Martial Mysteries Solved!
The Martial Arts are often obscured by mysticism and mystery. In researching the martial science of matrixing I tried to analyze the various myths with physics. This is not an article about Matrixing, but it does show the thought process I was undergoing.[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.
The five elements can be arranged in an order that is thought of as generative. To be generative means that each element makes the next. Earth, for instance makes metal which makes water, which makes wood, which makes fire, which makes earth.
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.
This type of sequencing builds a logic, and the logic can be ordered according to ones viewpoint. The fact of whether metal is considered as a tool or a weapon can easily shift the viewpoint. such a shift in viewpoint can result in much argument as to the order of the sequence.
The elements, when applied to the martial arts can be arranged in relation to the motion they represent. Earth goes down, water flows with, metal (a weapon) reaches out, wood stays in place, and fire charges. Thus, each element is assigned a potential of motion.
Wood is motionless. Wood doesnt move. Wood waits for the attack.
Fire charges forward aggressively. Fire attacks wood. Fire attempts to destroy 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 flows and is liquid. Somebody trying to take you down would cause you to flow with. Water can handle earth in this manner.
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 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 not natural, I would have preferred to do without. A square might be more easily managed. Or, perhaps we could consider the Japanese pentagram, which has spirit as one of the elements.
Mythology, ultimately, must give way to science. Mystery is at the heart of mysticism, which is merely a way of saying we dont understand something. Thus, the confusions of mythology should fall to the analysis of force and direction, which is what Matrixing ultimately is.