term can be used to define any headquarters for a Martial Arts school.
Honap Chagi	Korean, combination kicking, a term used in Tae Kwon Do to describe kicking with more than one type of kick in the same attack.
Hon-Kesa-Gatame	Japanese, see Kesa-Gatame.
Hook	Thai, a term used in Thai Boxing, word borrowed from the English, Hooking punch.
Hooks	English, In grappling, this refers to the use of one's legs, the act of entangling them in a particular manner among the opponent's legs, so as to impede the opponent's use of their legs in assisting their escape. This is often used to stretch one's opponent from a prone position, with the arms controlling the upper torso, and the legs controlling the lower half of the body.
Hop Gar	A style of Chinese Kung Fu, also known as Lama, which is composed of twelve short-hand and twelve long-hand maneuvers.
Hosin Sul	Korean, Self-defense techniques.
Hou	Cantonese, Rear.
Hou Chung Chui	Cantonese, Cross; Rear Vertical fist punch.
Hou Tek	Cantonese, Back kick.
Hsing I	Form of mind. An internal system of Kung Fu emphasizing linear movement.
Hua	Thai, Head.
Huajai	Thai, Heart.
Hubad	To untie (and in the vernacular, to undress).
Hubud	Traditionally, this trapping drill is referred to as Hubud Lubud, or literally "tie-up and untie" and is used in the Filipino Martial Arts performed with and without weapons, designed to increase coordination, timing and awareness, in a repetitive, cyclic manner. The full title of this drill is Hubad Higot Lubad (To tie, wipe and untie)
Huego y Riterada	Literally, "Hit and Run," or "Hit and Retreat" from the Spanish, a term used in the Filipino Martial Arts to denote the initial stage of training.
Huen Sao	Cantonese, Circling Hand - Minor Disengagement, used in trapping, this technique is used for moving one's hand from one line to another in a very subtle fashion. This is often used to harness the momentum of the opponent's Energy, and use it to open a line.
Hulagpos	To escape from capture or restraint.
Hung Gar	A major style of southern Chinese Kung Fu characterized by very hard, strong techniques and stable horse stances.
Hwa Rang	Korean, the name of a form used in Tae Kwon Do, Hwa Rang is named after the Hwarang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th Century in Korea. This group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry division where Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity.
Hwa Chuan	Flowery hand system. A northern Chinese style of Kung Fu.
Hwarang Do	Way of the flower of manhood. A native Korean philosophical code similar to Japanese Bushido and possessing a structured series of physical techniques that were advocated by warriors known as the Hwarang.
Hyung	Korean, Pattern, form, or mold. A series of prearranged offensive and defensive movements executed against imaginary attacking opponents. Also known as Katas, Kuen or Poomse.

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