TAI CHI CHUAN
Master Elaine Waters
info@elainewaters.com
http://www.elainewaters.com  
 

Pushhands

General Information. In push hands, two partners face each other in an attempt to unbalance and push each other out of position, using a minimum amount of force. While playing push hands, both people must stick to their partner, while offering no resistance to their partners' actions.

Push hands emphasizes the value of yielding and relaxing, and the disadvantage of using resistance and tension. Push hands trains the ability to read and interpret external force. In Tai Chi push hands, we attempt to put into action, the strategies of the Taoist classics. For example, in push hands, we use minimum effort to attain maximum effect.

As an internal martial art, Tai Chi push hands has its foundation in the cultivation of qi, or life force energy. Body awareness is a key to internal energy practice. The practice of awareness is simple in theory, yet in actual practice, demands utmost attention. Developing body awareness allows one to internally relax. When we are mindful, relaxed, and aware of the body, qi can be experienced and worked with.

Neutralization
Proper neutralization takes little physical upper body force and has its foundation in correct alignment and leg positions. To properly neutralize you must allow the chosen direction of your partners' attack to continue. 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.

Listening
Listen to the speed and direction of the incoming force. Also listen to how your partner is using their root and axis. To be able to do this kind of listening, you must have a clear alignment in your own body, fluidly moving around your center. Your ability to maintain your own alignment and follow Tai Chi principles in your own movement, while playing push hands, will give you the ability to listen and interpret your partners movements.

Adhering
Adhering means sticking, blending, and following your partners movements. In Tai Chi push hands we adhere to be able to read your partners movements and to be able to read your partners attack through the point of contact. It is essential to be able to make an adjustment in your position immediately as the person beings a line of force. Adhering to the line of attack means to move your axis slightly, if needed, so that you are adhering to the incoming line of attack with your axis. Your alignment axis can be moved slightly to miss any incoming line of force, so that the whole time you are being pushed on, you are leading them in, absorbing their force into your root. Following becomes leading as your partner begins to lose their balance, increase the speed of your movement and notice the appropriate moment for release, an effortless push will have presented itself.