Chickens

Chicken Scratch. Chicken wander around scratching a spot on the ground for no apparent reason, hoping to find food. Illegible handwriting is known as chicken scratch. Chicken scratch may also describe the way some people spar. They move around with their head and guard down, scratching (trying different techniques) here and there for no apparent reason; searching for something that might work.

Chicken Knuckles. These are the soft, spongy knuckles that are found on chicken feet. This type of knuckle is not desired by martial artists. We train to have tough knuckles that may withstand the impact and forces involved in devastating punches.

Big Chicken Dinner. While not related to the martial arts, another use of chickens is in the term “big chicken dinner,” a military term for a BCD, or bad conduct discharge, which is a less than honorable military discharge. Receiving a BCD means you were a complete failure in the military and a disgrace to the country.