Take in the incoming energy, circle and return it. 

The circle deflects, then use the spiral to push. The body first goes down then there is a spiraling up to push. The arm is connected to the whole body. Learn how to spiral your partner up with his own energy. 

Yang Lu Chan used the whole body when pushing. Use one hand to keep your partner off balance and the other to push. 

Watching the shoulder of your partner can tell you when a push is coming. if someone cocks their arm back in preparation to push, then there is even more time. 

Find ways to use the movements in the form and look for opportunities. Whatever the partner throws at you, you can use. There is no time to think. 

Begin to see how to use four ounces to move a thousand pounds and to move your partner without using hard strength*. 

*Laoshi discussed that there are different ways to interpret using four ounces to move a thousand pounds. He said that the way we move a thousand pounds was to first break the root of the partner and to get them moving and unstable, Then, it is possible to use 4 ounces to move them. 

If your partner changes you change. If he changes the rules, you change. Upwards, downwards. Work on the individual movements and then work on them in combinations. 

When your partner uses a two-hand push to the chest, catch his/ her incoming energy and move his arms behind him/her then twist the waist to the left or the right. This movement comes from Embrace Tiger Return to Mountain (Bao Hu Guai Shan) If the right leg is forward, twist the waist to the right, if left leg is forward, twist the waist to the left. 

When shifting weight from back leg to front leg or vice versa, it is a matter of being able to lift the heel. The whole body does not move. When sinking on the front leg, be able to lift the back heel. 

Advantageous Position…. right leg forward, left arm in Peng position or left leg forward, right arm in Peng position). 

Disadvantageous Position…Right leg forward, right arm in Peng position or left leg forward, left arm in Peng position. 

When using Peng (Ward off) to catch energy, the opposite hand connects to incoming partner’s elbow. If he doesn’t push, don’t move, be one with your partner. If he deflects do something new but know whether you are in an advantageous or disadvantageous position. 

Use the Peng hand as a leader. Catching the partner’s incoming energy and lead him into the void, look for directuons to change. Know when to change directions. Pushing to the side saves energy and it is easy to do. Straight pushes take time to deflect. 

Being soft without the use of Nei Li (hard strength), slowly moving in circles using internal energy, staying centered and connecting the waist with the arm. Neither partner lets up pressure all around the circle. Connecting the shoulder-hip-waist-leg. Feeling the root through the connection, then no matter how much strength or energy comes in it cannot enter. Bounce the partner away as he adds more pressure. Sink the shoulder, drop the elbow and make the connection between the back, hip, waist, legs and then transfer energy. The structure helps you maintain balance. 

Use the Dantian as a pushing off place. You will be able to bounce away any incoming energy because the partner doesn’t feel they’re being pushed away. Imagine a tire being inflated. 

Practice understanding energy and the need to be relaxed. Making full the internal energy, so you can transfer. If it is not full enough you will not be able to transfer energy. It comes down to staying relaxed. The shoulder and elbow being one. When the shoulder relaxes and opens, the energy can open up and be expressed. Start putting the mind intent (Yi) into it. 

Both partners are in Peng position: The first movement is very light, like a feather. The second movement is very heavy and strong from the inside. This is getting the root into the mind. If you have internal energy, there is no need to be afraid; even pushing with someone who is very strong. Slowly build up Nei Jing, (internal strength). Use internal strength to deflect. Imagine fullness from the inside. Arms are heavy and sunk. Take Li or hard strength out of the practice. When we use (Li) hard strength, the shoulders will come up. 

In another practice, one partner directs a slow punch at his/her partner’s chest. It is met and deflected with Peng Lu. Gently meeting the incoming punch off to the side. Use Shou Pipa (Wield the Pipa) movement. 

In Tuishou, move out of the realm of hard external strength (Li) and resistance and be in the realm of internal strength (Nei Li) and relaxation. This is the path, which leads to real Gongfu (skill achieved through hard work and practice). If you use strength and resistance, you will become strong to a point, but if you stop practicing you will regress quickly. Being relaxed and soft enables yielding and the ability to deflect an incoming push. When deflecting meet the incoming force with soft listening energy. Deflect with Song (relaxation) and Ro (softness), not losing contact, absorbing and sticking. 

As soon as the hands meet a partner, start to change. Listening energy (ting Jing) is crucial. Do not stand and wait to be pushed. Use one hand then the other to push and channel energy. Hands are lively, rotating, sticking, and changing. Hands are be light and listening and work together. They are constantly listening and transforming. Allow the hands to rise and to make contact with the partner. Also, use the body to listen to your partner’s hands while looking for the partner’s center. 

Changes and transformation become manifest through familiarity and the movements become so familiar that the hands move without thinking. Practicing sticking to your partner and it feels like there are suction cups on your hands. 

The whole body is moving together from ankle to the wrist. Use leg strength. not just the arms. 

Be empty, and entice your partner to fall into the void, temporarily losing balance and root. Be ready for that moment. 

Being out of breath indicates the use of Li (external strength) rather than internal strength. There is a limit to Li ( hard strength) but there is no limit to Nei Li (internal strength) 

The partner feels controlled even without being pushed. Start to build a web from where your partner cannot escape. You are controlling him/her. As soon as there is a break, energy can be expressed (Fa Jing). Keep the heart and mind on the straight. 

Sticking is soft, with no resistance or use of hard strength. Use the mind and chi and when pushing, look for the straight line into your partner’s center*. 

*Connecting to a person’s center requires a degree of listening skill, as well as a fair bit of experience and practice. With the first push one rarely finds the center of the partner. It requires several pushes. Laoshi often spoke of a soft agile hand on the body of partner; with a soft hand one can gently find the center of the partner. This is the moment of opportunity to push. Continuously search for the partner’s center, looking for opportunities and not pushing before finding one. 

Using Li ( hard strength) is going off on a tangent. Outside is soft, calm and relaxed. Remove Li from your vocabulary. Nel Li
(Internal strength) comes from the Dantian and the whole body channels energy. The arms and waist move as one. With the waist moving and turning, naturally, circularity will appear. The chi and the body become like a ball with the Dantian as the center. All movements are circular. 

Remember the Chi Hai, (Sea of Chi) in the lower back. Allow the lower back to relax, little by little it becomes a habit. Coordinate 

everything. Use your mind to transfer force. Using the mind to create like an explosion, like an earthquake. 

Disadvantageous position looks for ways to get back to advantageous position. The back needs to have spring and flexibility. When being pushed the flexibility helps to gather the energy and push back. Elasticity. Exercises 3 or 10 – help us exercise flexibility in the back-gather energy in the bend. 

When shifting weight, lift the heel shifting from the front leg to back leg or back to front leg. There is just a slight movement of the body. It can be done very quickly. 

When a push comes to the Dantian, first spiral down, then Cai using the side of the hand, (as in a chop) to meet the wrist the other hand to the elbow, 

The weight is on the back leg. The other hand connects to the elbow, the weight is on the back leg. Create the void. Give a push to the partner he/she is in the void. A quick jerk, then give a push, little things make a difference.