I’m sure most (if not all) students have encountered a “Parry and Punch” in their Tai Chi Form. Did you every wonder why that is?
First, some background: Most Tai Chi practitioners use a “non-competitive” approach to life. We’ve talked several times about the Tai Chi Principles, as documented in the Tai Chi Classics. We practice the martial side of Tai Chi in order to better understand the movements and to protect ourselves (and others) if need be. I’ve spoken to a few students who have used their Tai Chi skills in a challenging situation.
Even if you are only interested in Tai Chi for health reasons, by learning the applications, you get a better understanding of the movement’s purpose. Actually visualizing the applications can help you perform them more accurately. This will also allow you to reap Tai Chi’s numerous health benefits at the same time. However, never forget that Tai Chi is a “complete martial arts system” (aka Supreme Ultimate Fist), and has the potential to be lethal and gruesome.
You can “parry a punch” or you can “parry and punch”. Different words, same basic idea. In the area of martial arts and other fighting arts (like boxing), these terms often have different interpretations. Parry is also a movement found in fencing and sword forms, such as Yang Sword Form.
In Tai Chi, the simplest explanation of Parry and Punch is: parry an incoming punch and then follow with a punch of your own. In Chinese, the move ban lan chui is sometimes translated as block, parry, punch. The Chinese term “lan” is usually translated as parry, which means: to obstruct and/or bar an opponent’s movement.
In many (if not most martial arts, including Tai Chi) “our defense is also an attack.” Tai Chi goes about it differently than “external” hard martial arts. External martial arts use a parry or block. The aim is being sure that our parry or block is stronger than our opponent’s “blow”. The end goal is often injuring an opponent.
In Tai Chi, unlike other martial arts, parrying punches is used primarily as an important defensive technique. Tai Chi works with the incoming opponent’s force and uses it to our advantage. In Tai Chi, we yield, neutralize and redirect. Once our opponent has expended his or her energy, or is off balance, we apply force! Judo, Aikido, and “grappling arts” use this same principle.
Tai Chi martial artists don’t normally exchange kicks, blocks, punches, strikes, etc. They parry, redirect, overwhelm, mislead, and in many other ways, take advantage of their opponent’s energy. You parry a punch by applying force “perpendicular to the strike” so that it is diverted away from it’s intended target. When you parry in Tai Chi (and other sports, as well) you use your hand or arm to deflect or redirect an incoming punch with less effort than trying to block.
Most, if not all, boxers are aware that parrying is easier to do than blocking. Boxers parry to defend themselves without having to block punches. It is important as a defensive technique or maneuver to protect yourself from an incoming punch or attack. Blocking can be risky and cause bruises, fractures, etc. As well, your opponent may “collapse your block” and you get hit. HARD!
You may not be able to dodge a punch, and directly blocking a punch is a lot of work. You may choose to parry in order to avoid being hit, or perhaps, you want to create an opening for a “counter-punch”. Although it requires quite a bit of skill and practice, you can also use a parry to disrupt your opponent’s attack, rhythm, and even balance (or root), especially if he or she is very committed to the punch. Depending on the particular situation, the experienced Tai Chi martial practitioner decides how much or how little “damage” he or she intends to inflict. But remember, when you parry, you also set up an opportunity for your opponent to counter!
When most of martial Tai Chi practitioners practice, they imagine that they have an opponent and need to defend themselves. At the same time, they also adhere to the Tai Chi Principles, as well as the philosophy of Yin and Yang.
However, some martial Tai Chi practitioners use the technique and term, “Step Forward Parry Block and Punch”. It is used to block an opponent’s “guard hand”, while throwing a punch towards the center of the chest. Needless to say, this would be a hard punch which would knock the breath from your opponent, at the very least.
Bottom line: Sometimes a parry is the best option (rather than blocking) but, at other times, it isn’t! It totally depends on the situation, your purpose, and importantly, your skill. Obviously, it’s vital in a true combat situation, to know which (if either) decision is best!
Examples:
Here are several YouTube examples of Parry and Punch used in different forms by a couple of different practitioners. These are in no particular order. I make no judgments when it comes to the quality of the video nor the performance!
Yang Cheng Man Ching Style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=misrzb1CEhY
Yang 24 Style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSSJ5WtVZOo
Yang Style (Master Yang Jun)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWzLBO9BRnI
SUN Style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QwLhQNFECA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFw-TL3rQYg
WU Style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-IEHo9U7uQ
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