This is the third installment of the notes that Mark Linett, one of the original Western students of Master Wang Yen-nien, has put together, with commentary. Mark began his studies with Master Wang in Taipei in 1982. We are honored that he is allowing the NYC Yangjia Michuan Taiji site to publish them in their entirety. There will be installments published throughout the summer and fall of 2025 and winter of 2026.

You can read the first installment, with introductory notes, by clicking here: Tuishou Notes Installment One.

You can read the second installment by clicking here: Tuishou Notes Installment Two.

Photographs for the journal have been supplied by Mark. This installment also includes original ink drawings by Holly Leavy, which were first published in the AYMTA Journal in the late 90’s / early 2000’s when I was the editor.

Review Class

Practiced beginning Push Hands. Peng Fa Jing off the back leg, then taking a half step forward. Right hand is in Peng and the left hand deflects in an angular direction. The back leg remains in place but the front leg moves forward and back, receiving and transferring energy.

First catch the energy and throw it back (Jie Jing). If done well, the partner will jump. Feed the partner, don’t block your partner’s energy.

The back leg does not move or come off the ground. Shift the weight to thefront leg. Two half-steps back and shift the weight to front leg. Keep still and plunge down on the front leg and wait for the partner, then step back. The Peng hand is not doing the pushing. Draw the partner’s energy into nothing and catch the energy and throw it back.

Wait for the energy to come to you, catch it and sink then push from the front leg. A back-leg push is very quick. 

Look for opportunities.  The empty hand connects at the elbow. Full body pushes forward together. Try to imagine this and work on it. The Peng arm is relaxed with no stiffness.

Peng in small circles using Nei Li, being sure not to give up contact. Stay with your center and puff up the back.  Chi is circulating in all parts of the body. Stay within the chest area and not give your partner an opening. Do not move too much.

Peng Lu An Ji. First changing legs then changing arms then changing both.  You can change from disadvantageous to advantageous just by stepping back. Stepping forward doing An Lu.

The person who is deflecting, does not turn too far. If he/she turns too far then the partner may have an opening. Do not go beyond your center. It is not necessary to follow your partner too much. Don’t lose your center. It is also a waste of energy to deflect too much. Listen carefully so that when your partner changes you can change. Arms stay relaxed so you can listen to whatever is coming. Be ready to change. Arms should stay relaxed. Take the stiffness out of the arms. 

One person is in An (push) position and one is in Peng (advantageous position). The person in Peng has his/her hand on the outside of the elbow of the person in An position.

Person in Peng takes two half steps back to receive and the person in An position takes two half steps forward to transfer energy. The person in Peng grounds the energy that is incoming. Receives it, catches it and transfers it back. Don’t block the energy, catch it and throw it back. If you are practicing well, your partner might jump up when being pushed.       

Feeding your partner energy is much like throwing your partner a ball. Use the back leg to catch and use the back leg to throw and use it as a spring. Do not shift or move the back leg. 

Two half steps back and two half steps up. Sink onto the front leg. Catch the energy and then throw it back. It should be quite natural. Wait to see what the partner does. 

Yin Jing Luo Kong (Drop the incoming energy into nothingness) catching the energy. It is not a matter of how hard the incoming energy is. Be able to catch it. Timing has to be right! Adjust yourself to the energy that is coming.  Sinking on the front leg to remain stable. Your partner should not feel anything is going on. The whole body moves forward as a unit. Ground the energy that is coming. The more relaxed and natural the better.

When your partner comes at you, sink down. In effect, you are waiting for him, so sinking means waiting. Sink and extend the arm to open up the shoulder, Then, if he pushes turn the waist to yield. So, sink then turn. To yield. Sink to root the push then turn to yield to the push. For small pushes the shoulder separates from the rest of the body. But stronger pushes require then we wait.