As I look at my teacher practise pushing hands with a fellow student, I realised that in pushing hands, we hold back a lot. Pushing hands is not about the actual application of taiji as a martial art; it is about sensing force, to be aware of our own and our opponent's force.
For example, a simple lyu, but once my teacher has managed to upset the balance of my fellow student, he stops. He holds back. If he did not, and had carried the lyu to fruition, my fellow student would likely have hit the floor with his face, plus have his arm broken, at the very least.
And the trained martial artist knows this. He knows and therefore he holds back. Because the aim of practice is not to hurt your partner. It is enough to be able to do something and know that you can carry it through to fruition if need be.
So while some pushing hands classes may look very cordial, look again. It could well be that those in the class have reached a certain stage to know that they can carry things to fruition. And recognises that practice is just practice.
For example, a simple lyu, but once my teacher has managed to upset the balance of my fellow student, he stops. He holds back. If he did not, and had carried the lyu to fruition, my fellow student would likely have hit the floor with his face, plus have his arm broken, at the very least.
And the trained martial artist knows this. He knows and therefore he holds back. Because the aim of practice is not to hurt your partner. It is enough to be able to do something and know that you can carry it through to fruition if need be.
So while some pushing hands classes may look very cordial, look again. It could well be that those in the class have reached a certain stage to know that they can carry things to fruition. And recognises that practice is just practice.
8 comments:
Tai-ji pushing-hand is for training the sense of the skins in contact but has little effect in fast combat. As you said that would hold back his (meaning：
roll-off) when he applied on his student in pushing-hand practice , otherwise his student would be out of balance and fall. Actually if I were his student, I would follow the direction of his and lean（靠: one of the 8 pushing-hand skills) my body against him, my momentum would bounce him at least 2 meters away ! This is called <顺势借力〉meaning : borrow his force to act on him ! This is the mystery of tai-ji.
Thank you for the comment. We all learn taiji for different purposes and using different methods. It is always good to share so that readers can see more and pick what suits them. All the best in your taiji journey, may it take you where you are aiming to go.
1954 年在澳门的擂台赛，吴派长门吴公仪对白鹤派陈克夫的一战，完全暴露太极的弱点，成为世界武坛的笑柄，如还不自觉，太极真的伦为晨运而己！
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