MNC Articles

The Martial Arts are often shrouded in mystery and mysticism. In developing matrixing I often examined the various myths with an eye towards physics. While this article doesnt deal with matrixing, it does illustrate the type of thought I was doing.[l:2:J]

In the Chinese Martial Arts there is a thing called a pentagram. This a representation of the five elements of the universe. The five elements are generally considered to be: wood, water, metal, earth, fire.

There is a generative sequence that is often used to align these elements.In this sequence there is an order of creation. This order would be: fire makes earth, makes metal makes water makes wood, makes fire.

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.

The sequence to be arranged in the martial arts, I reasoned, should be arranged according to the potential motion of the element. Fire is towards, wood doesnt move, earth sinks, metal extends and water clings to. Thus, each element is understood according to the direction it takes.

Wood doesnt move. It is immobile. It waits for the attack.

Fire moves towards. It is aggressive. Fire destroys wood.

Earth is a downward motion. When somebody charges, they are taken to the earth. This is the way that earth can destroy fire.

Water is liquid and flowing. When somebody tries to grab, you go with to defeat. Water destroys 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 has no motion. Attack with a weapon can be handled by the simple act of assuming no motion, and thus letting the attack pass by. This is the manner in which wood can defeat metal.

This is one visualization of the Chinese pentagram as it relates to combat. It is made more potent by relating each element to motion. It is, however, 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.