Tai Chi Push Hands

In tai chi push hands, we attempt to put into action, the strategies of the Taoist classics. Softness overcomes hardness, doing less is more, as we use minimum effort to attain maximum effect. Push hands emphasizes the value of yielding and relaxing, and the disadvantage of resisting and using tension. Push hands trains the ability to read and interpret external force.

Adhere and Listen to Neutralize

Proper neutralization takes little physical upper body force and has its foundation in correct alignment, timing, and body positions. Adhering means sticking, blending, and following your opponents’ movements. In tai chi push hands we adhere and listen to be able to read the opponents’ attack through the point of contact. Listen to the speed and direction of the incoming force, and how your partner is using their root and axis. To neutralize, it is essential to make an adjustment in your position immediately as the person begins a line of force. Doing less is more, when you can make these changes undetectable to your opponent.

The ability to listen comes from being able to stay energetically connected to your root, keep body joints open but don’t tense up, and have correct leg alignment. Then the upper body can become motivated by your center. When your own body can move as one piece, it is easy to detect the distortions in your partner's movement. When you are being pushed on, absorb their force into your root, don’t just deflect the force away. Neutralizing is not simply evading an attack, but is simultaneously emptying out and filling up, evading and returning the attackers energy back onto themselves. Proper neutralization of your partner’s force will present an effortless push.