by Cheng Tin-Hung and Dan Docherty
Doing the Pushing Hands practice with a
partner is the best method of training the Five Strategies and Thirteen
Tactics mentioned earlier. This practice will develop the sensitivity of
our arms enabling us to detect our opponents intentions. It will also
help to speed up our own reactions.
Pushing Hands practice is not designed to train us to fight, though it
does link the combat strategy and tactics with the practical application
of the Hand Form. This training, using a limited number of actions in a
number of situations, conditions us to respond to our opponent's movements
in a natural way. Only when we have a good understanding of the Pushing
Hands should we start to learn the Self Defense.
The Tai Chi Chuan Classics tell us that once our opponent has just
started a move then we should counter him before he can complete the
movement. We can only accomplish this if we have attained a high degree of
sensitivity which will allow us to detect any such movement. Such
sensitivity can best be developed through the Pushing Hands practice.
There are eight types of Pushing Hands. Five are 'fixed step', meaning
that the sole of the front foot may be raised or lowered provided the heel
rests on the ground but that no other movement of the feet is permitted.
The other three style are 'moving step' and develop our ability to move
forwards, backwards and to the side in a nimble manner while applying the
Pushing Hands Techniques.
When starting to learn Pushing Hands we must concentrate on adopting
correct stances and postures and relaxing during the movements. Next we
must ensure that we adhere to our opponent's arms so that we can employ
the 'radar' of our sensitivity to detect his intentions and then use the
Eight Powers in combination with the Five Directions to thwart these
intentions. We must affect his balance by using his own force against him
and then attack his weak points. A good stance and sense of balance are
crucial.
There are three main stages in Pushing Hands:-
- The first and highest stage is where the sensitivity of our hands is
such that our opponent's intentions are an open book to us while our
intentions are a source of mystery to him. He will be completely
frustrated, unable to attack or defend.
- The second stage is where our sensitivity is not fully developed and
so we can only determine our opponent's intentions at the last minute
and so may not be able to react in time to counter his attack.
- The third stage is where our sensitivity is so poor that we cannot
detect our opponent's attack at all. This attack will then be successful
and we will be defeated.
If we are to be genuine Tai Chi masters, we must be able to apply and
combine the Thirteen Tactics freely and fluently. Practicing Pushing Hands
with such a master is like rowing a boat in a rough sea, since our actions
will always be beyond our control. Our attacks would be too slow and too
obvious to be effective, while our defense would also be inadequate to
respond to his attacks. In every martial art knowledge of techniques, in
itself, is useless; constant, thoughtful, concentrated practice is
essential. Only in this way can we reach the first stage in Pushing Hands.
