Glossary
- Kung fu (gung fu) family
- A Chinese surrogate family structure based on martial arts or meditation. The teacher symbolizes the father, the students become the children, the people who studied earlier become older brothers/sisters, new arrivals are younger brothers/sisters, and so forth.
- Kuntao
- An Indonesian martial art that has extremely strong Chinese influences.
- kwa
Also known as kua. The area on each side of the body extending from the inguinal ligaments through the inside of the pelvis to the top (crest) of the hip bones.
- Lan
- Merging. A technical term for one of the four stages of sticking energy in tai chi chuan.
- Lan tsai hua
- The sparring techniques of tai chi chuan.
- Lao gung (lao gong/kung)
- The energetic point in the center of the palm; the easiest point in the body from which to project chi externally.
- Left channel
- One of the three primary energy lines in the body (on its left side), the other two being the right channel (its paired opposite), and the central channel. The paired opposites of the left and right channels of subtle energy are responsible for all the yin/yang dualistic functions of a human being, including the functioning of the body, emotions, psychic activity, and the manifestation of events in the outer world.
- Lieh (lie)
- The splitting energy of tai chi chuan.
- Lien huan
- One of the forms of hsing-i, based on the Five Elements.
- Lineage
- In the martial arts, an unbroken line of teaching that runs from one master through successive generations of worthy students, who become masters in their own right and pass on the knowledge.
- Lineage disciple
- A formal disciple who is chosen to learn and carry forth to future generations all the intact knowledge of any specific internal martial arts lineage.
- Listening power (ting jin, t’ing chin)
- The ability to accurately feel and interpret the energy of another with one’s hands and mind.
- Liu he
- Six combinations of body parts (shoulders and hips, elbows and knees, hands and feet) that must be finely coordinated with each other and the nei san he to maximize physical power in the internal martial arts.
- Liu he ba fa (liu ho pa fa)
- A completely internal martial art of China that combines movement elements of tai chi, hsing-i, ba gua, and Shaolin. Noted for its exceedingly long form, which can reach 700 movements in some of its branches. Relatively rare in the West.
- Lohan Arhat Boxing
- a Northern Shaolin style.
- Lost Track Boxing (mizong quan, mi tsung ch'uan)
- An external Northern Shaolin fighting system.
- Lotus kick
- A sideways kick in tai chi chuan that begins from the front of the body and moves to the outside of the body at least as far as the shoulder or even farther. Uses the shin, instep, the outside edge of the foot or the heel as the kicking weapon.
- Lower tantien
Also known as lower dantian.
Located below the navel in the center of the body, this energetic center is primarily responsible for the health of the human body. It is the only energy center where all the energy channels that affect the physical body intersect. Also known in Japanese as the hara and in English as the elixir or cinnabar field.
- Lu
- Roll Back or the absorbing, yielding energy of the internal martial arts. This term is especially used in tai chi chuan
- Martial Arts
- Various fighting methodologies, both empty-handed and with weapons, that are concerned with formalized techniques of injuring or killing an attacker in the most efficient manner with the least harm to oneself.
- Meditative stillness
- A level of accomplishment in meditation where the practitioner’s mind becomes exceptionally quiet and rests relaxed and centered within itself.
- Metal Element
- In Chinese cosmology, one of the basic energies or elements from which all manifested phenomena are created.
- Middle burner
- Located in the torso between the solar plexus and the lower tantien. The energy that exists in this middle area of the body coordinates and harmonizes the chi of the upper and lower burners, which lie above and below the middle burner.
- Middle tantien
Also known as middle dantian. One of the three major energy centers in the body. Two separate places are considered to be the middle tantien. They are located near each other, each governing different energetic functions. The point located at the solar plexus just below the sternum is responsible for the physical functions of the middle internal organs of the body (liver, spleen, and kidneys), as well as the will to persevere. The point located near the heart on the central channel governs physical, emotional, mental, psychic, or causal relationships.
- Mok gar (mo jia in Mandarin)
- A Southern Shaolin fighting style from Canton province.
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