Push Hands
Pushing hands is a form of sparring that is simplified and has become quite popular with students of Tai Chi over the year. One of the differences between this form and other forms is that the kicks and punches that are common in fighting forms are absent in this form. Push Hands is a very gentle form of control. The idea is to upset the balance of your opponent.
In most cases, the participants will start out by facing one another. Each person will be in the bow stance. Each person will then use their outside hand on their opponent's elbow and the inside hand on the wrist. As the process continues each person uses their hands in order to push against the other person, attempting to control the energy of the other.
There is absolutely no forceful shoving or sudden movements in this form. The victor is the person with the greatest skill, not the person who is able to exhibit the greatest amount of force.
Pushing Hands offers an excellent compliment to Standing Mediation and Forms. When this form is performed appropriately the motion reflects the varying forces of Yin and Yang. One of the most interesting aspects is that the movements of Tai Chi against an opponent teach you balance in a way that simply cannot be learned through any other way.
For example, through Push Hands you must learn to use a minimum amount of energy. This is because if you use an excessive amount of energy that can be exploited by an opponent that is skilled. In addition, circular motions are also commonly used in order to divert attacks.
In order for this form to succeed, your entire body must be completely relaxed. If the body is stiff or tense, the center can thus be influenced from any vantage point. On the other hand, if the body is completely relaxed then energy can be diverted or dissipated. In this form reaction and awareness will almost always succeed over aggression and force.
You may often see competitions in which Push Hands is featured. There may be numerous different match formats offered, usually with very strict rules regarding the way in which format will take place. The student must be prepared for the tournament by training with a completely different emphasis. The best strengths to a participant are often strength and speed along with a proper knowledge of the prescribed movements associated with this format.