Push hands
推手 (in pinyin : tuī shǒu)
Tuishou is part of Tai Chi Chuan teaching. It is a practice for working with partners.
Tuishou, as Tai Chi Chuan, is nourishment for the body. It develops stability, calm, flexibility in the joints, coordination and concentration. Working in pairs brings you a better understanding of the other person as well as of yourself.
It allows you to test « rooting », the right position for a better awareness of the body. By soft contact and regular practice, Tuishou allows us to develop fluidity and leave aside rigid force and by relaxation made possible by the in-depth knowledge of the body and good coordination. In this way, martial art efficiency can be developed and refined. Through soft practice, physical force will become inner strength and, you will discover the infinite subtleties of this art where body and soul are one.
At first, Tuishou consisted in the development of circles to improve the fine tuning to the partner, the Ting », listening by the body and not by the ears..
"After the form has becom fluid, use Push hands to understand the energies in Tai Chi Chuan.
The way to true understanding of the energies is through practice. Practicing with partners will speed up learning".
Grand Master Tung Ying Kie from the "Red Book".
The 8 Basic Applications of Tung Ying Kié
Extract from the Red Book
Peng – Ward Off
A blocking energy or position, Peng is used to create space between you and an opponent Stances should be rooted, with the body centered. Hold your ground, with your upper body slightly forward and arms expanding in all directions. Fingers and palms should be fairly relaxed with power in the wrists and forearms. In Peng, the wrist should be slightly higher and in front of the elbow. Remember that Peng energy comes from the back and the back leg. The shoulder and arm must separate. When someone pushes against Peng, the energy is absorbed by the arm, through the back, into the legs and feet, and disappears into the ground. Peng can be directed upward to prevent an opponent from pushing you down, or forward to prevent an opponent from advancing. Turn your thumb toward your opponent to pin their arm.
Lu - Roll back
Lu is a pulling energy used to guide and neutralize an opponent’s energy to the side. Pulling energy comes from sitting back and turning the waist, this allows you to follow an opponent’s energy. One or both hands can pull depending on the situation. Control an opponent’s energy and body so they can’t step in. To pull a person is the same as pulling a tree. Pull their arm to break their root.
Ze - Press
Ze is to use the back hand to press the front wrist by relaxing the front hand and pressing from the back hand and leg, then Faijing with the back hand suddenly. Remember, the front hand is used to stick. In Grasp the Bird’s Tail, press the wrist but in a real situation or Push hands, the palm, forearm,and fist can be pressed to strike with the elbow. Ze energy is concentrated in a small area, so it must be very accurate and perfectly executed.
An - Push
An is to use both hands to push at the chest. It is used to pin an opponent. An, can also be applied with one hand. It is like placing your hand on a piece of paper to prevent it from being blown away, or trying to hold a dog down for a wash. It is important to move in gradually, because a forceful move will alert an opponent.
Cai - Yank
Cai energy is sudden and uses short energy. It is like a pull, but the energy is different. If using Cai to pull grass, it will break in the middle. Pulling with an even energy, the grass will come out by its root. Cai usually starts upward and ends waist high. Cai can be applied with both hands or only one hnd, with the hands separated or acting together. Cai is sometimes used with a sweep to increase its effectiveness
Lie - Break or Split
Lie energy can be applied to various moves. It is like shaking. For exemple, Lie energy is like when a wet dog shakes its bidy to dry off. When an opponent is solid, suddenly shock or shake them to break their root, or to disturb their posture and energy.
Zhou - Elbow
Zhou is an elbow strike at close range. An elbow can strike at the chest, stomach, or strike from the side on either shoulder. Elbow strikes are not used frequently because of their complexity and danger
Kao - Shoulder
Kao means, “to lean and strike with shoulder”. A shoulder strike is executed by stepping into an opponent. When an opponent is too close, or when my hands are tied up, I can surprise them with a shoulder strike. Step-in, strike, and step back quickly to avoid vulnerable positions.
The Four Basic Energies of Tung Ying Kié
Extract from the Red Book
Zhan - Stick
Zhan is to stick to an opponent like glue. When contact is made, try not to loose contact. This will allow you to always know where your opponent is. Always, have a senses of where an opponent is, even if not in contact with them. Energy cannot be too hard or too soft when sticking
Nian - Sticky
Zhan and Nian have a similar meaning, but are not the same. For instance, if an opponent tries to stick (Zhan) to you and you stick to him, you would not be able to stick together unless both parties are willing. You are really sticking when using Zhan an Nian together. You cannot clap with one hand
Lian - Continuous
Continuous movement, continuous attacks, continuous energies. Everything is linked and unbroken. Never give an opponent any breathing room.
Sui - Follow
Sui is to foolow an opponent. Go with them, but do not panic. When then come at you continuously, relaw and follow. When they make a move, you make a move. If they make several moves, defend without panic and follow with an attack.
In Push Hands, you Zhan and I Nian. If you Lian then I Sui.
If these four energies are practised, then other energies like listening and controlling will also be developed..
Without mastering these four basic energies, the other energies cannot be understood. As tree cannot grow aunless a seed is planted, watered and nourished.
The Four No’s of Push Hand of Tung Ying Kié
Extract from the Red Book
Diu - Lose
Not Sticking, when keeping up with an opponent’s circles and changes, is to lose them. Always be able to sense an opponent by sticking to them..
Li - Part From
Do not let an opponent part from you. When they try to lose you, stick to them and move in
Ding - Against
Going against, or butting heads, with an opponent is to use force, not Tai Chi principles.
Kang - Resist
Resistance creates tension. Fluidity cannot be developed is resisting.Oush Hands cannot be mastered without being fluid
Poem of Grand Master Tung Ying Kié
Extract from the Red Book
To develop the right energy
When pushing, push the roots
When pushing forward, Aim further then your eyes can see.
When pushing upward, Aim for the roof and through the ceiling
When pushning downward, Aim for three feet deep, into the ground
When Faijing, It is like dynamite
When rooted, be heavy like a mountain
When light, be light as a feather
When turning, be smooth as a carwheel
When moving quickly, be faster than a blink of an eye