Water Mountain Martial Arts Glossary
Kung Fu
Literal meaning: “Skill achieved through effort.”
In the West, we often toss around the term “kung fu” like it’s a specific fighting style. Truth is, it’s not. In China, kung fu just means any skill honed through hard work — it could be cooking, painting, or swinging a broadsword. But when we use it here at H2OMT, we’re usually talking about traditional Chinese martial arts, the kind passed down through forms (kata), stances, breathwork, and generations of dusty sandals.
Kung fu isn’t flashy kicks and wire-fu magic — it’s the art of transforming yourself through repeated, mindful action. Whether it’s Southern hands or Northern legs, the real fight is internal.
See also: Internal Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Martial Arts
Internal Kung Fu
This one takes a little unpacking. Internal kung fu refers to styles that focus less on brute strength and more on what’s happening inside — energy flow, intention, breath, structure, and timing. Think Tai Chi, Xing Yi, or Bagua.
Internal doesn’t mean soft. It means coordinated. It means using your skeleton right, sinking your weight, and timing your force so that a nudge becomes a storm. It’s about harnessing what the Chinese call “nei jin” — internal power. At H2OMT, internal kung fu is where we point students who want depth over drama, and power that doesn’t vanish with age.
Tai Chi (Taiji Quan)
Often mistaken for old folks doing slow-motion karate in the park, Tai Chi is actually a powerful internal martial art. The name itself means “Supreme Ultimate Fist.” Pretty metal, right?
It’s built on Taoist philosophy — the dance of yin and yang, soft and hard, slow and explosive. Movements are deliberate and circular, emphasizing relaxation, balance, and rootedness. Done right, Tai Chi teaches you how to absorb force like water and return it like a wave.
While not currently offered as a class at H2OMT, we reference Tai Chi frequently because of its shared principles with Qi Gong and other internal arts. It helps explain the philosophy and body mechanics behind many of our practices.
Also known as: Taiji, Tai Chi Chuan
See also: Qi Gong, Internal Kung Fu, Yin and Yang
Martial Arts
Big umbrella here. Martial arts covers a world of systems and traditions — from Japanese Karate to Filipino Escrima to Brazilian Capoeira. At their core, martial arts are physical disciplines rooted in combat, adapted over centuries for defense, health, and spiritual cultivation.
The martial part? That’s about facing conflict. The art part? That’s about transformation.
H2OMT’s specialty is in arts that blend external movement with internal development — where punches carry intention, and footwork follows breath. Whether you’re in it for skill, spirit, or sweat, you’ll find a place on the mat.
See also: Kung Fu, Internal Kung Fu, Qi Gong, External Martial Arts, Forms
Qi Gong (Chi Kung)
Qi Gong is the quiet cousin of kung fu — the one who doesn’t spar but still walks out with the glow of a thousand training sessions.
Translated as “energy work” or “life-force cultivation,” Qi Gong consists of breathing techniques, standing postures, and fluid movements designed to circulate qi (energy) through the body. It’s often used for healing, recovery, and spiritual clarity. It’s the bridge between martial strength and internal harmony.
In our training, Qi Gong is both warm-up and recovery, root and crown. It’s where we learn to feel before we fight, to calm before we clash. Master this, and you won’t just move better — you’ll live better.
Also known as: Chi Kung, Qi Gong Healing
See also: Tai Chi, Internal Kung Fu, Breathwork, Energy Cultivation
Glossary FAQs
Kung Fu means skill developed through effort. At Water Mountain, it refers to traditional Chinese martial arts that transform the body and mind.
Internal Kung Fu emphasizes breath, energy, and structure. It cultivates power that doesn’t fade with age.
Tai Chi is a slow, internal martial art rooted in Taoist principles. Though not taught at Water Mountain, it influences our qi gong and philosophy.
Martial arts are combat systems practiced for defense, health, and transformation. Water Mountain blends external movement with internal mastery.
Qi Gong is an energy practice combining breath, posture, and movement to improve health and awareness.
Glossary of Key Martial and Wellness Terms
Core Martial Terms
- Qi Gong – A traditional internal energy practice using breath, posture, and movement to harmonize the body and mind. Also appears as: What is Qi Gong, Qi Gong meaning.
- Wellness – A holistic approach to health involving physical movement, emotional balance, and energy flow as seen in Qi Gong practices.
- Arnis – A dynamic Filipino martial art emphasizing stick work, flow drills, and practical self-defense skills, as taught in the Pro Arnis system. Related terms: Escrima, Kali.
- Filipino Martial Arts – A collective term encompassing systems like Arnis, Kali, and Escrima. The Pro Arnis curriculum focuses on applied technique, mobility, and real-world engagement. Also appears as: Kali vs Escrima vs Arnis, Difference between Kali and Escrima.
- Double Stick – A paired stick training method developing coordination, ambidexterity, and combat rhythm, central to Pro Arnis drills.
- Twirl-Off – A Pro Arnis technique drill involving controlled high-speed spins to build dexterity and flow under pressure.
- Knife Drill – Training in short-blade movement and sensitivity, using partner or solo flow patterns to refine targeting and timing. Also searched as: Filipino curved knife.
- Classic Kung Fu Poses – Iconic training postures that represent structure, flow, and martial strategy, featured in photo studies and instructional content. Related to: Kung Fu meaning, Define Kung Fu.
- Spear Match – A controlled sparring demonstration using long-range thrusting weapons, captured in slow-motion for instructional review.
- Sword Match – A slow-motion study of swordplay techniques, emphasizing timing, targeting, and structured offense-defense exchanges.
- Long Staff Match – A recorded match highlighting sweeping strikes and angular movement patterns with long staff weapons.
Healing and Stress-Related Queries
- Can Stress Cause Joint Pain – Chronic stress can increase inflammation and contribute to joint discomfort, especially in aging martial artists. Also appears as: Stress induced joint pain.
- Joint Pain When Stressed – Stress hormones may interfere with tissue repair and pain perception, prolonging soreness.
- Stress and Aching Joints – Contrasts temperature-based recovery strategies for relieving stress-induced joint pain.
- Joint Pain Caused by Stress – Practical guidance on reducing joint pain through targeted nutrition and stress relief methods.