5 Elements

[blackmantis]

Hey everyone!

I have been doing Xingyi for a little and have just learnt the Pi Chuan METAL ELEMENT and i must say i like it very much.

I would like to know more about how the elements interact and also about when to use them. I would also like to know what you people think about the following points...

METAL: Is aimed as a strike behind the enemy
WATER: Creates a gap (great against Wing Chun)
WOOD: Has the most powerful straight punch in the world!
FIRE: Is a technique used in "celestial step"
EARTH: Is the most difficult element to master

Any thoughts?

Many Thanks

S

[Buddy]

S,
While the Wuxing do teach a number of techniques, I like to think of them as directions of using neijing.
Pi- From up to down
Zuan- From down to up
Beng- From back to front
Pao- From inside to outside
Heng- From outside to inside

[SPJ]

Agreed.

Excellent post.

[Felipe Bido]

Buddy's post is excellent.

the Five Element forms are not seen as techniques, but as Principles. If you see them as techniques, you could miss many ways to develop your practice.

For example, if someone see Pi Quan, they could say it's 'A palm strike'. And that's it.

Well, no.

Pi Quan trains your body to have the proper coordination/alignment/harmony to deliver force from up to down, no matter which 'star' you use (Head, palm, elbow, etc). That's why you see Pi Quan done with the head, the shoulders, the elbows, and many different variations; and as a strike, a jointlock, a throw, etc.

Same thing happens for all elements.-