Glossary

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that uses an opponent’s energy and movement to redirect attacks with fluid, non-aggressive techniques.

Anti-bullying skills teach children how to confidently prevent, handle, and diffuse bullying through communication, awareness, and self-control.

An Arm Bar is a joint lock that hyperextends the elbow by controlling the arm and applying leverage with the hips.

An Axe Kick is a downward striking kick that lifts the leg high and drops the heel straight down with force.

A Back Kick is a backward thrusting kick that uses hip rotation to deliver powerful, surprise strikes behind you.

A Back Stance is a balanced defensive stance that shifts weight to the rear leg for stability and quick counterattacks.

The Belt Ranking System is a structured progression of colored belts that mark a student’s skill development and advancement in martial arts.

The formal evaluation where students demonstrate required skills to earn their next belt rank.

Black Belt represents the highest level of mastery, earned after demonstrating advanced skill, discipline, and long-term commitment.

Board Breaking is a training exercise where students strike wooden boards to demonstrate power, precision, and proper technique.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a ground-based martial art that emphasizes leverage, submissions, and technique over strength.

A Breakfall is a safe landing technique that teaches you how to fall without injury by dispersing impact.

Bully Prevention teaches children strategies to recognize, avoid, and safely respond to bullying before it escalates.

A Cat Stance is a light, balanced stance with most weight on the back leg to allow quick movement and fast strikes.

The Class Structure outlines how each martial arts lesson is organized to teach skills, build confidence, and keep students engaged from start to finish.

Helps students develop self-belief through achievable goals, positive reinforcement, and consistent skill progression.

Continuous Sparring is a fast-paced sparring format where students exchange ongoing techniques without stopping after each point.

A protective stance that keeps your hands up and body aligned to shield against incoming strikes.

A performance-based demonstration where students combine technique, speed, and creativity to break boards in unique ways.

A Crescent Kick is an arcing kick that sweeps in a curved motion to strike or redirect an opponent.

A Cross (Reverse Punch) is a powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand to generate maximum force and drive.

Discipline and Self-Control teach students to manage their actions, emotions, and decisions with focus, respect, and responsibility.

The shared environment, values, and behavior standards that create a respectful, disciplined, and supportive training space.

An Elbow Strike is a close-range strike using the hard point of the elbow to deliver strong, compact impact.

Escape Techniques are skills used to break free from holds, pins, or grabs and regain a safer position.

Evasion (Footwork) involves using quick, controlled movement to avoid attacks by stepping, sliding, or repositioning your body.

A Fighting Stance is an athletic, balanced position that prepares you for both offense and defense.

Focus and Concentration is the ability to direct your attention with control, helping students stay engaged, learn effectively, and perform techniques with precision.

Preset sequences of movements that build technique, discipline, and flow through structured practice.

A Front Kick is a basic martial arts kick delivered straight forward to build power, accuracy, and control.

A Front Stance is a strong, forward-facing stance that provides stability, balance, and power for strikes and blocks.

Teaches students to set clear objectives and work steadily toward achieving them in training and life.

A grounded grappling position where you control an opponent using your legs and hips.

A Hammer Fist is a strong downward or sideways strike delivered with the bottom of the clenched fist for powerful close-range impact.

Hapkido is a Korean martial art that blends joint locks, throws, and dynamic kicks to emphasize self-defense through control and redirection.

A High Block is a defensive move that lifts the arm upward to protect the head from incoming strikes.

A Hip Throw is a grappling technique that uses your hips as leverage to lift and flip an opponent to the ground.

A Hook Kick is a snapping kick that sweeps outward and then hooks back in to strike with the heel.

A Hook Punch is a curved, powerful punch delivered from the side to target an opponent at close to mid-range.

A Horse Stance is a wide, low stance used to build leg strength, balance, and stability in martial arts.

The training, experience, and certifications an instructor holds to ensure safe, effective, and high-quality teaching.

A Jab is a quick, straight punch used for speed, accuracy, and setting up combinations.

Judo is a Japanese martial art focused on throws, grappling, and using an opponent’s force through technique and control.

Jump Kicks are airborne kicks that use a jump to add height, power, and dynamic movement to the technique.

Karate is a Japanese martial art centered on striking techniques, discipline, and personal development.

Kickboxing is a striking-focused martial art that combines punches and kicks to build fitness, coordination, and self-defense skills.

A Knife Hand Block is a defensive technique that uses the edge of the hand to deflect or redirect an incoming attack.

A precise chopping strike delivered with the edge of the hand for speed and accuracy.

Krav Maga is a practical self-defense system designed for real-world situations, focusing on quick, effective techniques to neutralize threats.

Kung Fu is a traditional Chinese martial art known for its fluid movements, diverse styles, and focus on discipline and self-mastery.

Teach students how to guide others with confidence, responsibility, and positive influence both on and off the mat.

A controlled form of sparring where techniques are applied with minimal force to prioritize safety, speed, and precision.

A Low Block is a defensive move that sweeps downward to protect the lower body from incoming strikes or kicks.

A brief discussion time where students learn important life skills, values, and lessons that support their martial arts training.

A Middle Block is a defensive technique that sweeps across the body to protect the torso from incoming attacks.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combat sport that blends striking and grappling techniques from multiple martial arts for a well-rounded fighting style.

Mount Position is a dominant ground position where you sit on top of an opponent to maintain control and apply attacks.

A controlled practice where techniques are performed with precision but without making physical contact.

A Palm Strike is a powerful forward strike using the heel of the hand for safe, effective impact.

A Parry is a quick redirection of an incoming attack using minimal movement to deflect it away.

The commitment to keep trying and pushing forward, even when challenges or setbacks arise.

Physical Fitness refers to building strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall health through regular movement and exercise.

Point Sparring is a controlled competition where fighters score points for clean, precise techniques rather than full-contact power.

Uses maximum force to break thicker boards or objects, showcasing strength, precision, and technique.

Protective Gear includes the pads, guards, and equipment worn to ensure safety during training and sparring.

Ready Stance is a balanced starting position that prepares you for movement, defense, or attack.

Rear Naked Choke is a submission hold applied from behind that targets the neck to safely and effectively force an opponent to tap out.

The practice of showing courtesy, humility, and appreciation toward instructors, peers, and the martial arts tradition.

A Ridge Hand is a sweeping strike delivered with the thumb-side edge of the hand for fast, targeted impact.

A Roundhouse Kick is a powerful circular kick delivered with a pivot, used for speed, reach, and striking impact.

Self-defense skills are practical techniques that help individuals protect themselves by increasing awareness, confidence, and physical preparedness.

A Shoulder Throw is a judo technique that lifts an opponent onto your shoulder and flips them forward to the ground.

A Side Kick is a strong, linear kick executed by driving the heel sideways for power, balance, and precise impact.

Sparring is controlled practice fighting that helps students apply techniques, build timing, and improve real-world martial arts skills.

A demonstration technique focused on breaking boards with fast, precise strikes rather than raw power.

Spinning Kicks are rotational kicks that generate extra speed and power by combining a full-body spin with a striking technique.

Stranger Danger Awareness teaches children how to recognize unsafe situations and respond confidently to protect themselves.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art focused on powerful kicks, discipline, and character development.

A short introductory program that lets kids try martial arts classes before committing to a full membership.

A Triangle Choke is a submission that traps an opponent’s neck and arm between the legs to apply pressure and secure a choke.

Traditional training outfit that promotes discipline, comfort, and freedom of movement in martial arts practice.

An Uppercut is an upward punch thrown from close range to strike under an opponent’s guard with power and precision.