A Cycle Of Self-Correction
The Control Cycle is the specific order in which the Control Relationship connects and influences each of the Five Martial Elements.
The Control Cycle of the Federation Wing Tsun System looks like this:
- Strategy controls Technical
- Technical control Physical
- Physical controls Theory
- Theory controls Practical
- Practical controls Strategy
To understand how this cycle came about, I need to explain a bit about Wu-Xing and how the old classical elements correspond to the new martial elements. Read on…
From Classical To Modern
Wu-Xing is the classical Chinese version of Five-Element Theory. It uses the relationships between matter and energy as an analogy to explain how different parts of a system can balance and moderate each other. The traditional reasoning is as follows:
- Earth slows and channels Water – therefore – Earth controls Water
- Water cools and dampens Fire – therefore – Water controls Fire
- Fire softens and melts Metal – therefore – Fire controls Metal
- Metal splits and pierces Wood – therefore – Metal controls Wood
- Wood binds and penetrates Earth – therefore – Wood controls Earth
In the Federation Wing Tsun System, the five martial elements correspond to the classical Wu-Xing elements like this:
- Earth = Strategic
- Metal = Theoretical
- Water = Technical
- Wood = Practical
- Fire = Physical
Please understand that this wasn’t just an arbitrary choice – I created and named the five martial elements after years of observation, precisely because they preserve the validity of the control relationship, and closely follow the effects of the traditional Wu-Xing Control Cycle.
Wu-Xing > Martial
Mapping the old Wu-Xing pairings onto the new Martial Element pairings is then done like this:
| Wu-Xing Element Pairing | Classical Reasoning | Wu-Xing = Martial | Martial Element Pairing |
| Earth controls Water | Earth slows and channels Water | Earth = Strategy Water = Technical |
Strategy controls Technical |
| Water controls Fire | Water cools and dampens Fire | Water = Technical Fire = Physical |
Technical controls Physical |
| Fire controls Metal | Fire softens and melts Metal | Fire = Physical Metal = Theory |
Physical controls Theory |
| Metal controls Wood | Metal splits and pierces Wood | Metal = Theory Wood = Practical |
Theory controls Practical |
| Wood controls Earth | Wood binds and penetrates Earth | Wood = Practical Earth = Strategy |
Practical controls Strategy |
To understand how the Control Cycle helps you learn and develop your Wing Chun, make sure you know what’s inside each of the Five Martial Elements. Then you’ll see how practicing your Chi-Sao can help you use less energy, how repeated Sparring Drills can improve your combat choices, and how brushing up on your Theory can help you discover areas of training you may be lacking.
Where Next?
| Level | Contents | ||
| 2 | The Martial Art System | ||
| 3 | Five Martial Elements | The Creative Relationship | The Control Relationship |
| 4 | Strategic Element Theoretical Element Technical Element Practical Element Physical Element |
The Creation Cycle End Of Branch |
The Control Cycle (you are here) End Of Branch |