~ Can you read the game? ~
I do openly admit that in addition to my work as a QiGong instructor and my interest in Chinese astrology etc., I have a keen interest in tennis. Not only is it an amazing game to play, but it is also striking how in tennis we can become aware of the clear unfolding of the 5 elements in combination with the astrological aspects. Tennis at the highest level is essentially a mental and psychological game. When we watch great tennisplayers of the ATP or WTA elite play the game, only small margins separate them. The player with the best mind-set would most likely “draw the longest straw.” Almost nowhere else, apart from on a theater stage, a film studio or a dance hall, can we observe how the element types express themselves as clearly as in tennis. The question is if you are able to read the game?
When I started studying the principles of the 5 elements 40 years ago, it was like embarking on an exciting journey that has continued to excite me and provide me with lifelong learning. Are you ready for me to take you on an adventurous journey? This blog post will be a mix of tennis on ATP and WTA level, the 5 elements in chinese philosophy and chinese astrology.
As humans we are so much more…
Sometimes a person can succeed in living in harmony with other people, with life in general and with nature. Other times the same person gets caught up in the small details, and lose touch with the bigger picture. We all know it. We humans are not a limited being, rather we are entities connected to the magical wheel of life.
When a person manages to live in harmony with the greater whole, his or her life can become a beautiful composition of the most delightful sounds.
The ancient Chinese had a keen interest in spotting the inherent energy patterns of every human being, which is constantly changing and in direct interaction with the forces of nature and the surrounding environment. Every person has a unique energy pattern imprinted in them.
In nature we can watch a constant flow of change in relation to the cycle of winter, spring, summer, late summer, autumn and back to winter again etc. This is what we refer to as the 5 elements or 5 phases. But the 5 elements is so much more than that.
“Just do it” is a typical Wood drive
We all heard about Nike and the saying: “Just do it”, which indeed is a very Wood oriented statement. As humans our approach to many things in our daily life are different. We face challenges differently and we do things differently.
Here is how the different element types would respond to Nike´s statement “Just do it”.
Water: Let´s have lunch while we talk about doing it.
Wood: It´s already done. In fact I did it yesterday.
Fire: Yeees…everyone´s doing it.
Earth: Can we do it together?
Metal: It´s not about doing – it´s about being.
You are probably already by now able to recognize yourself in at least 1 or 2 of these characters. Every individual represents all the 5 elements, but normally 1 element is dominant and in addition there´s 1 or 2 secondary elements. During our life the elements may change. It depends on different factors.
Yin and yang are at the very root of the 5 elements
Now, as you probably have already heard of concepts like Feng Shui and acupuncture it is more unlikely that you have heard about the principles of the 5 elements. To understand it better, you need to know a little about the basic principles of Chinese medicine and philosophy.
One of the basic pillars of the Chinese medicine and philosophy is the 2 complementary principles we call yin and yang. While the yin principle corresponds to what we know as decline, rest, renewal and stillness the yang principle corresponds to activity, movement, creativty and change etc. Our lives are governed by these 2 life principles. We are active when we wake up in the morning, we work, we eat, we socialize and then in the evening we rest and we recharge our energy.
In the range between those 2 poles we find a space of energy, which the Chinese call “Qi”. Quantum physics proves that pretty much everything we can touch and measure by the senses is made of energy. It is this energy the chinese refer to. In a human being, Qi operates as the vital lifeforce and as the vital breath, which keeps us alive and functional every single moment of our life.
Balance is everything…
QiGong practice is all about cultivating this vital energy and keep it in a harmonius balance.
Qi is the fuel that powers the functions of the 5 elements or 5 phases, as we may call it. Yin and yang are like the tides and describe a mutual ebb and flood state. When one is increasing, the other is decreasing, and so on. In other words, the 5 phases indicate the quality of the waxing and waning states of yin and yang. This is like an ongoing rhythm or condition, that has an impact on our lives.
“The 5 elements” – the world´s oldest personality type system
In short, the 5 elements include water, wood, fire, earth and metal. These elements are closely connected and cooperate in nature as in man to maintain a vital balance.
As already mentioned the elements describe 5 different phases in the interaction between yin and yang, and it´s constantly changing. We can use this knowledge for different purposes – not only as an approach to medicine and health but also as a guide to determine human characteristics, psychological resources and the energy that drive a person.
In this sense, the 5 elements are considered to be the worlds oldest personality type system.
Its all about keeping your own rhythm, while you break the rhythm of your opponent
The ancient Chinese observed the influence of the elements in various contexts in their lives and used this knowledge. Not least, the combination of the elements and astrology was used to gain an understanding of the possibilities for planning an upcoming event etc.
In fact the 5 elements and Chinese astrology has more to do with tennis than you could actually imagine. When you step onto the court you will try hard to keep your own rhythm, while you try to break the rhythm of your opponent.
The 5 elements helps you to undertsand better how to maintian your own rhythm in such a way, that it makes it more difficult for your opponent to keep theirs. On a mental level this is what the game is all about.
It takes a very chilled and focused “tennis-mind” to defeat Carlos Alcaraz
The last year we have seen how much energy the spaniard Carlos Alcaraz brings to the court. Physical very strong, fast and with great skills he is very difficult to defeat. In such a young age he already master most facets of the game.
Novak Djokovic tried hard to bring him down at the Wimbledon final 2023 playing with force (wood/ fire), and I would say much on Carlitos own terms (Fire), and here it is almost certain you can´t beat him. Novak is a great tennis-player with a lot of ingenuity, amazing fighter skills and much experience in the game, still he had to leave the centercourt defeated. Carlos is a Water type (with a great deal of Fire too) and “Nole” is the Fire type. In some cases water dampens fire. Many factors are at play here and this is of course a very simple analysis.
Very effeciently Tommy Paul, the worlds no. 14, succeded to face Carlos in the semifinal at the National Bank Open, in Toronto. By adding a lot of pressure on him, and without force, from the very first ball he gradually neutralized the “the high voltage Carlito power”. Very convincingly he came early on his shots, and he never really allowed Carlos to get into the game and find his own rhythm.
Are you mental like Tommy Paul or Jannik Sinner?
Tommy is born in the year of the Fire Ox and if you watch him play, he has this chilled overview that stems from a very firm and analysing mind. No doubt here he is the Metal type (in other words he´s mentally strong), and in this case, Metal ignited by a Fire becomes a great strategist. This ability paired with the endurance of the OX gave him an advantage. Now I don´t try to convince you when the elements are at play, that it will produce the same outcome every time. Many factors are of course still at play.
Young Jannik Sinner, the worlds no. 6, who actually beated Tommy in the final at Toronto, also has a remarkable mental drive in his game. His dominant element is Fire in combination with Metal. Right now Jannik seems to be the candidate of great achievements.
Things can quickly double up for Waters in a Water year
One factor that should definitely be taken into account with Carlos Alcaraz, who is the typical Water type, is that this year will offer him much growth, and no doubts, he will play a central role. But in this year of the Water Rabbit 2023 things can quickly double up with Waters. With the world constantly feeding the Water type with information and knowledge, it’s important to take good care of yourself, otherwise things can easily become too overwhelming. Not to mention the expectations for Waters, which will be high in 2023.
Waters are people with great depth – they are sensitive and deep in their thinking. They don’t spend time on anything superficial and if you want to capture the Water type’s attention, the topic should have deeper meaning.
They need time alone to find peace, renewal, motivation and to recharge their energy in order to progress. Waters can be both artistic and creative. Typical Water types like Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune make the game of tennis a true feast for the eyes, as their entire repertoire of strokes and movements is a work of fine art in itself.
Less is more…
When I watch this kind of high quality performance in the game, it reminds me of a principle highly valued in QiGong and Martial arts – “less is more” (“Wu Wei” as it is called in Daoism). With a minimum use of force you can attain much. Tommy Paul, as an example, is an OX according to chinese astrology, so it does´nt mean that you do not work hard, what it means is you only do what is necesary to reach your goal.
Novak Djokovic made a comeback in the final at the Western Southern Open at Cincinnati. This time he started out with a very clear mindset and greater clarity in terms of finding his own game, and putting pressure on Carlos – especially on Carlos’ backhand. In this way, he gained an advantage by maintaining sustained pressure. If you can keep your own rhythm, no matter what, you can also win. “Nole” cracked the code and won the last crucial balls. Carlos was beaten.
Novak is born in the year of the Fire Rabbit, and in the month of the Snake. Novak has a strong influence from Wood. He’s a true fighter who manages to get back into a fight even when he’s up “against the wind”.
In the fight against Carlos, Novak’s secondary element of Metal worked in his favour and it paid off. Novak is very sharp mentally when he’s at his best. He is completely focused and there is no distracting dialogue with either the crowd or the umpire. The interplay between the elements of Wood, Fire and Metal helped him get into the zone in this challenging game.
Holger Rune the worlds number 4
Holger Rune is a pretty intersting fellow and he´s only 20 years old. Watch his astrological aspects and his elements operating. Like Carlos Alcaraz, Holger is born in the year of the Water Goat.
To be able to do what Holger has done so far out of almost nothing, is quite remarkable. Apart from the element Water, he has so much the drive of Wood. The last 2 years he has been able to climb from no. 191 on the ATP ranking to no. 4.
Apart from Caroline Wozniacki Denmark has no reel settled tennis professionalism. For Rune there was hardly “any shoulders to stand on” in order to break into the ATP top, though I´m pretty sure his manager (and mother) Aneke Rune and coach Lars Christensen, did a great job to support him all the way. Rune has demonstrated a great deal of effort and high voltage dedication to his game, which is rewarded.
Besides being born in the year of the Goat, he´s actually born in the month of the Dragon. We have seen it again and again in Rune´s game, that he has a rare ability to turn a match into his own favour, when he is behind. It happens so quickly, that you can only wonder how on earth he did it? The Dragon is magical and with this power operating in the background, it makes tennis so exciting and fun. Great players with the drive of the Dragon are Aryna Sabalenka, Varvara Gracheva, Alexander Zverev; Carlos Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Matteo Berrentini, Nick Kyrgios and Sebastian Korda.
Do you move like a Tiger or a Rabbit?
The Dragon is viewed as a mythological entity in China with a great transformative power. The Dragon has a great life-force, and often Dragons have great succes in life. This is also why, in China, parents often plan ahead in order to give birth to a child in a Dragon year or in the month of the Dragon.
In chinese astrology there are 12 astrological animal signs, each and everyone of them describing a specific energypattern. They are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
“If you want agility and power, you need to train agility and power…”
~Lars Christian Schmith
The 5 elements as a pointer to who you are
When I determine your element type, I look at the time of your birth and in addition I start to watch your face, your body type, your drive and the way you move. This gives clear indicators of who you are at your core and what drives you. On a tennis court and with a tennis game as a backdrop, the elements become visible. I also compare the combination of elements between you and your opponent in order to read the mental game.
Human beings are so different in character, personal drive and energy. I am quite sure that if we could just recognize our differences much misunderstanding, conflict and intolerance could be avoided. Just look at the social medias and watch how people address each other these days, and you´ll know what I talk about. We have created a real troubleshooting culture and the social medias has become “our windows” whereby this endless troubleshooting becomes visible and robs us our good energy and mutual trust. Essentially we have forgotten, that we think differently and we do things differently.
Not only can the principles of the 5 elements assist you to understand other individuals better, it also enables you to understand, who you are and what is your own optimum drive.
Tennisplayers are often influenced by element wood, fire and/ or earth
For sure no one will find them selves among the best of the game without a lot dedication and hard work. In essence it is the quality of Woods. They work hard and they like to be in control. As soon as they got a clear goal they are ready to go for it, no matter the cost. Woods are not the type that wait until tomorrow. They are creative and easily they become a rolemodel for others.
A tennisplayer may have Wood as his/ her dominant element or at least in some combination with another element. Many players have. They have strong bodies, are fit and mostly they are very focused. They are able to strike back quickly, when ever they are put under pressure.
It is interesting that Caroline Wozniacki, also known as Miss Sunshine (the former world no. 1 among women), is surprising the tennis world with a brave comeback after 3,5 years break, where she gave birth to 2 kids.
As Carolines dominant element is Wood and her secondary element is Metal the timing for a comeback this year looks pretty good. That is if she manage to find the balance between being a mother and a professionel tennisplayer. Not an easy task as Metals in a water year will face many demands.
We often see tennis players paving the way for new trends, such as fasion, colourful-expression og style. Some players steps into the role of trendsetters. The trendsetter often has the Wood or Fire element in some combination with another element.
Other powerful combinations in tennis are possible which does´nt directly include Wood. Watch Davidovich Fokina, he has a powerful combination of Earth and Fire in his drive.
QiGong and the Zone
In a resent talk Novak Djokovic express that our mind is like a traveler and he concludes that it is not possible to stay in the moment because the mind travels to the future one moment and to the past or the present moment in the next moment. “Nole” got a point.
I would like to conclude with what is my experience. We may or we may not always be able to stay in the present moment. But what really matters is how we percieve it. If you are awake, you also know what is going on the inside and then you are in the present moment, and it is the only place we truely can be. That is why we pratice QiGong because in QiGong we bring the “traveler” home. When QiGong is practiced on a reguarly basis, it enables us to hit the Zone more often. In QiGong we have an ancient proverb from China, and it goes like this: “thinking about one thing in order to forget one thousand…”
QiGong (Chi Kung) is an ancient chinese system of highly intelligent movements. We call it “mindfulness in motion” – much like yoga, but mostly in different standing positions to strengthen inner peace through balanced conscious breathing and to enhance our vital life force.
Most sporting activities and training programmes etc. that stem from a Western mindset are hard and often taxing on the body. It’s a yang-orientated exercise. QiGong is the opposite, it is more yin-orientated and offers both body and mind a space for relaxation and calm. That’s why QiGong is a great supplement to hard and demanding workouts. This provides a good balance so that injuries can be minimised.
Thank you for spending your time….
If you reached so far I like to thank you – you probably found this topic worth spending time on. I have the same feeling – it´s so exciting.
Just days before this year’s US open, It is so exiting to watch which tennis player best hits the Zone. Everything is open and everything can happen in tennis.
– And I am here, ready, to be at your service if you need a consultation.
I currently offer 1:1 sessions in English and Danish
I am a mental supervisor. If you are professional and have a team, I offer Add- ons to what you already have. If you’re on your way to becoming a professional, I can help you too.
>Clarify your competences through your particular constellation of elements and astrological aspects.
>How to best prioritise your resources in the Year of the Water Rabbit. We also look further into the future.
>Get the tools to empower your game.
>Simple QiGong exercises as a supplement to your training.
Try a free 30-minute info call on ZOOM and learn more about what I can offer you, and how this can become the gamechanger you have been looking for.
Contact me today.
Lars Christian Schmith, Fulltime QiGong instructor, educational manager and mental supervisor.
Workshops, retreats and education programs
In our workshops, retreats and programmes, you learn QiGong together with others – it’s both fun and empowering.
At QiGong Zen Academy, we emphasise positive change and community. We are passionate about both QiGong and Energy Medicine.
In the more intensive programmes, such as our retreats and courses, the training has a longer-term goal.
On the QiGong Instructor Programme (6 or 12 months) and the Luohan Gong Programme (4 months) we work with QiGong, and on the advanced programme we work more with NeiGong.
You are welcome to join the class. Teachings are offered in danish as well as english.
Lars Christian Schmith – August 2023.
