PUSH HANDS
|
PUSH HANDS |
|
Push Hands is a two-person exercise and is the “soul” of Tai-chi training. You learn to neutralize the force of your partner for martial arts training and to regain senses that have been lost in modern times. Two people stand facing each other and attempt to push each other off balance with continuous, spontaneous movements. If either partner tenses up even the slightest bit, the other partner can use that tension to throw him off balance. You must become aware of the state of readiness of each of your partner’s muscles to respond to your movements. You must also use every muscle and joint in your own body to re-direct force entering your body, and return that force to your partner. The eyes are closed during Push Hands so that you must develop extreme sensitivity in the parts of your hands and arms that contact the partner. This contact feeds you all the information you need about the position, balance and dynamics of attention of your partner. You try to find spots, in his body, that have weak attention, and direct your force there. When you practice healing, such as Tai-chi massage, you use this awareness to heal the flow of internal energy in the other person. When you engage in sparring (full contact self defense), you use this same awareness but now, you are not in contact with the partner. Push Hands is an awareness game. It teaches you to flow away from the partner’s force so that you are not “thrown over” by that force. These lessons teach you to deal with the everyday problems of life so that life is no longer a struggle. |
