In using the typical leopard-fist, a halfopen fist, a target can be hit with a small point of impact, the knuckles, from a short distance and with a highly destructive power. Beside its function within the fighting system, the element metal is important within the traditional Chinese medicine as well and linked with the organs lung (ying organ) and large intestines (yang organ). As mentioned in the text about the element fire with regard to the organs heart and small intestines, a ying organ is generally considered more important than a yang organ, therefore yang organs are usually only mentioned in passing. Not only the
traditional Chinese medicine has recognized that there is a connection between the lungs and the skin, but Western medicine also acknowledges this link and that the skin mirrors the state of health of the lungs to some extent. The cause for several skin diseases can be explained by an imbalance in the lungs and can be therefore attributed to the element metal. A popular example is smoking. It causes various adverse affects and also influences the skin in a negative way. Discussing the element metal relating to fighting or self-defense techniques, an inexperienced student often struggles to establish an
understanding for metal techniques. Nonetheless, or rather for that very reason, I hope that this article, as well as constant practice, enhances everybody’s perception of these very interesting principles. It is the same as with the four other elements: the depth of knowledge and understanding depends on regular exercise, a curious mind and a skilled teacher. I sincerely hope that many students of mine will choose to go all the way to become Hung Gar masters one day and thereby discover the full potential, subsystems and secrets, which are embodied in the Hung Gar system.