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Sabom |
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Teacher" or "instructor. |
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Sai |
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A pronged truncheon about fifteen to twenty inches long, used as a defensive instrument against various weapons such as the sword. It was developed from an Okinawan farming tool. |
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Saifa |
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(Japanese) The name of an advanced Karate Kata of the Shorei Karate Style from Okinawa. The name translated means "Big Wave". |
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Sam |
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The traditional uniform of kung fu. |
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Sambo |
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Modern Russian Grappling Art |
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Samurai |
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The swordsmen of feudal Japan who were impeccably at a wide variety of martial arts practices, particularly the sword, and served and lord and fief. Masterless samurai were known as "ronin." |
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Sanbon |
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In three parts, three steps |
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Sanbon Zuki |
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Three consecutive punches (the first one JODAN and the two others CHUDAN) |
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Sangdan |
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"Upper" or "upper level." A directional term used in Korean martial arts. |
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Sankukai |
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A style of karate based on a combination of other systems, with an emphasis on escaping techniques and aikido-like defenses. |
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Sanshou (Chinese) |
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Also called SANDA. During the Chinese cultural revolution the practice of combat sports in China was forbidden. It is only around 1979 that combat sports competitions appeared again. One of these new methods was SANDA, a kind of "Chinese Full Contact", a combination of blows with fists and feet but also seizures and projections. |
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Sappo |
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A method of attacking vital points of the body in order to cause a coma or death. |
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Savate |
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French hand and foot fighting. A method of fighting to the knockout, once popular with the aristocracy of France. |
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Saya |
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The scabbard of a samurai sword. |
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Seito |
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Pupil" or "student. |
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Seiza |
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"Correct sitting." A full kneeling position used in many martial arts when performing the ceremonial bow or receiving formal instruction. |
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Sempai |
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"Senior." Usually denotes any senior by age, rank, position or social standing. |
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Sen I |
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Fighting will" or "fighting spirit. |
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Sensei |
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A teacher; literally "one who has been born before," therefore an elder. |
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Sensei-Ni |
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Face toward the instructor; a command. |
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Seppa |
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The washers above and below the tsuba of a samurai sword. |
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Shaolin |
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"Young forest" or "small forest." A method of kung fu based on eight postures and five animal forms: dragon, snake, tiger, crane and leopard. |
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Shiai |
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A competitive match between Japanese martial artists. |
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Shido |
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A minor violation that gives the opponent a koka. If a similar violation is committed later in the match, the shido is increased to a chui. (Judo) |
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Shikko |
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"Knee walking." A method of moving forward while keeping one knee constantly on the ground. Knee walking was originally a polite way of moving in a house, especially before a lord. |
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Shimoseki |
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Lower seat." In a traditional Japanese dojo, the area where students line up and face their instructor(s). Also known as "shimoza. |
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Shinai |
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A fencing practice sword, made of bamboo strips, and used in the practice of kendo. |
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Shinken |
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"Real sword." An actual life or death encounter. |
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Shintai |
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"Stopped mind." A condition in which one remains exclusively defensive. |
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Shito Ryu |
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A style of karate founded by Kenwa Mabuni. Shito ryu is one of the four major Japanese karate systems. |
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Shizentai |
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"Natural position." An encompassing term for numerous karate stances in which the body remains relaxed but alert. |
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Shodan |
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A first degree black belt. |
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Shomen |
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"Front" or "forward." Often refers to the front wall of a dojo. |
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Shoshinsha |
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"Novice" or "beginner." Any unranked Japanese martial artist. |
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Shotokan |
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A popular Japanese karate system founded by Gichin Funakoshi and influenced directly by the Okinawan style of Shuri-te. |
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Shuai Chiao |
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Along with chin na, this form of Chinese wrestling possibly influenced the formation of Japanese jujutsu. |
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Shubaku |
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A system of empty-hand combat similar to jujutsu which is considered the forerunner of judo. |
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Shuko |
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A type of feudal age brass knuckle used by the ninja. Besides the small metal plate that slipped over the knuckles, the shuko had spikes extending from the palm so an enemy's face could be raked. It was also useful for gripping when climbing walls. |
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Shuri Te |
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One of the three original Okinawan karate schools, which derived its name from the city where it originated. |
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Shuriken |
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Bladed instruments commonly used as throwing weapons by the ninja. |
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Shushin |
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The chief referee in a judo contest or a Japanese-style karate match. |
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Shuto |
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Knife-edge hand (little finger side of palm) |
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Shuto Uke |
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Blocks in which the edge of the hand is used. |
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Si Bok |
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"Older uncle." A title given to a senior ranking instructor in some styles of kung fu. |
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Sifu |
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Teacher" or "instructor. |
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Silambam (India) |
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This method is most of the time practised as part of the Kalaripayat and contains the techniques of manipulation of the long and the short combat stick. |
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Sochin Dachi |
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Posture used in the kata Sochin (between Kiba Dachi and Zen Kutsu Dachi) |
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Sogo Gachi |
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A compound win that results when the combatant has a waza-ari and the opponent is penalized with a keikoku. (Judo) |
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Sojutsu |
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"Art of the spear." An armed combative practiced by Japanese feudal warriors who used many types and styles of spears. |
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Sokuto |
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Foot edge or knife foot. |
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Soto |
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Outside," "outer," or "exterior. |
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Sparring |
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A form of martial arts training in which two opponents face one another and simulate actual combat. |
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Subak |
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A native Korean fighting system that enjoyed its widest popularity during the reign of King Uijong (A.D. 1147 - 1170). |
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Suki |
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"Opening." A gap in an opponent's defense or technique. |
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Sumo |
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A basic Japanese form of grappling in which the participants are of gigantic proportions. Victory is either achieved by forcing the opponent out of the ring, or by forcing him to touch the floor within the ring with any part of his body above the knee. |
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Sutemi Waza |
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"Sacrifice techniques," in which the defender apparently yields to the attacker's pressure and then uses the attacker's momentum to execute a throw. |
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Sweep |
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A method of bringing an opponent down by knocking one of his legs out of its stance and then throwing him off balance. |
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