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