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

P	Glossary
Pa Kua	Eight trigrams. One of three internal methods of Kung Fu. It is composed of various circling and linear postures named after and based on the movements of the snake, stork, dragon, hawk, lion, monkey and bear.
Paa	Foot.
Paa Pan Mue	Thai, Bandages worn under gloves, handwraps
Paawas	To parry.
Paayon	Going with the force.
Pababa	Downward.
Pachigi	A Korean Martial Art in which the head is used to butt an opponent.
Paed	Thai, Eight.
Pag-Galang	Salutation or show of respect.
Paghimsug	Exercises or calisthenics.
Pagsasanay	Training.
Pagsilang	Birth or sunrise.
Pagsisisi	Atonement or repentance.
Pahisa	A slashing motion.
Pai Shih	A ceremony for a Kung Fu novice denoting his acceptance as a disciple.
Paikot	To rotate; circular strike.
Paiwas	To avoid.
Pak Sao	Cantonese, Slapping Block, usually moving forward and/or towards Centerline, often utilized in clearing an obstruction from an attempted strike. Used in trapping.
Pak Sao Da	Cantonese, Pak Sao and hit.
Pak Sao Loy Da	Cantonese, Inside line Pak Sao and inside line hit.
Pak Sao Ngoy Da	Cantonese, Outside line Pak Sao, outside line hit.
Pakal	"Ice pick" grip.
Palad	Palm of the hand.
Palakas	Strengthening.
Palakas-Pulso	Wrist strengthening exercises.
Palis	Sweep or sweeping parry.
Palis-Patid	A sweeping throw.
Palisut	Literally, "Passing Block," this technique involves a parry that carries the attacking limb from one side of the opponent's body to the other, offering control and a means to dissolve the momentum and speed of an attack.
Palisut-sut	Skipping strike.
Palit	Change or exchange.
Palitan	Alternating.
Palit-Kamay	Change or exchange grip.
Palmok	Forearm or wrist.
Palo	To strike.
Paluan	Exchange of strikes.
Pama-a	Footwork.
Pan Dong Ryok	Korean, reaction force, a factor in the theory of power, a concept studied in Tae Kwon Do.
Panah	A term used in Panantukan, referring to a split-entry.
Panandata	Literally, "I train with weaponry," This a term used for Kali in the Tagalog dialect.
Pananjakman	A Filipino Martial Art which emphasizes kicking along the low line, part of Kali.
Panantukan	Filipino Boxing, a system that emphasizes the use of bare knuckle strikes, elbows and finger jabs as offensive weapons, while incorporating a great deal of trapping and manipulation of the opponent's limbs. Sometimes referred to as Suntukan, this is an empty-handed aspect of Kali.
Panastas	A term used in Panantukan, To slash.
Panata	A devotion.
Pangamut	Literally, "I train empty hands," or, "of the Hands,"referring to an aspect of the Filipino Martial Arts similar to Panantukan or Dumog. Sometimes spelled Pamgamot.
Pangandam	On-guard or ready position.
Pang-Ikyas	Evasion or dodge.
Pangilog	Disarming.
Pangkalikali	A term used by the Ibangs (group native to the Philippines) to refer to Kali.
Pang-nga	Thai, a term used in Thai Boxing meaning to Dodge or Evade.
Pang-Olisi	Stick-fighting.
Pang-Ubot	Hold or grip.
Panibago	New or a revival.
Pani-il	Footwork.
Panimbang	Balance.
Panipis	To skim or cut thinly.
Pankration	Game of all powers. An early Greek sport developed as a combination of earlier native forms of boxing and wrestling.
Panukad	Fighting stance.
Parang	An Indonesian term for a cleaver-type knife with blade lengths ranging from 10-36 inches. The cutting edge is largely straight, broadest and heaviest at the tip, the reverse edge is straight and dull, with a rather blunt contour which brings it to the tip at a slant.
Parar	Spanish, a fencing term meaning "to Parry or Deflect."
Parrier-Dolch	German, a fencing term referring to the use of the Ricasso or Quillions of a dagger or Poignard to trap and manipulate the adversary's blade.
Parry	To intercept a strike in a manner that will make it miss its intended target, or significantly lessen its effect.
Parusa	Punishment.
Pas D'ane	French, Fencing term, on a swept-hilt rapier, these rings circle the blade at the Ricazzo, slightly above the hilt, known as the "Arms of the Hilt"
Pasada de Contra	Italian, Spanish, Fencing term, Pass and hit.
Pasok	To enter, inside or on target.
Passada	Spanish, fencing term, a short advancing step of approximately 24" used in the Spanish Destreza.
Passada Doble	Spanish, fencing Term, two Passadas, stepped with alternating feet, footwork used in the Spanish Destreza.
Passada Simple	Spanish, fencing Term, a short advancing step of approximately 30" used in the Spanish Destreza.
Passata Sotto	Italian, fencing term, a stop-hit attack, a fencing term referring to a thrusting attack from under one's guard, delivered by lunging low to the ground, often with one hand on the floor for support. Performed against a high thrust, where the defender slides the rear foot back, replacing it with the live hand on the ground, lowering one's body underneath a high attack, in order to catch the opponent on their lunge. Sometimes also referred to as Botte de Nuit.
Passement	French, see Beat.
Passing	When blocking, any time that you do not directly oppose the force and direction of the incoming strike, but instead use its momentum to safely guide it to another direction, usually to the other side of your body.
Pasulong	Forward.
Pasungkit	To thrust upward.
Pataas	Upward.
Patalim	Dagger or bladed weapon.
Patalon	Jumping or multi-level strikes.
Patibong	To trap.
Patid	To trip.
Patusok	In a thrusting motion.
Paulit-ulit	Repetitive.
Pa-upo	Half side-step; sitting down.
Pauyon	"Go with the force" technique.
Payong	Roof Block, a term used in the Filipino Martial Arts.
Payong sa Itaas	Upper umbrella block.
Pedang	An Indonesian term for a short sword with a curved or straight blade, usually single edged, varying in overall length from between 15-35 inches, used single-handed.
Pee Liang	Thai, Seconds.
Peichin	An Okinawan feudal title bestowed upon a Samurai by a lord for distinguished services rendered.
Pekiti	Close range.
Penchak	"Evasion" or "warding off." An unarmed Indonesian Martial Art similar to a two-person dance.
Pendekar	In Silat, a master teacher. Originally derivative of a two-word Menangkabau expression: Pandai Akal, or "clever mind."
Pentjak	One of numerous terms used to indicate Indonesian unarmed combat.
Piga	To squeeze or wring.
Piglas	To struggle or resist.
Pikon	One who is easily upset.
Piktos	A snap strike.
Pilay	Sprain or dislocation.
Pinahandog	Diagonal downward strike.
Pinasaka	Diagonal upward strike.
Pinasaka Tuhod	Rising knee strike.
Pinatag	Horizontal strike.
Pinatindog	Vertical downward strike.
Ping Chui	Cantonese, A horizontal knuckle punch often aimed along the low line, at the midsection, used in the Jun Fan Martial Arts, and used in Trapping.
Pingga	A long staff fighting system; a long staff.
Pinid	Closed position.
Pintok	A wrist snap strike.
Pisau	An Indonesian term for a short-bladed knife.
Pito	Seven.
Planchada	A horizontal strike.
Plansada	A horizontal cut or strike.
Pluma	Pen.
Po	A suffix denoting respect.
Po Eun	Korean, the name of a form used in Tae Kwon Do, Poe Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong Chu (1400) who was a famous poet and whose poem "I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram represents hsi unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.
Po Pie	Cantonese, Double Hand Palm Strike, a pressing forward energy aimed at the opponent's forearms, when they resist trapping by bringing the arms stiffly inward to avoid manipulation. This has the effect of creating a pause in the opponent's timing, allowing for a break in space, and often setting up for a low kick.
Poinards	French, fencing tern referring to a dagger. See Main Gauche.
Point	English, Fencing term, the tip of a weapon, especially a sword.
Point-of-Percussion	English, A fencing term referring to the last third of a blade, the cutting edge used in slashing attacks.
Pommel	English, Fencing term, the fist end or butt of a weapon, especially a sword. See Punyo.
Post	English, This refers to a maneuver used in grappling where a part of the body is used as a point of support from which to lift the rest of the body, typically the hand/arm, or the foot. Posting can be done on the floor or on the opponent, in order to keep them pinned down under one's weight.
Prakcion	From the Spanish, To react faster than the opponent.
Prana	Sanskrit, internal energy; breath. See Chi.
Preemptive Strike	A preemptive strike is dependent on awareness, relaxation, timing and a keen understanding of one's opponent's potential, based on distance, relative body positioning, and intention. This manner of striking serves to shut down an opponent's offensive attempt by striking them as they prepare to strike you, effectively pre-empting their initiative. A preemptive strike that is slightly behind the opponent's initiation is called a Stop-hit.
Prima	Italian, a fencing term referring to a high outside guard, sometimes referred to as Reverse or Guardant.
Prima Posizione	Italian, a term used in fencing. See First Position.
Prime	French, number one; first; fencing term, high inside parry, palm down (pronated grip).
Primera Posición	Spanish, a term used in fencing. See First Position.
Pringapus	An Indonesian weapon known as a "bamboo knife." Typical employment methods included inserting through the ear of a sleeping victim.
Pris de Fir	French, fencing term, literally, "Taking of the blade" referring to a counter thrust performed with body angling and pivoting footwork which engages one's sword with the tip inline with the opponent's momentum. The tip is left behind for the opponent to impale themselves on, given a strong lunging attack.
Prode Pood Hai Sah Kwa Nee	Thai, "Please speak more slowly."
Pronation	Turning the hand or arm palm down.
Proper Breathing	English, During striking, the breath should be explosive, punctuating the strike. During defense, the breath should be used to regulate the manner in which the air leaves you lungs (especially when being hit). Breathing should be deep and quick, silent on the inhale and louder on the snap when exhaling. Proper breathing will use the abdominal muscles and regulate the motions and the thinking, as well as the amount of adrenaline acting on your system during a confrontation. It must also be exaggerated and trained to become instinctive and natural.
Pukpok	To hammer or pummel.
Pulso	From the Spanish, Pulse or wrist.
Puluhan	Handle or butt.
Pummel	Old English, A term which comes from the term Pommel, or Pommeling, meaning to hit with the fists, such as one might do with the pommel of a sword.
Pun Sao	Cantonese, a term used in Wing Chun and the Jun Fan Martial Arts, referring to the technique known as the "Questioning hand." Sometimes spelled Poon Sao.
Puñol	Also sometimes spelled Punyol. Used in the Filipino Martial Arts, this term is from the Spanish, and refers to a strike with the Butt or Pommel of the Weapon, translated literally to mean, "Fist."
Puñol Sumbrada	A form of Sumbrada where the emphasis is on striking and manipulating strikes with the butt of the weapon.
Punong Guro	Head teacher & founder of a system.
Punta	Italian, a fencing term referring to basic thrusting methods.
Punta Reversa	Italian, Spanish, A type of thrust with a rapier or thrusting weapon; to the left or outside of the adversary's sword. Sometimes also referred to as Botta Dritta.
Punta Sopramano	Italian, a fencing term referring to a thrust above the opponent's hand.
Punto	Point or tip of a weapon. A term from the Spanish, used in the Filipino Martial Arts.
Punto Sumbrada	A form of Sumbrada where the emphasis is on slashing at the limb and thrusting in return.
Punyo	See Puñol.
Puter Kepala	Indonesian term, literally, "turning of the head," a method of throwing one's opponent by turning the head under the arm, used in Silat and Kali. See Labai.
Pyugi	Korean, Stretching.

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