You’ve been doing a solo form (or forms). Enjoyable as they are, maybe it’s time to try a partner exercise!
Most Tai Chi practitioners and students either have some experience with or are aware of “Push Hands” (Tui Shou in Chinese). Tuishou is made up of two characters “tui” (推) and “shou” (手). “Tui” means to shove, to push forward or to advance. Shou” means hand. Combined we have “tuishou” or Push Hands. Not as many are aware of “Sticking or Sticky Hands”, aka Chi Sau in Chinese Catonese or Yīfù shǒu (依附手) in Lee Style Tai Chi. Most internal martial arts have some “Sticking/Sticky” practice which are part of sensitivity training. There are similarities and differences. For simplicity, I will use Sticky (instead of Sticking) Hands.
Sticky (Sticking) Hands is often taught to beginners as an introduction to the Tai Chi principles and more advanced techniques. Although it seems simple, Sticky Hands is actually complex and multifaceted. As you would expect, there are many different interpretations. Some martial arts call Push Hands “Sticky Hands”. even though there is usually a difference.
One type of Sticky Hands consists of one person (for simplicity, I will call this person the leader) leading and the other person following. In this method, there is not an immediate role exchange. This practice is especially useful for a beginner, although even many advanced practitioners have trouble following (sticking). The leader “leads” - meaning moves slowly and gently up, down, sideways, forward, etc. and the follower “follows” without breaking contact or applying pressure. When the leader moves, it is important that you soften your joints and move with them without resistance. The touch/contact is very light and unbroken - “STICKY”. Don’t forget to breathe!
No matter what method is used, Sticky Hands emphasizes the importance of developing timing and rhythm. We learn to move in sync with our partner while we maintain a constant flow of movement. Of course, this requires a high level of concentration and focus. Distracting thoughts and emotions must be let go in order to remain calm and centered. Sticky Hands teaches us to listen, without using our ears.
Different martial arts methods have a different intent or emphasis. For example, in Wing Chun, the emphasis is on striking your opponent without being struck. The “goal” is to strike your opponent’s centerline while protecting yours. As a striking art, Wing Chun will strike as many times as possible in a short period of time, chasing the body, not the hands.
Always use a light, sensitive touch, so that you can learn to feel/sense where your opponent’s intention and their power comes from. This is particularly useful when fighting external styles, which usually depend on speed, distance and strength to be effective. When we are more relaxed than our opponent, we are able to sense more (including speed) and can deflect a strike, or at least reduce it’s impact.
Full disclosure: Sticky Hands also requires a certain amount of trust, because in order to follow, you must keep your eyes closed or covered. It requires comfort and a leap of faith in your “leader”. Not an easy task for many and one that I have struggled with in the past.
Sticky Hands is an important practice. By developing sensitivity, connection, internal energy, timing, flexibility, and emotional control, practitioners can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they interact with others. We are not only talking about Sticky Hands, Push Hands, and/or Tai Chi. The lessons learned carry into our daily life, as well.
According to the Classics of Taijiquan: Adhere (nien), be continuous (lien), Stick (tie), Follow (shi) and “neither pull away nor push back“ (bu diu, bu ding). One develops a sense of balance, flow, and connection by doing solo forms. Push Hands challenges it “with forces outside your control.”
Push Hands can be played in different modes: cooperative, non-cooperative or competitive. Tai Chi schools often offer regular Push Hands Training. There are also regular open trainings, international exchange meetings, etc. At some of these meetings, practitioners of different styles will meet, play Push Hands together, and share their philosophies, training, and experiences. Push Hands competitions can be found all over the world.
In Push Hands you learn to listen and “stick” to your opponent in order to unbalance him, without actually striking. One person pushes and the other neutralizes the incoming force. Roles are switched and this exchange flows back and forth, unless one “player” makes a mistake. At times, the pusher may land a successful push (meaning it is not neutralized by the other player), or one party (the neutralizer) empties “the force” and the pusher becomes unbalanced.
At least one instructor refers to Tui Shou as "sensing hands”, believing that it better describes the “spirit” of the exercise. Sensing Hands portrays neutrality, without force. It signifies listening, which is what Cheng Man-Ch’ing’s approach of Tui Shou is all about. Even though we push, it is more about sticking, listening, following, and sensing the energy, not attacking. In this way, we learn where our opponent is weak and/or strong.
We test our ability to absorb our opponent’s Jin in order to uproot them. Remember that Jin doesn’t flow through tense muscles. Are your feet firmly on the floor?Are you both centered or double weighted? Once you and/or your opponent start pushing or the exercise becomes a shoving match, nothing will be learned.
Push Hands also teaches us the balance between rigidity (resisting, tensing, or fighting back) and collapse (yielding too quickly). One must learn to find the right balance between relaxing and yielding. It is important to not be too yielding or competitive. In this way, you learn to redirect your opponent’s push in order to circle back.
What about posture?
According to the Tai Chi classics, one should carry your head as if “suspended from above”. Spinal alignment is broken when your head droops. Your posture is then “broken”. Once your posture is broken, you are easily pushed off balance. Look at the horizon (through your opponent), not the floor.
In Yang Cheng-Fu’s Yang style and Wu style, the torso is slightly angled forward (weighted bow stance). The key here is that they hinge properly from the hips in order to keep spinal alignment. In Cheng Man-Ch’ing’s Yang style, Sun style, and Chen style, the body is upright. Even with slight leaning styles, when in back stances, the practitioner is upright. Therefore, it’s vital to be as relaxed as we possibly can (not collapsed), while maintaining our root (connection to the ground).
“It’s not the lean itself that matters.
It’s maintaining an unbroken spinal alignment that is the key issue!”
It goes without saying that when most practitioners start to push hands, our “perfect” structure and spinal alignment usually suffers.
Bottom line: We can apply the focus, mindfulness, sensitivity, and emotional control that we learn from practicing Sticky Hands and/or Push Hands to our everyday life. It will improve our relationships, work life, activities of daily living, our health, and our personal growth.
I don’t see a downside!
Subscribe to receive my weekly blogs in your email.