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Mystery and mythology often obscure the martial arts. Matrixing is the use of physics to penetrate the mysteries of the martial arts. This article details the type of thought I was using when developing Matrixing.[l:2:J]
One of the more interesting symbols in the Chinese martial arts is the pentagram. The pentagram represents the five elements of the universe. The five elements are generally thought of as: wood, water, fire, metal, earth.
These five elements can be arranged in a sequence that is considered generative. Thus, each element makes the next. For instance: wood makes fire makes earth, makes metal makes water makes wood.
They can also be arranged in a degenerative sequence. Thus, each element destroys the next. For instance: wood is destroyed by fire is destroyed by water is destroyed by earth is destroyed by metal is destroyed by wood.
Generative or degenerative, there is an order to the series, and, according to ones viewpoint, there are different ways to consider the order. If metal is considered as a tool like a shovel, or a weapon like an ax, this can create a whole different order. One can see how different viewpoints result in arguments over the arrangement of the sequence.
In the martial arts, however, I believe the sequence to be arranged according to motion. Wood is immobile, fire is aggressive or towards, earth is downward, water is flowing or clinging, metal is a weapon. To understand this we need to consider each element as part of martial motion.
Wood is motionless. Wood doesnt move. Wood waits for the attack.
Fire is an aggressive attack. It moves towards wood. It destroys wood.
Earth is a motion towards the earth. When aggression comes in, earth will move it downward. Earth grapples with fire in this manner.
Water flows in the direction of the attack. Somebody attacks, you flow with to manipulate. Water can thus manipulate earth.
Metal can be considered as a weapon. A weapon extends the body, even to reach somebody who is water. Metal thus destroys liquid.
Wood is immobile. When somebody rushes with weapon, to defeat the closing of distance, the defender must go motionless and let the attack over extend, or pass by and miss. Wood defeats metal.
This is how motion, and combat, would relate to the Chinese pentagram. Relating motion to element makes for an understanding of the element. Unfortunately, the comparison is somewhat loose.
Metal, as a product of civilization, and therefore not natural, should probably be omitted. Perhaps four elements should be represented, and this by a square, which would make the concepts more manageable. There is also the possibility of replacing the Chinese elements with the Chinese elements, which would introduce spirit to the fray.
In the end, mythology must fall to science. Mythology is based on mystery, which is what we dont understand. To analyze motion purely is a science which can help the student progress rapidly, and to understand without the confusions of myth and mystery.
One of the more interesting symbols in the Chinese martial arts is the pentagram. The pentagram represents the five elements of the universe. The five elements are generally thought of as: wood, water, fire, metal, earth.
These five elements can be arranged in a sequence that is considered generative. Thus, each element makes the next. For instance: wood makes fire makes earth, makes metal makes water makes wood.
They can also be arranged in a degenerative sequence. Thus, each element destroys the next. For instance: wood is destroyed by fire is destroyed by water is destroyed by earth is destroyed by metal is destroyed by wood.
Generative or degenerative, there is an order to the series, and, according to ones viewpoint, there are different ways to consider the order. If metal is considered as a tool like a shovel, or a weapon like an ax, this can create a whole different order. One can see how different viewpoints result in arguments over the arrangement of the sequence.
In the martial arts, however, I believe the sequence to be arranged according to motion. Wood is immobile, fire is aggressive or towards, earth is downward, water is flowing or clinging, metal is a weapon. To understand this we need to consider each element as part of martial motion.
Wood is motionless. Wood doesnt move. Wood waits for the attack.
Fire is an aggressive attack. It moves towards wood. It destroys wood.
Earth is a motion towards the earth. When aggression comes in, earth will move it downward. Earth grapples with fire in this manner.
Water flows in the direction of the attack. Somebody attacks, you flow with to manipulate. Water can thus manipulate earth.
Metal can be considered as a weapon. A weapon extends the body, even to reach somebody who is water. Metal thus destroys liquid.
Wood is immobile. When somebody rushes with weapon, to defeat the closing of distance, the defender must go motionless and let the attack over extend, or pass by and miss. Wood defeats metal.
This is how motion, and combat, would relate to the Chinese pentagram. Relating motion to element makes for an understanding of the element. Unfortunately, the comparison is somewhat loose.
Metal, as a product of civilization, and therefore not natural, should probably be omitted. Perhaps four elements should be represented, and this by a square, which would make the concepts more manageable. There is also the possibility of replacing the Chinese elements with the Chinese elements, which would introduce spirit to the fray.
In the end, mythology must fall to science. Mythology is based on mystery, which is what we dont understand. To analyze motion purely is a science which can help the student progress rapidly, and to understand without the confusions of myth and mystery.
About the Author:
Al Case has been researching the martial arts for more than over forty plus years. You can get his free book on Matrixing at Monster Martial Arts. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.
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