Practical Tai Chi Chuan Brighton
  • Home
  • Instructor/Classes
  • Wudang Tai Chi
  • Articles
  • Form Names List
  • Form Videos
03. January 2010

Pushing hands practice

Pushing Hands

by Cheng Tin-Hung and Dan Docherty

 

Doing the Pushing Hands practice with a partner is the best method of

training the Five Step path and Thirteen Tactics mentioned earlier. This

practice will develop the sensitivity of our arms enabling us to detect our

opponents intentions. It will also help to speed up our own reactions.

 

Pushing Hands practice is not designed to train us to fight, though it does

link the combat strategy and tactics with the practical application of the

Hand Form. This training, using a limited number of actions in a number of

situations, conditions us to respond to our opponent's movements in a

natural way. Only when we have a good understanding of the Pushing Hands

should we start to learn the Self Defence.

 

The Tai Chi Chuan Classics tell us that once our opponent has just started

a move then we should counter him before he can complete the movement. We

can only accomplish this if we have attained a high degree of sensitivity

which will allow us to detect any such movement. Such sensitivity can best

be developed through the Pushing Hands practice.

 

There are eight types of Pushing Hands. Four are 'fixed step', meaning that

the sole of the front foot may be raised or lowered provided the heel rests

on the ground but that no other movement of the feet is permitted. The

other four styles are 'moving step' and develop our ability to move

forwards, backwards and to the side in a nimble manner while applying the

Pushing Hands Techniques.

 

When starting to learn Pushing Hands we must concentrate on adopting

correct stances and postures and relaxing during the movements. Next we

must ensure that we adhere to our opponent's arms so that we can employ the

'radar' of our sensitivity to detect his intentions and then use the Eight

forces in combination with the Five Directions to thwart these intentions.

 

We must affect his balance by using his own force against him and then

attack his weak points. A good stance and sense of balance are crucial.

There are three main stages in Pushing Hands:-

  • The first and highest stage is where the sensitivity of our hands is such that our opponent's intentions are an open book to us while our intentions are a source of mystery to him. He will be completely frustrated, unable to attack or defend.
  • The second stage is where our sensitivity is not fully developed and so we can only determine our opponent's intentions at the last minute and so may not be able to react in time to counter his attack.
  • The third stage is where our sensitivity is so poor that we cannot detect our opponent's attack at all. This attack will then be successful and we will be defeated.

If we are to be genuine Tai Chi masters, we must be able to apply and

combine the Thirteen Tactics freely and fluently. Practising Pushing Hands

with such a master is like rowing a boat in a rough sea, since our actions

will always be beyond our control. Our attacks would be too slow and too obvious to be effective, while our defence would also be inadequate to respond to his attacks.

In every martial art knowledge of techniques, in itself, is useless; constant, thoughtful, concentrated practice is essential.

Only in this way can we reach the first stage in Pushing Hands

tagPlaceholderTags:

Class News

Martial Tai Chi class on Wed, click link for details greysteel taichi

 

Beginners/Refresh 60+ Handform class on Mon & Wed at Cornerstone.

See 60+ class menu for details.

 

Hall classes paid by cash or contactless payment.

Online classes paid via Paypal.

 

Corona Virus

All classes are subject to the current Covid 19 restrictions.

Do not attend if you have any COVID symptoms and follow current Goverment COVID guidelines.

As with all types of exercise, if you have any doubts about your health or fitness level please check with your doctor before attending.

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Log out | Edit
  • Home
  • Instructor/Classes
    • Park General Class
    • Greysteel Martial Class
    • 60+ Class
    • 1 to 1 Class
    • Contact
  • Wudang Tai Chi
    • Dan Docherty
    • Cheng Tin-hung
    • Lineage
    • Links
  • Articles
  • Form Names List
  • Form Videos
  • Scroll to top