Easy Pushing Hands of Easy Tai Chi ™
presented by
Tao of Tai Chi Chuan Institute
for Health, Self Defence and Spiritual Development
Great may be the man who conquers others
but much greater is one who conquers himself and ceaselessly helps others
There are about 10 Methods of Pushing Hands used in the traditional styles of Tai Chi Chuan. One of these is the “Free Format” method, which is usually used by advanced practitioners. This format does not have a fixed pattern of moving, such as the “Square Pushing”, the fixed pattern of Peng, Lu, Chi, An of the “Round Pushing”, and Da Lu. At advanced stages, even these fixed patterns are performed at random to a degree. For example, instead of a push, one can execute a Pull. Instead of advance, one may side step and turn. The pattern, still, follows a particular sequence generally. Hence, these exercises are usually referred to as “fixed”.
In the so-called “Free Format” Pushing, one does not adhere to any fixed move or pattern. All movements are dependent on one’s interaction with the partner. When the partner moves, one follows or yields or joins etc., as the case may dictate in order to neutralise and stick etc. Footwork is also free - one may advance, retreat or side-step as long as one adheres to the partner. Because of being free of fixedness and restrictions, many practitioners consider this format a advanced format, and hence seldom practise it.
I found from my long years of experience in teaching Tai Chi Chuan (since 1977), that the Free Format Pushing is very useful to teach students the principles of Tai Chi Chuan and Pushing Hands. Additional advantages are that the students can obtain Pushing Hands skills and understanding much rapidly, and without acquiring bad habits of resisting and ‘not emptying”. I found that even total beginners can practise this format easily.
I have experimented and tested this free format with beginners and children, and I have extended this method of Push Hands, and thus created “Easy Pushing Hands”. Easy Pushing Hands is an adaptation and extension of Free Format Pushing Hands. Thus, adheres to all the principles of traditional Tai Chi Chuan Pushing Hands. Yielding, Emptying, Joining, Sticking and Central Equilibrium are stressed.
Easy Tai Chi ™ and Easy Pushing Hands do not require strength to practise. Superior strength is a major fault in traditional Tai Chi Chuan. Easy Tai Chi ™ and Easy Pushing Hands are, thus, suitable for the weak, females, children and the elderly. In particular, Easy Pushing Hands, with its gentle shifting of weight from one foot to the other, is very good for balance and the gentle strengthening of bones, and is thus an excellent exercise for the elderly and those with osteoporosis.
Easy Pushing Hands is the main Pushing Hands module of Easy Tai Chi ™.
Please feel welcome to learn Easy Tai Chi ™. It is very easy and simple to learn and practise, and the results are amazing! It is not different from traditional Tai Chi Chuan. The difference is it is in a different learning and practising format.
John Chow
29 March 2005