The essentials of "Pushing Hand Practice."

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The essentials of "Pushing Hand Practice."

1. When your opponent strikes you with strength, instead of opposing him (force against force), you simply withdraw your body, neutralizing his weight-thus his weight will be emptied and will not come to your body.

2. When attacking your opponent you should not attack him immediately. Your hands first must lightly touch his body and as soon as you interpret that he is going to resist you, you yield (withdraw) slightly and then immediately attack (withdraw-attack techniques).

3. When interpreting your opponent's energy you should not put too much weight against him during the time of interpretation. A Tai-chi Chuan devotee when performing "pushing hand practise" must follow the above the above mentioned principles strictly so that his art progresses rapidly-otherwise, he will be doomed.

At the highest level the Tai-chi Chuan devotee can arrive at a stage of what is technically called the application of "receiving energy." "Receiving energy” is entirely different from force against force. When your opponent attacks you with a rubber ball you may use a little force to knock the ball and bounce it away. This is force against force and is not “receiving energy." Suppose your opponent attacks you with an iron ball of 500 pounds, can you also use a little force to bounce it away like that of a rubber ball? The correct application of "receiving energy” is that when the ball comes near to your body you first have to attract it like iron to a loadstone and then throw it out. The degree of velocity and the amount of weight you have used must be very accurate. The interpreting, sticking, withdrawing and attacking energies are all involved in an instant. This is the reason why Tai-chi Chuan surpasses all other forms of boxing from the standpoint of practical value.