Push-hands (also known as Tui Shou) is a two-person exercise unique to Tai Chi. Some people shy away from it because they think of it as controlled sparring in a martial context. Others think of it as a dance. Like so many things in life, it’s a bit more complex than that, but the overriding principle can be summed up concisely:
I act, you respond. You act, I respond.
There are several variations of push-hands, but here is how it’s done. Two people face each other, connected at the forearm, and move in a circular pattern while transferring weight back and forth. The aim is to respond without creating resistance. No resistance = no conflict. The incoming force is neutralized. And with practice, you will learn to reduce the amount of force needed to neutralize the “attacks.”
As long as there are two opposing forces, there will be conflict. Your goal, however, is to respond to action without creating resistance. Sounds easy, right? We think we are soft and yielding in body and mind, up until the point when someone pushes us. The conflict does not vanish, but rather is neutralized. That is very different.
There is nothing mystical about doing push-hands, and it would be easy if we weren’t so loaded with tension. In fact, the effectiveness of push-hands is directly related to your ability to relax inside and to “listen.” Doing push-hands will teach you to be centered, relaxed, responsive, soft and yielding. In addition, it will help you gain an understanding of body mechanics.
Push-hands will also teach you the skills of contact:
Connecting: both physically, and paying attention to your partner’s intention
Following or Listening: sensing the direction of your partner’s intention or force
Sticking: maintaining continuous, light contact with your partner
Adhering or Yielding: responding to your partner’s force, partially by giving way, and partially controlling its direction.
The martial implications of push-hands are obvious but the movement also improves your health and relaxation. It is a serious exercise done in a relaxed manner. Push-hands allows us to experiment and, hopefully, eventually understand how Yin and Yang perform, and ultimately becomes a model for all interactions in life.
A great legend: Two famous Masters were competing at push-hands in public. Both were great fighters and both believed they were unbeatable. They stood close to each other, touching along each other’s arms. They did not move and stayed like this for a long time. The crowd watched quietly. Eventually, the two Masters stood back and bowed to each other. The competition was over, but only they knew who had won!
Are you ready to give it a try? Save the date: January 4, 2020 at 9:30 am when Balanced Life Tai Chi will present a 90-minute Push-Hands class (after coffee and donuts). Class will be limited to 12 participants. Watch our website for more information in the next couple of weeks!