Why our body made of chain pieces consisting of three links

Trimurti in Elephanta caves, India

When we examine the structure of our bodies we can see that there is repeated pattern of chains of three links, which connected between themselves. There three 3 phalanxes in fingers, three parts in arms (palm, forearm and upper arm), three parts in legs, three parts in our trunk and head – pelvis, chest and head. 

Is it just by case? Did God or Evolution created something so important without real reason? Finally, if we will see that there is a reason, what is it and how can we use this knowledge for our benefit? 

I already told you about SAIM – Self Annihilating Inertial Motion. Self-annihilating can be achieved only by two way - changing the direction of joint rotation from flexion to extension or from extension to flexion.

The motion can be performed and in real life it’s often performed in very high speed. As a result as a moving part of limb gets closer to its limit of flexion or extension the practitioner can experience very unpleasant feeling. This feeling is a result of stress on the joint and tendons and it’s a sign of possible harm. We have special automatic mechanism preventing such a harm. There are tiny proprioceptor organs, spindles in the muscles and Golgi organs in tendons, which anticipate possible damage and inform CNS (central nerve system) that there is a need to contract antagonist muscle to prevent the harm. The three links construction is necessary to minimize the work of antagonist muscles of the body.

How does it work? Let us examine the motion of the arm as example of what happens. Let’s imagine ascending inertial motion of the right arm rotating in shoulder. If we stop or even significantly reduce rotational speed of the upper arm the forearm will rotate by inertia in elbow and finally annihilate the rotation of the upper arm. In order to avoid harm in elbow joint and tendons there is a need to stop this this rotation near the end of range before full flexion in the elbow. Sometimes there is a functional need to stop this rotation even earlier. One way to do it is to contract antagonist muscle, triceps, all the way until the final stop. We often see this kind of motion in so called “hard” styles or performances of motion. In most cases this motion is not a result of real need but rather is a product of our cultural concept, our internal vision of “correct” motion. This method is very inefficient energetically and tiring, puts great stress and risk of damage on muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints, destroys smooth natural flow of the motion.

The natural inborn mechanism of motion annihilation is different. It based on usage of SAIM. The brutal muscular strength in this mechanism is not necessary. The most prominent players now are inertial and reactive forces. Short and dynamic contraction of triceps followed by forearm rotation will cause passive, relaxed flexion in wrist. This wrist motion annihilates rotation of the forearm in elbow. Next, rotation of the fingers in knuckles (metacarpophalangeal joints) will annihilate rotation of the palm and finally bending of the fingers in fist (in interphalangeal creases) will annihilate rotation of the fingers in knuckles. This last motion will be the last annihilating motion in this chain of annihilations. During this process the wave running along the arm becomes shorter in each station until finally the fingers naturally terminate the wave, producing tight fist for a split second. In this stage the wave produces loud cracking sound (please reread the chapter “INERTIAL MOTION IN MARTIAL ARTS - THE MOST DEVASTATING RELAXATION EVER”.

  

The similar process of SAIM will happen during descending rotation of the arm.  

The natural motion of the legs has great similarity to that of the arms. Of course, the ankles and especially feet and their fingers have different function and mobility. The fingers can’t play significant role in wave termination and self-annihilation last station will be in ankle joint.

The torso and head also consist of three parts – pelvis, chest and head. The natural mechanism of SAIM serves them well the same way as the arms and legs.

The philosophical aspect of this problem probably is not less interesting.

In ancient Indian philosophy it corresponds to trimurti, the union of three Gods – Brahma the Creator, Siva the Destroyer and Vishnu the preserver. In our body Brahma is associated with pelvis, upper arms and thighs. Siva – with the head, palms and feet. Vishnu – with the chest, forearms and calves. But there is also an opposite order, when Brahma and Siva change their places. In this case the natural harmony can be destroyed for great degree and skillful intervention is necessary to reconstruct it again.

In Jewish Kabala there are Nefesh in pelvis, Ruah in chest and Neshama in the head. Nefesh is associated with upper arms and thighs, Ruah – with forearms and calves and Neshama – with palms and feet. When Nefesh and Neshama change their places between them the natural harmony is destroyed and again, the skillful conscious intervention and work are necessary to rebuild the harmony.

These two combinations of three elements will produce David Shield or Star of David, which reflects both harmony and stability.

 

Star of David  made of tree branches, silver

 

The naturalness, relaxedness and harmony in the physical level will increase the harmony in mental and spiritual levels, increase happiness and bring light and joy into the life.